Abstract: In vitro evaluation of a potentially allergenic or tissue irritating substance is conducted by cultivating test cells in the presence of the substance and the presence of up regulated genes chosen from G1P2, OASL, IFIT1, TRIM22, IFI44L, MXI, RSAD2, IFIT3, IFITM1, IFIT2, SPR, GNB2, XK, IFITM3, C 33.28 HERV-H protein mRNA, GPR15, MT1G, MT1B, MT1A, ADFP, IL8, MT1E, MT1F, MT1H, SLC30A1, SERPINB2, CD83, and TncRNA, or expression products from them, are measured. The expression products from one or more of the genes may be used for in vitro analysis of allergy or tissue irritation. A probe comprising at least three nucleic acids, preferably 3-40, especially 5-15, chosen from RNA complementary to the RNA corresponding to any of the genes may be used for in vitro analysis of allergy or tissue irritation. Further, a reagent kit comprising one or more probes that recognize products produced during the expression of any the genes is disclosed.