seems to be clear only to a fraction of researchers and stakeholders in the field. Only a subfraction of these feels confident about the development of a test method or about knowledge on all the steps in the lifecycle, including the use, of a test method.A common quick-fix for such knowledge gaps is to consult Wikipedia. There, a test method is defined as "a method for a test in science or engineering, such as a physical, chemical, or statistical test. It is a definitive procedure that produces a test result". Is this really helpful? Does it not feel like circular reasoning ("a test 1 Setting the scene It is a broadly accepted fact that test methods are important as research tools in toxicology, pharmacy, pharmacology, clinical chemistry, and many biomedical fields. There is also little dispute on the importance of data from test methods for diagnosis, quality control, efficacy estimates, and setting reference values for human, animal, and environmental safety. Given this background, it is astonishing that the fundamental definition of a test method