Biocompatibility test procedures for materials evaluation in vitro. I. Comparative test system sensitivity.

Relative sensitivity of in vitro biocompatibility test systems was explored. Cellular responses of 12 standardized cell lines to 20 materials representing a range of toxicity were measured. Each cell line and material combination was tested in duplicate using four different culture methods, and each culture plate was examined by two graders. Results of the tissue culture assays were compared to those obtained for the same materials in vivo using a 5-day rabbit intramuscular implant assay. Methods involving measurement of cellular growth (colony counts or percent of confluence) in serum-fortified media extracts of test samples were generally more sensitive and discriminating than those in which test materials were placed directly in cell cultures (measurement of zone of growth inhibition). There was good agreement between graders for all test methods. Antibiotics were not used in the test program. Based upon sensitivity, reproducibility, ability to discriminate materials, and grader agreement, 4 of the 12 cell lines and 2 of the 4 test methods appeared most suitable for screening and evaluation of materials. Agreement of results using these four cell lines with intramuscular implantation tests for the 30 materials ranged from 60 to 90%.