Mutagens in human urine: test with human peripheral lymphocytes.

A test is described in which human peripheral blood is enclosed in dialysis bags and exposed to human urine. After the treatment, the blood is cultivated in the presence of bromodeoxyuridine, and metaphases are analyzed with respect to the frequencies of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE). Urine from clinically healthy people and from epileptic patients on therapy with anti-epileptic drugs did not lead to an elevation of SCE frequencies. Urine from cancer patients treated with a multi-drug combination therapy including cyclophosphamide led to a significant increase in the frequencies of SCEs.