Cellular toxicity of urinary catheters.

The cellular compatibility of each of several brands of urinary catheters available on the Australian market was measured by means of cell-culture methods, a rabbit intramuscular implant test, and the traditional mouse systemic toxicity test. Good agreement was obtained between the in-vitro tests and the rabbit implant tests (although the cell-culture tests were simpler, more rapid, more sensitive, and quantitative). The mouse systemic toxicity test was insensitive, and detected no toxic samples. The cell-culture and rabbit-implant test results indicated that some urinary catheters can release substances harmful to mammalian cells. Such substances may contribute to the clinical reactions of urethritis and strictures after urethral catheterization.