Comparison of three methods of toxicity evaluation of medical plastics.

A comparative study on the toxicity of various kinds of plastic and rubber materials (PVC and PE tubes, rubber stoppers) used in medicine and pharmacy was performed. As biological material for testing served: cultures of normal human fibroblasts, aquarium fish (Lebistes reticulatus/sp.) and bull and rat spermatozoa. Almost full correlation between the results of testing on fish cuture cells and bull spermatozoa has been found. Heterogeneity of rat spermatozoa (various stages of maturity) make useless of this biological material. The most simple method of toxicity evaluation is provided by the use of aquarium fish. In fibroblast cultures serum extracts show a higher degree of cytotoxicity than water extracts.