Biocompatibility testing mainly consists of in-vitro and in-vivo tests.
In-vitro tests place the material in contact with cells or tissue in an artificial growth environment and assess biocompatibility from changes in cell count and cell morphology. Cytotoxicity testing is the most common method.
In-vivo tests implant the material directly into an animal and observe changes in the surrounding tissue. This is the primary and most reliable way to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of biomedical materials, and includes subcutaneous and intraosseous implantation tests.
Depending on what is evaluated, biocompatibility testing can also be divided into haemocompatibility (how well the material tolerates contact with blood) and histocompatibility (how well it tolerates contact with other tissues).
Biocompatibility testing is a complex field that requires specialist expertise.
