Biologic evaluation of a silver-copper-germanium dental casting alloy and a gold-germanium coating alloy

An Ag-Cu-Ge alloy and an Au-Ge alloy were evaluated for their hemolytic effect on rabbit blood, cytotoxicity to alpha-L fibrosarcoma cells, and allergenic effect on guinea pigs. Neither alloy evoked a significant hemolytic response; cytotoxicity, and that of pure germanium, was no greater than that of ZOE cement; and, on the basis of the guinea pig response, the potential human allergenic response was considered to be Grade I (weak) and Grade II (mild), respectively.