Reduction of misleading ("false") positive results in mammalian cell genotoxicity assays. III: sensitivity of human cell types to known genotoxic agents.

•Study compared micronucleus response in human cell types TK6, HuLy and HepG2 cells with 17 well characterised genotoxic chemicals.•TK6 and HuLy have been shown to be highly sensitive with 88% detected as positive in the in vitro micronucleus test (15 out of 17).•Using TK6 or HuLy cells will reduce “false” or “misleading” positive incidence in the in vitro micronucleus test without compromising sensitivity.