Cosmetic Testing / Health, Beauty, Personal Care Products Testing Labs
Microbiological Testing of Health, Beauty, Personal Care, Cosmetic Products
Microorganisms in cosmetics may cause spoilage or chemical change in the product which can harm cosmetic, health, beauty, and personal care product consumers. Cosmetics do not need to be sterile, but their preservative system must be able to take care of harmful microbial contamination.
For the manufacturer of cosmetic and personal care products, it is important to ensure that the products are free of pathogenic (harmful) microorganisms and are safe for consumer use.
When consumers use cosmetic, health, beauty, or personal care products, they are repeatedly challenging the cosmetics or toiletry products (for example: mascara, eye shadows, face powder, foundations, lotions, face creams, shampoos, conditioners, etc.) by contaminating ("challenging") them with their unclean hands.
Health, Beauty, Personal Care, and Cosmetic Product Testing Methods
Cosmetics and personal care products are tested to assure that the products are safe and ready to be released to the consumer market. Products are tested by the following methods:
- Aerobic Plate Count (APC)
Standard Aerobic plate count test (SPC)/ Aerobic bacterial count test (APC)/ Total aerobic Microbial count (TAMC) test determines the total number of aerobic bacteria per ml or gram of the personal care or cosmetic product. This test gives the total count of bacteria present and does not give you information about pathogenic or non pathogenic bacteria.
It is a 48 to 72 hour test. This is a routine test, ordered on each lot manufactured of health, beauty, cosmetic, and personal care products.
- Yeast and Mold Count
This test determines the total number of yeast and fungus per ml or gram of the personal care or cosmetic product. It is carried out for five days.
*It is ordered along with the APC test (aerobic plate count).
- Enrichment Method for Specific Pathogen Screening
This testing is carried out to assure that harmful bacteria are not present - not even in very low amounts. Therefore, the product is enriched by growing it in enrichment broth for seven days so pathogenic bacteria, if present in very low number, will be able to multiply and be detected.
- Total Gram negative Test
includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E.coli, Salmonella, Serratia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella pneumoniae and others
- Staphylococcus aureus Test
- Microbial Identification
Once organisms are isolated from a product and a manufacturer wants to know which organisms are present, they order a Microbial Identification Test of their products. Isolates are identified starting with observing their morphology. Isolates are Gram stained and observed under the microscope. This gives an initial clue about whether they are gram negative or gram positive. Isolates are then identified
- Antimicrobial Preservative Effectiveness Test (Challenge Test)
The antimicrobial efficacy test evaluates the effectiveness of an antimicrobial preservative in a health, beauty, personal care, or cosmetic product. The test is carried out in such a way that the product is challenged with known strains of microorganisms. Personal care and cosmetic testing samples are tested at different intervals to determine the survival of the organisms. The test demonstrates the efficacy of the product to stop the growth of pathogenic organisms like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. The microorganism survival is monitored for 28 days.
At least 100-150 mL or grams of the product is needed to run this test.
Testing of FDA Hold Products
Accugen Labs, Inc. has numerous years of experience in testing cosmetic products detained by the FDA. Customers' products which are held by the FDA are tested and the reports, along with all the data, are then submitted to the FDA.
In Vitro Toxicology Of Cosmetic Products
(Non-Animal Safety and Toxicity Testing)
Since Animal testing has now been banned in many countries, the in vitro testing of cosmetic and personal
care products is a great replacement of in vivo testing performed on the rabbit .
- Dermal Irritection Assays
Chemicals incorporated in cosmetics and personal care products that cause dermal irritation are known to induce alterations in the structure of keratin, collagen and other dermal proteins. The Dermal Irritection
Assay System is an in vitro test that mimics this biochemical phenomena.
This test also consists of two components:
- A membrane substrate that has been modified by covalently crosslinking a mixture of keratin, collagen and an indicator dye to it and;
- A reagent solution consisting of a highly organized globulin/protein macromolecular matrix.
Application of an irritant chemical to the membrane disc disrupts the ordered structure of keratin and collagen and results in release of the bound indicator dye. Additionally, dermal irritants induce changes in conformation in the globular proteins found in the reagent solution.
The extent of dye release and protein denaturation has been shown to be directly related to the potential dermal irritancy of the test material.
- Ocular Irritection Assays
The corneal irritancy of test materials is known to be related to their propensity to promote denaturation and disruption of corneal proteins.
The Ocular Irritection Assay System is an in vitro test of cosmetics and personal care products that mimics this biochemical phenomena.
This test consists of two essential components:
- A membrane disc that permits controlled delivery of the test material to a reagent solution and;
- A proprietary reagent solution that is composed of proteins, glycoproteins, lipids and low molecular weight components that self-associate
to form a complex macromolecular matrix.
Controlled mixing of the cosmetic test material and the reagent solution during the assay incubation period promotes protein denaturation and disaggregation of the macromolecular matrix.
The changes in protein structure that are induced by the test material may be readily quantified and has been shown to be directly related to the
potential corneal irritancy of the test material.
- Corrosivity Test
Corrositex is an in vitro testing of cosmetics and personal care products that determines chemical corrosivity and permits assignment of Packing Group classification for Class 8 corrosives.
Since Animal testing of cosmetics and personal care products has now been banned in many countries, the in Vitro test is a great replacement
of In Vivo testing performed on the rabbit . The Corrositex test is based upon a biomembrane system. Different cosmetic and personal care products including
hair color dyes and hair relaxers are tested for corrosivity.
Accugen is a highly qualified test laboratory for the health, beauty, cosmetic and personal care industries. Our staff of experienced personnel serve you to assure that your products are free of objectionable microorganisms. For health, beauty, personal care, and cosmetic testing call us at 800-282-7102 or email us at support@accugenlabs.com .
Email: support@accugenlabs.com
Toll-Free: 800-282-7102
Fax: 630-812-2219
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