With summer approaching, many manufacturers and distributors are increasing production and preparing to ship their sunscreens. Before labeling and shipment, many would need laboratories to test their SPF and sunscreen products to ensure safety and regulatory compliance.
What is SPF? How Is it Tested?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The SPF value indicates the level of sunburn protection provided by the sunblock. The number is determined experimentally indoors by exposing human subjects to a light spectrum that mimics the noontime sun. Simply put, SPF is the amount of light that induces redness in sunscreen-protected skin divided by the amount of light that induces redness in unprotected skin.
Most sunscreen products need to be tested per the SPF test procedure to determine their safety and effectiveness. In addition, labeling claims of being “broad-spectrum” also have to be substantiated by lab testing.
Need Sunscreen and SPF Testing?
Contract Laboratory has helped many manufacturers and distributors of sunscreen products, including cosmetics with sunscreens, outsource their SPF and sunscreen testing. Below are some testing requests we helped fulfill.
- FDA Pharmaceutical API manufacturer requires Pharmaceutical Laboratory for sunscreen testing: Star rating test, water resistance/water proof/sweat proof tests. Laboratory Tests need to be valid for USA, EU, Australia, and Japan.
- Pharmaceuticals laboratory needed for EU skincare sunscreen testing: in vitro SPF testing for sunscreen with zinc oxide
- India Product Safety Laboratory needed for in vitro testing for SPF values on topical products. Need UVA/UVB ratios.
- India Product Safety Laboratory needed for Cosmeceutical Testing of several products: in vitro SPF testing of topical creams and gels.
- Hong Kong and China analytical chemistry and microbiology laboratory needed for cosmetics testing at least one of the following type: chemical testing/Microbiology testing efficacy testing/SPF testing/toxicology testing.
- FDA GMP Cosmetics Laboratory needed for FDA SPF Testing of cosmetic products tested for SPF with the FDA testing guidelines.
- Southern USA FDA GMP analytical chemistry laboratory needed for SPF Testing.
- Pharmaceutical manufacturer needs sunscreen testing: SPF Testing, PA Testing (Persistent Pigment Darkening) Star rating test, water resistance/waterproof/sweat-proof tests.
If your company is manufacturing or distributing a sunscreen product and needs SPF validation testing, simply submit a laboratory request or call 1-855-377-6821. We’re happy to help!
