Our company adheres to the attitude of continuous responsibility for product quality, and regularly conducts third-party testing to ensure that each batch of products can meet the specified quality requirements. Hand sanitizer has become an indispensable cleaning product in daily life with a growing awareness of personal hygiene. To ensure the effectiveness and safety of hand sanitizers, meticulous quality testing is essential. So, what are the test items for hand sanitizer?
The testing items of hand sanitizer can be roughly divided into sensory testing, physical and chemical testing, microbial testing, and toxicity and irritation testing. These tests are designed to comprehensively assess hand sanitizer's compliance with relevant hygiene standards and regulations.
Sensory testing typically includes an examination of appearance and odor. At this stage, the inspector uses visual and olfactory inspection to assess the color, transparency, and presence of odors in the hand sanitizer. While these metrics may seem simple, they are directly related to the initial consumer acceptance of the product.
Physicochemical testing involves more technical analysis. The first is the determination of the content of active ingredients, such as active disinfectants in hand sanitizers (e.g. alcohol or other biocides) at the level declared on the label. In addition, pH measurement is also indispensable, and the ideal hand sanitizer should be close to the natural pH value to reduce irritation. Foam performance is also an important indicator to measure the quality of hand sanitizer, which directly affects the user's experience. In addition, stability tests (including thermal and cold stability) are used to evaluate the performance of products under different temperature conditions, as well as preservative potency tests to ensure that products are not susceptible to deterioration during their expiration date.
Then there's the microbiological test, which assesses the hand sanitizer's ability to inhibit or kill germs. Common tested strains include Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, among others. Through these microbial challenge tests, it is possible to verify the effectiveness of hand sanitizers against common pathogens in real-world use.
Toxicity and irritation testing should not be overlooked. Irritation tests are typically performed using animal models or in vitro cell culture to determine whether hand sanitizers can cause adverse effects such as redness, swelling, itching, etc. Acute oral toxicity tests and absorption tests are used to assess the health risks of accidental ingestion or prolonged exposure to hand sanitizers.
Hand sanitizer testing is diverse and complex, ranging from intuitive sensory testing to physical and chemical testing at the technical level, to evaluation of microbial killing effects, and risk assessment of toxicity and irritation. First, a sensory evaluation of the hand sanitizer is required; secondly, the physical and chemical properties were analyzed in depth. Then, the antimicrobial ability was verified by microbial challenge test. Finally, toxicity and irritation tests are performed to ensure human safety. A complete testing process not only protects the health and safety of consumers, but also helps manufacturers improve product quality and meet market demand.