Microwave corneosurfametry and the short-duration dansyl chloride extraction test for rating concentrated irritant surfactants.

BACKGROUND

There are ethical concerns to conduct in vivo tests in the animal and human to provide evidence that cosmetics and other topical products are safe.

OBJECTIVE

To compare two methods, namely the short-duration dansyl chloride extraction test and the microwave corneosurfametry bioassay, to test the irritation potential of concentrated surfactant systems.

METHODS

Five surfactants and water were tested using the in vivo test and the bioassay.

RESULTS

A significant linear correlation was found between data yielded by the two procedures.

CONCLUSION

The short-duration dansyl chloride extraction test and the microwave corneosurfametry bioassay provide similar information. The latter has the advantage of being safe.