What is a Preservative Efficacy Test (PET)?

A PET (also called a Challenge Test) assesses whether your product's preservation system adequately protects against microbial contamination throughout its shelf life. It is required for most rinse-off and leave-on cosmetics with aqueous phases, and is a key input to the EU CPSR.

What is the difference between accelerated and real-time stability testing?

Accelerated stability testing subjects samples to elevated temperature (e.g., 40°C/75% RH for 3 months) to predict shelf life quickly. Real-time testing stores samples at normal conditions and takes 12–24 months. Accelerated results can support initial market launch while real-time studies continue.

Do cosmetic labs accept samples from small brands?

Yes. Most labs on Cruxi Bridge accept small batch samples (typically 50–200g per SKU). Minimum sample quantities vary by test type — confirm with your chosen lab at booking.

Can the lab report be used directly in my CPSR?

Yes. Lab test reports from accredited laboratories are the primary data source for the CPSR safety assessment. Your safety assessor will need the full lab report, not just a summary.

How long does a full stability study take?

An accelerated stability study at 40°C/3 months takes approximately 3 months lab time plus analysis. Real-time studies at 25°C take 12–36 months. Rush options may be available.

Book Cosmetic Product Testing — PET, Stability, Patch & More

Book cosmetic product testing online: preservative efficacy (PET), stability, patch tests, heavy metals, microbiology, and CPSR data. Compare accredited labs with instant pricing.

✓ 3 active providers available right now · USD 238 – 295

Why this page is different

Instant pricing: See a price estimate immediately (no back-and-forth RFQ needed for these services).
Compare before booking: Review inclusions, exclusions, turnaround, and communication channels.
Charged only when accepted: You are charged only after a provider accepts your order and scope.
Live availability: 3 active providers available right now for this service.

What you can compare here

Total price: See live price ranges and instant pricing rules where available.
Coverage & scope: Markets served, what is included, and what is explicitly excluded.
SLA & responsiveness: Acceptance SLAs and typical turnaround windows.
Add-ons: Optional extras you can book next (shown as add-on chips).
Onboarding time: How quickly providers can start and what you need to supply.

Compare providers (instant pricing + book)

Provider	Estimated base price	Accept SLA	Turnaround	Start
Alpha Regulatory Partners	USD 259	24h	3–7 days	Within 2 business days
Beta Compliance Group	USD 295	24h	3–7 days	Within 2 business days
Gamma RegTech Solutions	USD 238	24h	3–7 days	Within 2 business days

Estimates are derived from each provider’s published pricing rules (and may vary by your inputs).

What affects pricing

These are the inputs providers use to price your order. Enter them once, then compare providers and book instantly.

markets (Required)
min 1; eligibility + reporting expectations
languages (Required)
min 1; report/document language(s)
skuCount (Required)
How many products/SKUs need testing? min 1
sampleCount (Required)
How many samples can you provide? min 1
selectedTests (Required)
micro_specs|challenge_test|stability_compatibility_test|patch_test|heavy_metals_test|sds|cpsr
challengeStandard (Optional)
usp51|ep|jp|iso11930_2019
stabilityPackage (Optional)
accelerated_basic_3mo|accelerated_standard_3mo|accelerated_full_3mo|real_time_basic_12mo|real_time_standard_12mo|real_time_full_12mo|real_t…
patchSubjects (Optional)
12|20|30
heavyMetalsPanel (Optional)
2|3|4|5|6|7|full
cpsrIngredientsTier (Optional)
1_9|10_29|30_plus
sdsLanguageCount (Optional)
If SDS selected: number of SDS languages (defaults to languages.length). min 1
countries (Optional)
Optional; shipping / import constraints

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Tests

PET · Stability · Patch · Micro

✅

Accreditation

ISO 17025 / GLP

⏱️

Results by

7–90 days after sample receipt

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Pricing

Per test type / per SKU

How it works

1

Select the tests you need

Choose from PET (ISO 11930), stability (accelerated or real-time), patch test, microbiological analysis, heavy metals, or challenge test. Configure the number of SKUs.
2

Compare accredited cosmetic labs

See per-test pricing, turnaround times, and accreditations (ISO 17025, GLP) from labs that can issue results for EU/UK CPSR and US market claims.
3

Book, ship, and receive your lab report

Confirm your lab, receive the sample intake instructions, ship your product samples, and get a signed test report suitable for your CPSR or product file.

What cosmetic testing does EU law require?

EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 does not prescribe a fixed list of tests for every product. Instead, it requires that every product have a Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) demonstrating that the product is safe under normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use. The CPSR is the umbrella document; the tests you need to commission are the ones that provide the data to complete the CPSR safely. In practice, the core tests required for most leave-on and rinse-off cosmetics are: a Preservative Efficacy Test (PET) to demonstrate adequate preservation; a stability study to support claimed shelf life; and microbiological quality testing at time of manufacture. Additional tests (patch testing, in-use testing, heavy metals analysis) are needed depending on the product type and claims.

Preservative Efficacy Test (PET / Challenge Test)

The PET (also known as a Challenge Test, standardized in ISO 11930) determines whether your product's preservation system is adequate to resist microbial contamination under representative in-use conditions. The test inoculates your product sample with a panel of challenge organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Escherichia coli) and monitors growth or kill over 28 days. The result is expressed as an acceptance criterion (A or B criteria under ISO 11930, or "pass" under US Pharmacopeia 51). PET is required for virtually all aqueous-phase cosmetics and is one of the most common inputs to the CPSR. Products that "fail" PET need reformulation before the CPSR can be completed.

Stability testing: what it is and what it proves

Stability testing establishes that your cosmetic product remains safe, effective, and aesthetically acceptable throughout its claimed shelf life under defined storage conditions. EU cosmetics legislation requires that products show no degradation that would make them unsafe before the stated PAO (Period After Opening) or minimum durability date. Stability testing monitors physical parameters (colour, odour, texture, phase separation, pH), microbiological quality, and preservative efficacy over time. Accelerated stability studies (typically 40°C/75% RH for 3 months) are used to predict real-time stability quickly for product launches. Real-time studies at 25°C/60% RH provide long-term shelf-life data. Both are often run in parallel.

Patch testing and dermatological safety assessments

A patch test (repeated insult patch test — RIPT, or human repeat insult patch test — HRIPT) is a clinical assessment of your product's skin sensitization potential using a panel of human volunteers. It provides human safety data that can support both CPSR Part B conclusions and marketing claims such as "dermatologically tested" or "suitable for sensitive skin." A RIPT is not mandatory for all products, but is expected for products making sensitization-related claims and for products containing novel or high-concentration active ingredients. Dermatological assessment by a qualified dermatologist — reviewing the formulation and test results — can be incorporated into the CPSR to add clinical depth. On Cruxi Bridge, you can book patch tests and dermatological review separately or as a bundled package.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Preservative Efficacy Test (PET)?: A PET (also called a Challenge Test) assesses whether your product's preservation system adequately protects against microbial contamination throughout its shelf life. It is required for most rinse-off and leave-on cosmetics with aqueous phases, and is a key input to the EU CPSR.
What is the difference between accelerated and real-time stability testing?: Accelerated stability testing subjects samples to elevated temperature (e.g., 40°C/75% RH for 3 months) to predict shelf life quickly. Real-time testing stores samples at normal conditions and takes 12–24 months. Accelerated results can support initial market launch while real-time studies continue.
Do cosmetic labs accept samples from small brands?: Yes. Most labs on Cruxi Bridge accept small batch samples (typically 50–200g per SKU). Minimum sample quantities vary by test type — confirm with your chosen lab at booking.
Can the lab report be used directly in my CPSR?: Yes. Lab test reports from accredited laboratories are the primary data source for the CPSR safety assessment. Your safety assessor will need the full lab report, not just a summary.
How long does a full stability study take?: An accelerated stability study at 40°C/3 months takes approximately 3 months lab time plus analysis. Real-time studies at 25°C take 12–36 months. Rush options may be available.

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