APC Bacteria Testing for Cosmetics
Bacterial contamination in cosmetics and personal care items like sunscreen, hand sanitizer, deodorant, antiperspirant, or shampoo can affect product safety and quality. An Aerobic Plate Count (APC) measures the total number of aerobic bacteria in a sample, providing a clear indicator of overall microbial load.
SimpleLab’s Aerobic Plate Count Cosmetics Mail-to-lab Test makes it easy to test one cosmetic or personal care product for APC using the AOAC 966.23 method.
How Do You Test for Aerobic Plate Count in Cosmetics?
To test for aerobic plate count, collect a sample of your cosmetic or personal care product using sterile materials and mail it to a certified lab. Our mail-to-lab test kit is the best way to test for APC bacteria in cosmetics.
Key Features:
- All sampling materials
- Easy-to-follow instructions
- Prepaid 2-day shipping label
- Detailed bacterial count results delivered digitally within 7 business days of the lab receiving your sample
At the lab, technicians analyze the sample using the AOAC 966.23 method with a lower detection limit of 10 CFU/g.
Who Is This Test For?
This test is for anyone who needs to confirm the bacterial quality of a cosmetic or personal care product. This commonly includes:
- Manufacturers
- Formulators
- Quality control and product quality assurance teams
- Curious consumers checking personal care items for contamination.
Each kit tests one sample from a single product.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is APC testing?
It measures the total aerobic bacterial population in a sample, giving an overall indicator of microbial quantity. A high APC result could indicate issues with product handling or overall sanitation.
Can I use a DIY method instead?
No. Only certified lab testing, like the AOAC 966.23 method, provides accurate and defensible APC results.
How many samples can I test with one kit?
One kit tests one sample from a single cosmetic or personal care product.
How fast will I get my results?
Results are ready within 7 business days after the lab receives your sample via prepaid 2-day shipping.
Questions? Contact Us
SimpleLab makes lab testing easy, accurate, and accessible.
If you have any questions about testing with SimpleLab, reach out to our customer support team any time.
The SimpleLab Standard
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Proven Reliability: SimpleLab partners with North America's leading analytical institutions—including Eurofins, Pace Analytical, SGS, and Microbac—each with their own rigorous quality control protocols to ensure top-tier accuracy. Our certified labs are located across all 50 states, making logistics a breeze.
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Simplified Sampling: Every kit includes professional-grade materials, clear instructions, automated chain of custody, and free return shipping— making accurate testing effortless.
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Seamless Experience: We combine human support with automated logistics to help make complex lab analyses accessible to all. From our user interface to our lab reports, we ensure a time-saving, frustration-free process.
Sam brings expertise in water chemistry and environmental engineering to support scientific standards at SimpleLab. She earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Environmental Engineering and has experience in environmental analytical chemistry research.
About SimpleLab
SimpleLab combines world-class laboratory science with customer service to ensure testing your environment is simple, fast and factual. Everything we do is driven by data and supported by a team of experts ready to answer your questions.
