USP 62

Published: January 30th, 2019

Revised: January 30th, 2019

Microbiological Examination of Nonsterile Products: Tests for Specified Microorganisms, is a product safety test specified by the United States Pharmacopeia Convention (USP) to evaluate the presence or absence of specified microorganisms. These tests are necessary for cosmetic and personal care products especially products that have high potential for use around the eyes, nose and mouth.

These bioload challenges are often critical to the release of such products to market. It is not only important to determine how much microbial contaminants are in your product if any (See USP 61 ), it is also important to know what type of microbe can be found growing in your product.

This test method determines whether your product will support of bacterial growth of potential pathogens such as:

Staphylococcus aereus
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Escherichia coli
Salmonella enterica
Candidia albicans
Clostridium sporogenes
bile-tolerant gram negative bacteria
Fungal organisms

Prior to performing testing, the product should undergo suitability testing in the same fashion as USP 61 .