OECD 435: In vitro skin corrosion (Corrositex®)

Skin corrosion refers to the production of irreversible tissue damage in the skin following the application of a test material. The potential for chemical induced skin corrosion is an important consideration in establishing procedures for safe handling, packing and transport of chemicals. 

The commercially available Corrositex® model has undergone formal validation and has been accepted by regulatory authorities for skin corrosion testing. The in vitro assay system is composed of two components, a synthetic macromolecular barrier and a chemical detection system (CDS). 

The more corrosive a test substance, the shorter time it takes to penetrate (break through) the biobarrier and effect a color change. Noncorrosive substances do not disrupt the barrier, or disrupt the barrier too slowly to be identified as corrosive.