Cosmetics testing - Microbiology of cosmetics. Detection of Candida albicans (EN ISO 18416: 2016).
Test accredited by ENAC (Spanish National Accreditation Entity)
The test provides information about the "presence or absence" of Candida albicans in 1 g or 1 mL of the cosmetic sample. To perform the test, the cosmetic is diluted in the ratio 1:10 in an enrichment broth directly, when products are miscible in water. When products are not miscible in water is mixed with a solubilizing agent (polysorbate 80) and subsequently added to the enrichment broth. The enrichment broth should contain a neutralizer when cosmetic tested contains any antimicrobial agent as preservative. Neutralizer used must have been previously validated by a validation test. The presence or absence of Candida albicans in the cosmetic is determined after incubation for 24 to 72 hours at 32.5ºC in the enrichment broth, reseeding in a selective medium. This medium is incubated at 32.5ºC and observed at 24 and 48 hours. Where there are compatible colonies, they are identified by phenotypic and morphological tests (microscopic examination, production of germ tubes and chlamydospore seeding in media with suitable substrates for this characterization.