Total Viable Count (TVC)

Total Viable Count (TVC) testing is essential for determining the condition of a water-based cosmetic product. The TVC test counts the total number of microorganisms (bacteria, yeast and moulds) that may be present in the finished product.

The test provides an indication of the overall level of contamination in a product by using the plate count method to determine the number of colony-forming units (CFU) which indicates the remaining viable cells within the product. However, this test does not identify the specific species of microorganisms present, if any, within the cosmetic product.

TVC Testing

Total Viable Count (TVC) checks the microbial condition of a cosmetic product immediately after manufacture, or when in its finished packaging.

This test indicates whether there are sources of contamination present (either from raw materials, water, mixing equipment, filling lines or packaging).

Vegan TVC Testing

Our Vegan versions of the Total Viable Count (TVC) test uses only Vegan Society approved materials.

The TVC checks the microbial condition of a cosmetic product immediately after manufacture, or when in its finished packaging.

This test indicates whether there are sources of contamination present (either from raw materials, water, mixing equipment, filling lines or packaging).

Test Procedure

Testing will require 250 g of your sample.

The sample is diluted to obtain a suspension of any microbial contamination that may be present.

The extracted liquid is then dispersed in special growth media and incubated.

After the incubation period (48 hours for bacteria and 5-7 days for fungi) any colonies that were formed are counted.