Child-Resistant Package Testing

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Mother holding child while talking to a doctor who is holding medicine

Pioneers in CR Testing

Perritt Laboratories is the premier laboratory in child-resistant package testing, with a long-standing history of technical leadership in the development, evaluation, and validation of child-resistant packaging systems. No other testing laboratory has contributed more extensively to the advancement of child-resistant packaging or to the establishment and evolution of the associated testing protocols.

From prescription pharmaceuticals to over-the-counter drugs, medications are often used openly by adults in the presence of children. When children observe parents or caregivers taking medicine, products can appear familiar, harmless, or desirable to imitate. Child-resistant packaging is therefore critical. We apply technical expertise, real-world testing populations, and regulatory insight to help ensure packaging effectively limits unintended access and protects families and communities.

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Products Requiring Poison Prevention Package Testing

Under the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, numerous substances are subject to mandatory child-resistant packaging requirements to reduce the risk of accidental poisoning and injury. Products commonly requiring testing include:

  • Prescription and controlled medications
  • Over-the-counter drugs, including aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen
  • Household chemicals containing petroleum distillates, like lighter fluid, or methanol
  • Products containing sodium or potassium hydroxide
  • Certain personal care items, like mouthwash
  • Iron-containing products

Our CPSC CR Package Testing and Consulting Services

We go beyond mere regulatory compliance, partnering closely with clients to create tailored testing strategies that elevate product safety, build lasting brand confidence, and safeguard vulnerable populations through our specialized child-resistant packaging expertise.

Even brief access to an improperly protected product can result in serious, lifelong consequences for children and their families. Since 1973, we have been at the forefront of child-resistant and senior-use package testing. Our extensive testing network includes hundreds of thousands of participating children and senior adults, enabling robust, statistically meaningful evaluations.

Our testing programs are designed to support compliance with all applicable U.S. and international requirements, including:

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (16 CFR, Part 1700)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR, Part 162)
  • European Standards (EN 8317 and EN 14375)
  • International Standard (ISO 8317)

Through long-standing partnerships with YMCAs, senior centers, daycare facilities, camps, and nursery schools throughout the Northeastern United States, we continuously refine our testing methodologies to align with evolving industry expectations while maintaining strict adherence to regulatory protocols.

Our child-resistant package testing services typically begin with a detailed technical consultation. We evaluate your packaging to identify potential weak points, recommend adjustments to improve closure performance, and ensure you are following the correct testing protocols for your specific product. This proactive approach helps you save time, control costs, and accelerate product readiness.

In addition to compliance testing, we offer specialized marketing and usability studies utilizing the same trusted participant networks. These studies may include:

  • Product use evaluations
  • Packaging preference assessments
  • Product preference studies
  • Swallowability assessments
  • Taste and texture discrimination analysis

These insights support informed product design decisions while maintaining safety as the primary objective.

Child reaching down to grab a blister package of medicine from a pile of pill packages on the floor
Child reaching down to grab a blister package of medicine from a pile of pill packages on the floor
Child reaching down to grab a blister package of medicine from a pile of pill packages on the floor
Child reaching down to grab a blister package of medicine from a pile of pill packages on the floor

Protect Children and Your Brand With Perritt Laboratories

Manufacturers share a critical responsibility to prevent unintended access to potentially harmful products. Effective child-resistant packaging not only protects consumers but also reinforces brand integrity and regulatory confidence. Partner with Perritt Laboratories to validate your packaging with real-world testing and proven expertise.

To begin your child-resistant package testing program, contact us today!

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