Generally, direct extrapolation of the results of animal to human toxicity cannot be made. This test method can be used for initial percutaneous toxicity studies on a single species. Ideally, the assessment of potential hazard to man requires the use of several mammalian species, such as rabbit, rat, guinea pig, and swine.

This method can be used to determine the dermal toxicity of technical chemicals, manufacturing use products or formulations.

Note 1-This test method is not intended to limit innovative approaches or modifications deemed desirable by individual investigators.

Some materials are not sufficiently toxic to mammals to be accurately measurable by this method. This may also be true when testing low concentrations of otherwise toxic formulations. Because of practical limitations in the amount of surface area of an animal that can be exposed and exposure times, only semiquantitative data can be obtained for such materials using this test. However, sufficient data should be generated by the use of the method to permit a reasonable estimate of the level of risk to humans.

Test materials that are a gas or highly volatile do not need to be tested.