title: Pitfalls in the in vitro determination of sunscreen protection factors using broad band ultraviolet radiation detectors and solar simulating radiation.
abstract: Synopsis Reliable in vitro techniques for assessing sunscreen protection factors have relied upon obtaining the forward scattering transmission spectrum of the test compound applied to a suitable substrate such as mouse or human epidermis. A theoretical analysis of alternative techniques using broad-band ultraviolet radiation detectors in conjunction with a source of simulated sunlight shows that the method is likely to yield unreliable values of sun protection factors and the reasons for this are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Physics Department, Dryburn Hospital, Durham DH1 5TW, UK.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Diffey