ISTA Packaging Test Requirements

ISTA Packaging test
requirements at the Advance Packaging Test Laboratory are subject to established ISTA packaging test methods and requirements.

Product Damage Tolerance and Degradation Allowance

Prior to testing, the shipper shall determine what constitutes damage to the product, what damage tolerance level is allowable, if any, the correct methodology to determine product condition at the conclusion of the test and the acceptable package condition at the conclusion of the test.

Packaged Product Samples

ISTA testing requires one packaged product sample or in the case of unitized product, one unitized load, for completing all testing procedures offered at the Advance Packaging test laboratory.

ISTA recommends replicate packaged product testing performing five or more tests using new samples with each test.

Samples should be the untested actual package and product, but if one or both are not available, the substitutes shall be as identical as possible to actual items.

Packages that have already been subjected to the rigors of transportation cannot be assumed to represent standard conditions. In order to insure testing in perfect condition, products and packages shipped to certified laboratories for testing must be:  

  • Over-packaged for shipment to the laboratory or  
  • repackaged in new packaging at the laboratory.   
  • For ISTA Tests 3E and 3H, thoroughly document the configuration, materials, and construction of tested product and packages. Significant variations in performance can sometime be cause by seemly insignificant differences. ISTA strongly recommends photo documentation to supplement detailed written documentation.

Advance Packaging ISTA Testing Services Terms and Conditions

Advance Packaging Corporation is a third-party independent package testing laboratory. Customers are advised that the packaged-product undergoing performance testing may incur external and/or internal damage as a result of the test process. Advance Packaging is not liable for any damage to the product as a result of the said process.

Advance Packaging Corporation verifies that the described testing services are performed in accordance with standard good laboratory practices and in accordance with the requirements set forth in one, or more, ISTA testing procedure(s).  ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY THAT THE PACKAGING TESTED IS MERCHANTABLE, FIT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY FEDERAL OR STATE REGULATIONS, ARE DISCLAIMED.  In no event shall Advance Packaging Corporation's liability exceed the total amount paid by the customer for services rendered.

In the event of future changes to the ISTA Test Procedure(s) used for testing, it is the responsibility of the customer to determine whether additional testing or updating of past testing is necessary to verify that the packaging previously tested remains in compliance with those standards.