PURPOSE/RATIONALE: Moistures barriers are frequently used to treat and prevent incontinence associated dermatitis. Few randomized, controlled trials of these products have been published documenting their effectiveness. Manufacturers rely on the FDA OTC Skin Protectant Drug Monograph (55FR25204), which specifies active ingredients and dosages, as documentation of effectiveness. This monograph is still a Proposed Rule (never published in the Code of Federal Regulations), and does not require efficacy testing of the final product (only that they contain the proposed active ingredients within the proposed concentrations). Since publication of this monograph in 1990, studies have shown that vehicles used to deliver the active ingredients can affect barrier activity. However, since manufacturers are not required to document product effectiveness, the clinician must find other methods of screening products. Therefore, a simple, comparative test method has been developed that allows clinicians to perform their own screening of moisture barrier effectiveness. METHODS: This test is performed on the volar forearms of a volunteer. All the material required to perform this test can be purchased at common retail outlets for under $15 (first-aid dressings, dye, finger cots, eye dropper, skin marking pen). Six test sites are mapped onto the forearms to which a standardized amount of barrier is applied. The first-aid dressing pad is soaked with the dye and applied to the test sites over the barrier and allowed to remain in place for 3 to 6 hours. Test sites are rinsed after removal of the dressings to remove excess dye. The test sites are then visually compared to assess effectiveness of the barrier to repel the aqueous dye solution. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Numerous trials of this procedure indicate that differences exist in the ability of moisture barriers to repel aqueous solutions and that clinicians can use this simple procedure to screen potential products for clinical trial.