How to read a toy test report

A test report tells you four things: exactly what product was tested (photos, model, samples), which standard editions and clauses were applied, what the measured results were, and which CPSC-accepted laboratory performed the work. Your CPC must mirror the product and rules in that report, so reading it correctly is the core compliance skill.

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The five parts to check first Red flags inside reports

The five parts to check first

Product identification: photos and descriptions matching your exact SKU and factory.
Standard editions: the report should cite current editions (for example ASTM F963-23).
Results per rule: each cited rule needs a pass, with the measured values where applicable.
Lab identity and CPSC acceptance scope.
Sample date and location: the tested samples must represent what you will sell.

Red flags inside reports

Reports with typos in rule numbers, missing photos, or results without measured values deserve a second look. Marketplaces increasingly verify reports directly with labs, so an inconsistent document fails twice: once at review and once at verification.

Questions people ask

Do I need to understand the technical test methods?

Not deeply, but you must confirm each rule you cite has a passing result in the report, and that the product description matches your listing.

Can I ask the lab to fix a report?

Yes: labs issue corrections and re-reports routinely. What you cannot do is edit the report yourself.

How long should I keep the report?

At least five years alongside the CPC it supports, and for the life of the listing if you sell longer.

How to read a toy test report

The five parts to check first

Red flags inside reports

Questions people ask

Related guides

CPSIA testing requirements, in plain English

How to get a CPC certificate, step by step

How to choose a CPSC-accepted testing lab