Objective To analyze and compare the skin corrosion of Wistar and SD rats by using the transcutaneous electrical resistance (TER) test method . Methods In accordance with the OECD TG 430 procedure and Chinese Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics, Wistar rats and SD rats were used to test the skin corrosivity of 12reference chemicals, with the result being compared between the two strains. Results After testing by TER, the result for the two strains of rats, using the OECD guidelines, showed the same conclusion for the corrosivity of the 12 chemicals; the sensitivity was 50% and the specificity was 100%. When using the Chinese Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics, the findings for the two strains of rats were not consistent with the judgment on the corrosion associated with 4?(methylthio)? benzaldehyde, while the same conclusion of corrosivity were made for the other 11 reference chemicals. The sensitivity for the Wistar rats was 100% and the specificity was 83. 3%, while the sensitivity and specificity for the SD rats were all 100%. Conclusions The two strains of rats showed result largely in accordance with the skin corrosion result upon the testing of 12 reference chemicals by TER. SD rats could thus be used instead of Wistar rats in the TER test.