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Microbiologist inoculating an aliquot of test suspension onto a glass slide.

EN 14563:2008

Quantitative carrier test for the evaluation of mycobactericidal and tuberculocidal activities of instrument disinfectants intended for use in the medical area.

EN 14563 is a phase 2 step 2 carrier test performed on instrument disinfectants intended for use in the medical area to test the efficacy of the product against mycobacteria.

Mycobacteria are more resistant to chemical agents compared to vegetative bacteria and enveloped viruses due to the waxy layer protecting the microbe. Although the microorganism causing tuberculosis is a mycobacterium, tuberculocidal activity can be tested individually using Mycobacterium terrae, the surrogate microbe for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, mycobactericidal activity encompasses activity against all mycobacteria and is superior to tuberculocidal activity.

 

Test Conditions


The standard refers to the parameters to be observed when testing products intended for instrument disinfection. The parameter includes the test microorganism, test temperature, carrier, contact time and interfering substance. 

Refer to the table below for the minimum test requirement.

 

Test Method

 

In a carrier test, the test microorganism is added to the selected interfering substance and applied onto a glass slide. The glass slide represents an actual instrument or carrier of microorganism. The glass slide is then left to air-dry to simulate instrument surface or carrier of microorganism. Next, the carrier is submerged in the test disinfectant for the duration of the contact time. The carrier is then transferred into a neutralizer solution to prevent continued mycobactericidal activity. A sample of the neutralizer solution is then acquired, plated and incubated for 21 days. The number of test microorganism recovered is compared to the microorganism recovered from the control sample (where test microorganism is exposed to water instead of disinfectant) to determine if the test product is effective.

Diagram 1: EN 14563 test method

 

Log Reduction

 

Log reduction refers to the extent to which a product is capable of reducing the number of microbes. For example, 4-log reduction means the number of microorganisms on a surface has been reduced by 10 000 times. A product that is 99.9% effective against a certain microbe is said to have achieved 3-log reduction against that microbe.

For a product to pass EN 14563, it must be able to achieve 4-log reduction against the respective test microorganisms listed in Table 1. In other words, the product must be able to kill 99.99% mycobacteria while meeting all the other requirements of the European standard.

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