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Viroxy staff examining results of incubated petri dish

Disinfectant Efficacy Testing

Disinfectant efficacy testing is the mainstay of our business and we are primarily guided by the European Norms

EN 14885:2022 stipulates the European standards (or more specifically, laboratory test methods) to which chemical disinfectants and antiseptics must conform in order to support the claims for microbiocidal activity. It is applicable to all products that claim efficacy against vegetative bacteria (including mycobacteria and Legionella), yeasts, fungal spores, viruses (including bacteriophages) and bacterial spores. As different areas of application have different requirements, separate tests and pass criteria have been established for medical, veterinary and food, industrial, domestic & institutional sectors.

We recommend manufacturers refer to the summary table and the full standard as it enables them to select the appropriate test standards to support their claims for a specific product. We also perform other tests not listed in EN 14885 such as ISO 21530:2004 - disinfectant material compatibility test for dental equipment surfaces and EN 16615:2015 - four-field test for disinfectant wipes.

What's unique about getting your disinfectants and antiseptics tested at Viroxy besides the affordable rate and fast turnaround time is that we have a collection of more than 180 test microorganisms to choose from. We have 30 norms listed under the ISO/IEC 17025 scope.

For a non-exhaustive list of disinfectant efficacy tests we conduct at Viroxy, please refer to the table below. Or download the list.

Download list

EN 1040:2005

Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of basic bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics.
(Dilution-neutralization Method)

 
Medical Area
EN 13727:2012+A2:2015

Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity in the medical area.
(Dilution-neutralization Method, Modified Dilution-neutralization Method & Membrane Filtration Method)


EN 14561:2006

Quantitative carrier test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity for instruments used in the medical area.


EN 16615:2015

Quantitative test method for the evaluation of bactericidal and yeasticidal activity on non-porous surfaces with mechanical action employing wipes in the medical area.
(4- field test)


EN 17387:2021

Quantitative test for the evaluation of bactericidal and yeasticidal and/or fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants in the medical area on non-porous surfaces without mechanical action.

VAH (Association of Applied Hygiene) Test Methods

VAH Method 7

Determination of the bacteriostatic and yeaststatic activity as well as a suitable neutraliser.


VAH Method 8

Determination of the bactericidal and yeasticidal activity in the qualitative suspension test.


VAH Method 9

Determination of the bactericidal, yeasticidal, fungicidal, tuberculocidal and mycobactericidal activity in the quantitative suspension test.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Test Methods

ISO 22196:2011

Measurement of antibacterial activity on plastics and other non-porous surfaces.


ISO 20743:2013

Determination of antibacterial activity of textile products.

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Test Methods

ASTM D7907-14:2019

Standard test methods for determination of bactericidal efficacy on the surface of medical examination gloves.

AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) Test Methods

AOAC 961.02:2009

Germicidal spray products as disinfectant.

TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) Test Methods

TGA

TGA Disinfectant Test

 

PAS (Publicly Available Specification) Test Methods

PAS 2424:2014

Quantitative surface test for the evaluation of residual antimicrobial (bactericidal and/or yeasticidal) efficacy of liquid chemical.

EN 1275:2005

Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of basic fungicidal or basic yeasticidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics.
(Dilution-neutralization Method)

 
Medical Area
EN 13624:2021

Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of fungicidal or yeasticidal activity in the medical area.
(Dilution-neutralization Method, Modified Dilution-neutralization Method & Membrane Filtration Method)


EN 14562:2006

Quantitative carrier test for the evaluation of fungicidal or yeasticidal activity for instruments used in the medical area.


EN 16615:2015

Quantitative test method for the evaluation of bactericidal and yeasticidal activity on non-porous surfaces with mechanical action employing wipes in the medical area.
(4- field test)


EN 17387:2021

Quantitative test for the evaluation of bactericidal and yeasticidal and/or fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants in the medical area on non-porous surfaces without mechanical action.

VAH (Association of Applied Hygiene) Test Methods

VAH Method 7

Determination of the bacteriostatic and yeaststatic activity as well as a suitable neutraliser.


VAH Method 8

Determination of the bactericidal and yeasticidal activity in the qualitative suspension test.


VAH Method 9

Determination of the bactericidal, yeasticidal, fungicidal, tuberculocidal and mycobactericidal activity in the quantitative suspension test.

PAS (Publicly Available Specification) Test Methods

PAS 2424:2014

Quantitative surface test for the evaluation of residual antimicrobial (bactericidal and/or yeasticidal) efficacy of liquid chemical.

Medical Area
EN 14476:2013+A2:2019

Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of virucidal activity in the medical area.
(Quantal Tests)


EN 16777:2018

Quantitative non-porous surface test without mechanical action for the evaluation of virucidal activity of chemical disinfectant used in the medical area.
(Quantal Tests)


EN 17111:2018

Quantitative carrier test for the evaluation of virucidal activity for instruments used in the medical area.
(Quantal Tests)

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Test Methods

ISO 21702:2019

Measurement of antiviral activity on plastics and other non-porous surfaces.
(Quantal Tests)


ISO 18184:2019

Determination of antiviral activity on textile products.
(Quantal Tests)

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Test Methods

ASTM E1053:2020

Assess virucidal activity of chemicals intended for disinfection on inanimate, nonporous environmental surfaces.
(Quantal Tests)

European Test Methods

EN 1499:2013

Hygienic handwash.


EN 1500:2013

Hygienic handrub.


EN 12791:2016+A1:2017

Surgical hand disinfection.


EN 17430:2024

Hygienic handrub virucidal.

European Test Methods

EN 17272:2020

Methods of airborne room disinfection by automated process - Determination of bactericidal, mycobactericidal, sporicidal, fungicidal, yeasticidal, virucidal and phagocidal activities.

VAH (Association of Applied Hygiene) Test Methods

VAH Method 14.1

Surface disinfection without mechanical action - simulated-use test.


VAH Method 14.2

Surface disinfection with mechanical action - simulated-use test.
(4-field test)


VAH Method 15

Chemical/chemical-thermal instrument disinfection - quantitative carrier test.

*Norm is in the process of acquiring accreditation

The breadth and depth of our expertise in the medical, food, industrial, domestic, institutional and veterinary sectors also enable us to provide consultative advice in the process of getting your brand-new disinfectant approved. If you have any questions or special test requests, please contact us through the Contact Us tab.

Click here to submit sample(s) for disinfectant efficacy testing