Antimicrobial testing standard

Increasingly, numerous biocide products are displaying residual claims (e.g. long lasting protection, 24-hour protection and residual action). Researchers and companies have designed test methods in an attempt to demonstrate residual antimicrobial efficacy and support these claims. However, these methods largely involve applying a product to a surface and leaving it for a defined period of time before challenging with a bacterial load. 

The limitation of such tests is that the surface remains undisturbed following application.This PAS specifies a test method for residual bactericidal and/or yeasticidal activity of liquid, chemical disinfectant products that are applied to hard, non-porous surfaces which are likely to undergo abrasive action, so remaining as close as possible to the practical conditions in which the product is designed to be used by taking into consideration both abrasion and spillage. The method described is intended to determine the activity of commercial formulations or active substances under the conditions in which they are used in accordance with BS EN 13697:2001.

The PAS is designed for laboratories that perform antimicrobial testing in order to test the residual antimicrobial properties of liquid, chemical disinfectant products for use in sectors such as (but not limited to) the food industry; institutional areas such as schools, hospitals and nursing homes; in the workplace; and in the home/domestic environment. A Publicly Available Specification (PAS) is a sponsored fast track standard driven by the needs of the client organisations and developed according to guidelines set out by BSI.