Studies of polyester fiber as carrier for microbes in a quantitative test method for disinfectants.

Tests were conducted by a Task Force on Disinfectant Test Methods that was appointed to investigate controversies regarding the accuracy of AOAC test methods for disinfectants as presented in AOAC's Official Methods of Analysis, Chapter 6. The general principles for new and improved AOAC tests are discussed, and a disinfectant test using microbes labeled onto a polyester fiber surface is described. The quantitative test measures the survival of test microbes as a function of exposure time as well as the exposure conditions required to kill 6 log10 of the test microbes. The time required was similar to that for the kinetics of the kill of Bacillus subtilis-labeled cylinders as tested by methods of the AOAC Sporicidal Test 966.04.