Disinfectant testing on surfaces.

During the last decade a consensus view has evolved in Europe on the quantitative testing of disinfectant efficacy in suspension tests, as well as in surface tests. Harmonization of the different national test methods is being pursued within the framework of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN/TC216). An expert subgroup of the Committee has drafted a test method to measure the microbicidal activity of disinfectants on bacteria attached to surfaces. The outcome of an initial collaborative study from seven laboratories is that this test system yields reproducible results in different laboratories; thus fulfilling the requirements for a basic surface disinfectant test.