International standardization of disinfectant testing: is it possible?
At present there is no harmonization of antiseptic and disinfectant testing in the world, not even in Europe. In the case of surface disinfection the bactericidal activity of preparations is evaluated by very different techniques. The Association of Official Analytical Chemists of the USA prescribes a carrier test, the use-dilution test, to determine the maximum dilutions that are effective for practical disinfection. In Germany and in France, the final test for determining the use-dilution of a disinfectant preparation is a practical test mimicking conditions of use. In the UK the Kelsey-Sykes test, a capacity test, is more popular. The Council of Europe prescribes a quantitative suspension test with organic load, the European Suspension Test (EST), as the definitive testing method for disinfectants used in food hygiene. It is to be expected that these varied testing techniques would yield different results. The evaluation of a testing technique should be supported by correlation of the results of the tests with efficacy in practice. The recent founding of a technical committee of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) raises great hope that, at least in Europe, a harmonization of the testing techniques will be possible in the near future.
Reybrouck
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Public Health Laboratory, School of Public Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
D004202:Disinfectants / Q000592:standards*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States
D004202:Disinfectants