Disinfectants are chemical agents used on inanimate surfaces and objects to destroy infectious fungi, viruses, and bacteria, but not necessarily their spores. Sporicidal and antiviral agents may be considered a special class of disinfectants. Disinfectants are often categorised as high-level, intermediate-level, and low-level based upon their efficacy against various microorganisms.

The effectiveness of a disinfectant depends on its intrinsic biocidal activity, the concentration of the disinfectant, the contact time, the nature of the surface disinfected, the hardness of the water used to dilute the disinfectant, the number of organic materials present on the surface, and the type and the number of microorganisms present.

 How SIG Can Help

SIG laboratory provides antimicrobial tests according to USP 42 NF 37 2019 <1072> standard methods.

Several microorganisms can be tested:

• Aspergillus niger
• Bacillus subtilis
• Candida albicans
• Enterobacter aerogenes
• Enterococcus faecalis
• Escherichia coli
• Klebsiella pneumonia
• Listeria monocytogenes
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Salmonella sp
• Salmonella typhimurium
• Shigella sonnei
• Staphylococcus aureus

Method of Analysis

Antimicrobial test according to USP in SIG Laboratory using serial dilutions (log dilutions) method.

The microbial test suspension is inoculated onto the surface of a 2 x 2-inch square plate. Then disinfectant is applied with the appropriate contact time. The decrease in a log that occurs indicates the antimicrobial ability of the disinfectant.