Standards for antiseptics and disinfectants

Our disinfectant efficacy tests are carried out mainly in accordance with the methods spelled out in standards published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Tests can be performed in COFRAC-accredited conditions if certain conditions are met.

European tests defined by CEN Technical Committee 216 (CEN/TC 216) are organized in three phases:

• Phase 1: Basic standards
  These standards describe distilled water suspension tests to assess basic functions.

• Phase 2: Application standards
  These standards simulate anticipated practical conditions for the product’s use. Concerned fields are domestic use, industry, and human and veterinary medicine.
  Phase 2, step 1: Suspension tests with interfering substances
  Phase 2, step 2: Tests on surfaces (germ carriers)

• Phase 3: Practical conditions standards
  These standards will be developed in the future.

IRM can perform CEN tests for virucidal activity in COFRAC-accredited conditions:

• Standard NF EN 14476 for chemical disinfectants used in human medicine
  Test on poliovirus type 1, adenovirus type 5, murine norovirus and vaccinia virus
• Standard NF EN 14675 for chemical disinfectants used in the veterinary field
  Test on bovine enterovirus type 1 – ECBO

We also perform tests on a wide range of supplementary viruses in accordance with the methods of European standards: