{"id":6167,"date":"2026-10-29T09:10:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T12:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nanoxtech.com\/en\/?p=6167"},"modified":"2026-10-26T16:38:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T19:38:13","slug":"antimicrobial-efficacy-testing-which-standards-validate-the-technology-applied-to-your-product","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nanoxtech.com\/en\/2026\/10\/29\/antimicrobial-efficacy-testing-which-standards-validate-the-technology-applied-to-your-product\/","title":{"rendered":"Antimicrobial efficacy testing: which standards validate the technology applied to your product"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Any antimicrobial claim is only as strong as the test report that supports it. In practice, it is the efficacy test that defines whether a product can be communicated as antibacterial, antifungal or antiviral, whether it passes the scrutiny of a demanding customer and whether it withstands regulatory questioning.<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

In this article, you will see how an efficacy test works, which standards are commonly used for each type of material, how to read a test report with a critical eye and how to plan the validation of your product.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Why the efficacy test is decisive<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
For procurement, the test report is a supplier qualification criterion. For R&D, it is the evidence that the formulation works. For marketing and sales, it is what authorizes the claim. And for regulatory affairs, it is the basis of any discussion with authorities and customers. Without an adequate test, the claim loses its footing.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

How an antimicrobial efficacy test works<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Although each standard has its own details, the general logic is similar.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Basic test steps<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
A known quantity of microorganisms is placed in contact with the treated material and with an untreated reference material. After a defined contact time, under controlled temperature and humidity conditions, the surviving microorganisms are counted and compared.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

How to interpret logarithmic reduction<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Results are usually expressed as log reduction or as a percentage. A 2 log reduction equals 99% and a 3 log reduction equals 99.9%. The minimum value accepted for a claim depends on the standard, the type of product and the market. For this reason, the number alone must be read together with the method used.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Most commonly used standards by material type<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
The table below brings together common market references. Standards undergo periodic revisions, so always confirm the current version and its suitability for your product with the laboratory and with regulatory affairs.<\/div>\n
[INSERT TABLE OF STANDARDS BY MATERIAL TYPE]<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

This table is a starting point. The final choice of standard must consider the type of microorganism, how the product is used and the requirements of the destination market.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral claims require different tests<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Each claim must be proven by a specific test: the antibacterial report supports the antibacterial claim, and the antiviral claim requires its own test. To understand these differences before defining the scope of validation, read the article on antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial technology<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

How to read an efficacy report: a checklist for R&D and procurement<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Before accepting a report as evidence, check:<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n