Revised ASTM Test Method helps measure antimicrobial activity.

Press Release Summary:



Subcommittee E35.15 on Antimicrobial Agents has revised ASTM E2149, Test Method for Determining the Antimicrobial Activity of Immobilized Antimicrobial Agents Under Dynamic Contact Conditions, to provide more reproducible and reliable method consistent with other E35.15 microbiological standards. Subcommittee is currently looking for microbiological laboratories to participate in inter-laboratory testing in study to begin in fall 2010.



Original Press Release:



Newly Revised ASTM Test Method Measures Antimicrobial Activity



W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. - Subcommittee E35.15 on Antimicrobial Agents is responsible for more than 50 ASTM standards that are used for testing antimicrobial treated articles as well as topical antimicrobials and disinfectants versus bacteria, fungi and viruses. The subcommittee is part of ASTM International Committee E35 on Pesticides and Alternative Control Agents.

One of the most widely used of E35.15 standards, ASTM E2149, Test Method for Determining the Antimicrobial Activity of Immobilized Antimicrobial Agents Under Dynamic Contact Conditions, has recently been revised. ASTM E2149 is used to measure the direct antimicrobial activity of materials (for example, textiles and hard surfaces) treated with durable, non-leaching antimicrobial agents. This revision provides a more reproducible and reliable method consistent with other microbiological standards within E35.15.

"ASTM E2149 is a fast, reliable screening tool that can be used either during the development of a treated product or for routine quality control during production of articles treated with proven non-leaching antimicrobial agents," says Robert Monticello, vice president and chief technology officer, AEGIS Environments, and a member of E35.15.

According to Monticello, primary users of ASTM E2149 are companies that must validate the antimicrobial performance of their products as well as textile mills and brands that must provide evidence of application of a required dosage and validate the continued expected performance.

Subcommittee E35.15 is currently looking for microbiological laboratories to participate in interlaboratory testing using ASTM E2149. The study will be initiated this fall.

Monticello says that E35.15 has several proposed standards in development and that all interested parties are invited to participate in the subcommittee's activities. "The E35.15 subcommittee is comprised of dedicated microbiologists, keenly aware of the variety of International standards available to them and dedicated to the development of reliable and realistic microbiological laboratory methods that can be used to predict and measure real-world activity," he says.

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ASTM Committee E35 Next Meeting: Oct. 11-14, October Committee Week, San Antonio, Texas

Technical Contact: Robert Monticello, AEGIS Environmental Management, Midland, Mich., Phone: 989-832-8180; rmonticello@microbeshield.com

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