A European standard “EN 1276 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics - Quantitative suspension test for the assessment of the bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics used in food, industrial, residential and institutional areas - Test method and requirements (stage 2, step 1)” describes a test method and minimum requirements for the bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectant and antiseptic products that form a homogeneous, physically stable preparation when diluted with hard water or, in the case of ready-to-use products, with water.
Products can only be tested at a concentration of 80 percent or less because some dilution always occurs when the test organisms and interfering substance are added. This standard applies to products used in food, industrial, residential, and institutional areas, except for areas and situations where disinfection is medically indicated, and to products used on living tissue, except for hand hygiene in the areas mentioned above.
At least the following areas are included in the standard:
The EN 14885 standard contains detailed information on the relationship between various tests and recommendations for use.
This standard describes a suspension test to determine whether a chemical disinfectant or antiseptic has bactericidal activity in the areas described in the scope. This laboratory test considers the practical application conditions of the product, including contact time, temperature, test organisms, and interacting substances—conditions that may affect its effectiveness in practical situations. The conditions are intended to cover general purposes and provide cross-references across laboratories and product types. Each use concentration of the chemical disinfectant or antiseptic determined by this test corresponds to the defined test conditions. However, for some applications, the recommendations for use of a product may differ, and therefore, additional test conditions may be necessary.
The product shall show a reduction of at least 5 decimal logarithms (lg) (3 lg for hand washing) when diluted with hard water or, in the case of ready-to-use products, with water and tested in accordance with this standard under simulated clean conditions or simulated dirty conditions in accordance with its practical application and the appropriate test conditions described in the tables given in the standard.
In principle, when performing the test, a sample of the product, either delivered or diluted with hard water (or water for ready-to-use products, except for handwashing products that require initial dilution in hard water), is added to a bacterial test suspension in a mixing solution. The mixture is held at the selected test temperature for the specified contact time. At the end of this contact time, an aliquot is removed, and the bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity in this aliquot is immediately neutralized or suppressed by a validated method. Dilution-neutralization is the preferred method. If a suitable neutralizer is not available, membrane filtration is used. The number of surviving bacteria in each sample is determined, and the reduction is calculated.
The test is performed using Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus hirae as test organisms. Only Enterococcus faecium should be used at temperatures of at least 40°C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli K12, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus hirae are used as test organisms in testing hand hygiene products.
In environments where hygiene and cleanliness are paramount, such as hospitals, food processing facilities, and public spaces, the use of effective disinfectants is not optional but mandatory. The EN 1276 standard plays a key role in ensuring that disinfectants meet stringent antibacterial efficacy requirements.
This standard defines the bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics. It applies specifically to products used in food, industrial, residential, and institutional settings, ensuring their effectiveness against harmful bacteria. EN 1276 requires that products claiming bactericidal activity reduce viable bacterial counts by at least 5 log units (99,999 percent) under defined test conditions.
The main objectives of the EN 1276 standard are:
The test method defined in the EN 1276 standard is a quantitative suspension test that simulates practical conditions. The steps are simply as follows:
EN 1276 certification is vital in sectors where disinfection is critical:
When choosing a disinfectant, especially for professional use, it's critical to check its compliance with EN 1276. This ensures that the product is not only marketed as antibacterial but also scientifically proven effective under standardized testing conditions.
Our organization, which has been serving for many years and meticulously following global developments in science and technology, employs a team of experienced professionals and a broad infrastructure to conduct testing, measurement, and analysis in a wide range of areas for businesses across all sectors. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the standard "EN 1276 Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics - Quantitative suspension test for the assessment of bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics used in food, industrial, residential, and institutional areas - Test method and requirements (phase 2, step 1)."
To get an appointment, to get more detailed information or to request an evaluation, you can ask us to fill in our form and reach you.
