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The summary information below was assembled by Antimicrobial Test Laboratories in early 2014. It is believed to be more current (as of publication) than EPA’s own 810 series of guidance documents.

Product testing requirements change over time, so please check with EPA or a good consultant to verify the accuracy of these testing requirements as they pertain to your sanitizer or disinfectant.

Note: a “carrier” is just an individual inoculated and dried test surface and LCL stands for “lower certified limit.”


Sanitizer (Non-Food Contact)

  • ASTM E1153
  • Staphylococcus aureus and either Enterobacter aerogenes or Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • 3 lots (batches), each at LCL
  • 3 control, 5 test carriers per lot, per microorganism
  • Contact time less than 5 minutes
  • >99.9% reduction

Sanitizer (Food Contact)

  • AOAC 960.09, or AOAC 955.16 if a halide like chlorine or iodine
  • Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogenes (non-halide)
  • Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella typhi (halide)
  • 3 lots (batches), each at LCL
  • Contact time varies by method
  • Performance requirement varies by method

Sanitizing Towelette (Non-Food Contact)

  • Modification of ASTM E1153
  • Staphylococcus aureus and either Enterobacter aerogenes or Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • 3 lots (batches), each at LCL
  • 3 control, 5 test carriers per lot, per microorganism
  • Contact time less than 5 minutes
  • >99.9% reduction

Sanitizing Towelette (Food Contact)

  • EPA interim towelette guidance
  • Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli
  • 3 lots (batches), each at LCL
  • Contact time of 30 seconds
  • >99.9% reduction

Residual Self-Sanitizer


Laundry Pre-Soak Sanitizer

  • ASTM E1153
  • Staphylococcus aureus and either Enterobacter aerogenes or Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • 3 lots (batches), each at LCL
  • 3 control, 5 test carriers per lot, per microorganism
  • Contact time less than 5 minutes
  • >99.9% reduction

Sanitizing Laundry Additive

  • ASTM E2274 and ASTM E2406
  • Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • 3 lots (batches), each at LCL
  • Contact time less than 5 minutes
  • >99.9% reduction

Carpet Sanitizer

  • Custom method required by EPA, typically includes…
  • Staphylococcus aureus and either Enterobacter aerogenes or Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • 3 lots (batches), each at LCL
  • 3 control, 5 test carriers per lot, per microorganism
  • Two carpet types
  • Contact time less than 60 minutes
  • >99.9% reduction

Surface Sanitizer for Fabrics and Textiles

  • Modification of ASTM E1153
  • Staphylococcus aureus and either Enterobacter aerogenes or Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • 3 lots (batches), each at LCL
  • 3 control, 5 test carriers per lot, per microorganism
  • Contact time less than 5 minutes
  • >99.9% reduction

Disinfectant (Residential Use)

  • Use Dilution (AOAC 955.14 and 955.15) or Germicidal Spray Test (AOAC 961.02)
  • Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica
  • 3 lots (batches), each at LCL
  • 60 carriers per lot, per microorganism
  • Each lot tested on separate day if S. aureus is the test organism.
  • Contact time less than 10 minutes
  • Performance criteria depend on test method and test organism(s)

Disinfectant (Hospital Use)

  • Use Dilution (AOAC 955.15 and 964.02) or Germicidal Spray (AOAC 961.02)
  • Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • 3 lots (batches), each at LCL
  • 60 carriers per lot, per microorganism
  • Each lot tested on separate day for both test microorganisms
  • Contact time less than 10 minutes
  • Performance criteria depend on test method and test organism(s)

Fungicidal Disinfectant

  • All requirements for basic disinfectant, plus….
  • AOAC Fungicidal Test (955.17) or Use-Dilution Test modified for fungi
  • Trichophyton mentagrophytes
  • Two lots (batches), each at LCL
  • 10 carriers per lot
  • Contact time less than 10 minutes
  • Performance criteria depend on test method used

Virucidal Disinfectant

  • All requirements for basic disinfectant, plus….
  • ASTM E1053 or Germicidal Spray Products Test Modified for Viruses
  • Virus claimed on the label or suitable surrogate
  • Two lots (batches), at LCL if “main” virus
  • 1 10 square inch test surface per lot
  • Contact time less than 10 minutes
  • Complete inactivation or >99.9% when cytotoxicity is evident

Tuberculocidal Disinfectant

  • All requirements for basic disinfectant, plus….
  • AOAC 965.12 or AOAC Germicidal Spray Products modified for Tuberculocides
  • Mycobacterium bovis BCG
  • Two lots (batches) at LCL
  • 10 carriers per lot or 4 replicates per lot, depending on method
  • Contact time less than 10 minutes
  • Complete inactivation on all carriers

Fungicidal Disinfectant Towelette

  • All requirements for basic disinfectant, plus….
  • Germicidal Spray Test modified for towelettes and fungi
  • Trichophyton mentagrophytes
  • Two lots (batches), each at LCL
  • 10 carriers per lot
  • Contact time less than 10 minutes
  • Performance criteria depend on test method used

Virucidal Disinfectant Towelette

  • All requirements for basic disinfectant, plus….
  • ASTM E1053 or Germicidal Spray Products Test Modified for Viruses and Towelettes
  • Virus claimed on the label or suitable surrogate
  • Two lots (batches), at LCL if “main” virus
  • 1 10 square inch test surface per lot
  • Contact time less than 10 minutes
  • Complete inactivation or >99.9% when cytotoxicity is evident

Tuberculocidal Disinfectant Towelette

  • All requirements for basic disinfectant, plus….
  • AOAC 965.12 or AOAC Germicidal Spray Products modified for Tuberculocides
  • Mycobacterium bovis BCG
  • Two lots (batches) at LCL
  • 10 carriers per lot or 4 replicates per lot, depending on method
  • Contact time less than 10 minutes
  • Complete inactivation on all carriers

Laundry Pre-Soak Disinfectant

  • Use Dilution (AOAC 955.14 and 955.15)
  • Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica
  • 60 carriers per lot, per microorganism
  • Contact time less than 10 minutes
  • Performance criteria depend on test method and test organism(s)

Disinfectant Laundry Additive

  • ASTM E2274 and ASTM E2406
  • Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • 3 lots (batches), each at LCL
  • Complete inactivation of all test organisms

Hopefully this table has been helpful to the readers of this site. If not, just contact the lab using our web form or give the lab a call and we’ll be glad to help you decide on the right study to run.

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