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TEST METHOD
Quantitative Carrier Test for the Evaluation of Fungicidal or Yeasticidal Activity in the Veterinary Area
EN 16438 is the European Standard used to evaluate the fungicidal or yeasticidal activity of disinfectants on non-porous surfaces used in the veterinary area.
The infographic below provides a brief overview of the EN 16438 test method.
Understanding EN 16438 Testing
Application areas
This test method is applicable to surface disinfectants used without mechanical action in the veterinary area. For products requiring a wiping action, modifications to EN 16615 may be possible, as no standard test method is currently available for this application.
Test Protocol
Step 1: The test suspension is inoculated onto a sterile stainless steel disc and allowed to dry.
Step 2: The customer product is applied to the inoculated stainless steel disc and allowed to remain for the selected contact time.
Step 3: After the contact time, the stainless steel disc is transferred into a sterile neutralizer to stop the antimicrobial activity.
Step 4: After the required neutralization time, 1 mL of the neutralized mixture is plated and incubated. The surviving colonies are then enumerated.
Test Microorganisms
These are the mandatory test organisms:
- Candida albicans
- Aspergillus brasiliensis (not required if yeasticidal activity only)
Wish to add more microorganisms? Click here for our full list of microorganisms.
Contact Time & Concentration
The test concentration is chosen according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
The obligatory contact time to be tested is 60 minutes. However, the manufacturer can test at other contact times, including 5, 30 and 120 minutes.
The obligatory test temperature by the test method is 10°C. Other temperatures may be chosen according to application of use including 4°C, 20°C and 40°C.
Soiling Conditions
Interfering substances, or commonly referred to as soiling, are used to mimic organic substances found on human skin, surfaces, and instruments. These are the available soiling conditions according to the test method:
- Low level soiling: 3.0 g/L bovine serum albumin
- High level soiling: 10.0 g/L bovine serum albumin + 10.0 g/L yeast extract
Need help with your testing requirements?
Have questions about this test method or your product? Our technical team is here to assist you.