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Guideline for Disinfectant – EN 14885
EN 14885 specifies the methods to be performed to analyze the efficacy of disinfectants
EN 14885 specifies the efficacy tests required for disinfectants used in different application areas according to European Standard.
The table below summarizes the test methods required for disinfectants used in the medical area.
PRODUCTS IN THE MEDICAL AREA | SPECTRUM OF ACTIVITY | |||||||||
BACTERICIDAL | YEASTICIDAL/ | TUBERCULOCIDAL/ | VIRUCIDAL | SPORICIDAL | ||||||
PHASE STEP | 2,1 | 2,2 | 2,1 | 2,2 | 2,1 | 2,2 | 2,1 | 2,2 | 2,1 | 2,2 |
Hygienic handrub | EN 13727 | EN 1500 | EN 13624(hand disinfectants do not require mold testing) | *** | EN 14348 | *** | EN 14476 | *** | *** | *** |
Hygienic handwash | EN 1499 | EN 14348 | *** | EN 14476 | *** | *** | *** | |||
Surgical handrub or handwash | EN 12791 | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | |||
Surface disinfectant | EN 13727 | EN 17387* | EN 13624 | EN 17387*EN 16615** | EN 14348 | *** | EN 14476 | EN 16777* | EN 17126 | EN 17846** |
Airborne disinfectant | *** | EN 17272 | *** | EN 17272 | *** | EN 17272 | *** | EN 17272 | *** | EN 17272 |
Instrument disinfectant | EN 13727 | EN 14561 | EN 13624 | EN 14562 | EN 14348 | EN 14563 | EN 14476 | EN 17111 | EN 17126 | *** |
Textile disinfectant | *** | EN 16616 | *** | EN 16616 | EN 14348(dirty condition) | EN 16616 | EN 14476(dirty condition) | *** | EN 17126 | *** |
* Without mechanical action** With mechanical action*** No relevant standards currently available | ||||||||||
Click here to know more about the European Standards for disinfectant products used in the Veterinary Area.Click here to know more about the European Standards for disinfectant products used in the Food, Industrial, Domestic and Institutional Areas. | ||||||||||
Bactericidal Tests
Medical Area
EN 13727:2012+A2:2015
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity in the medical area
EN 17387:2021
– Quantitative non-porous surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal and yeasticidal, and/or fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in the medical area
EN 16615:2015
– Quantitative test method for the evaluation of bactericidal and yeasticidal activity on non-porous surfaces with mechanical action employing wipes in the medical area (4-field test)
EN 14561:2006
– Quantitative carrier test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity for instruments used in the medical area
Food, Industrial, Domestic and Institutional Areas
EN 1276:2019
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity in the food, industrial, domestic, and institutional areas
EN 13697:2023
– Quantitative non-porous surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal and/or fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants used without mechanical action in the food, industrial, domestic, and institutional areas
Veterinary Area
EN 1656:2019
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity in the veterinary area
EN 14349:2025
– Quantitative non-porous surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants used without mechanical action in the veterinary area
EN 16347:2014
– Quantitative porous surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants used without mechanical action in the veterinary area
EN 17422:2022
– Quantitative surface test for the evaluation bactericidal activity of teat disinfectants used in the veterinary area
Yeasticidal & Fungicidal Tests
Medical Area
EN 13624:2021
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of fungicidal or yeasticidal activity in the medical area
EN 17387:2021
– Quantitative non-porous surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal and yeasticidal and/or fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in the medical area
EN 16615:2015
– Quantitative test method for the evaluation of bactericidal and yeasticidal activity on non-porous surfaces with mechanical action employing wipes in the medical area (4-field test)
VAH Method 14.2
– Surface disinfection with mechanical action for fungicidal activity (4-field test)
EN 14562:2006
– Quantitative carrier test for the evaluation of fungicidal or yeasticidal activity for instruments used in the medical area
Food, Industrial, Domestic and Institutional Areas
EN 1650:2019
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of fungicidal or yeasticidal activity in the food, industrial, domestic, and institutional areas
EN 13697:2023
– Quantitative non-porous surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal and/or fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in the food, industrial, domestic, and institutional areas
Veterinary Area
EN 1657:2016
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of fungicidal or yeasticidal activity in the veterinary area
EN 16438:2014
– Quantitative non-porous surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal and/or fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in the veterinary area
Tuberculocidal & Mycobactericidal Tests
Medical Area
EN 14348:2005
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of mycobactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants in the medical area including instrument disinfectants
VAH Method 14.1
– Surface disinfection without mechanical action for mycobactericidal activity
VAH Method 14.2
– Surface disinfection with mechanical action for mycobactericidal activity (4-field test)
EN 14563:2008
– Quantitative carrier test for the evaluation of mycobactericidal or tuberculocidal activity of chemical disinfectants used for instruments in the medical area
Veterinary Area
EN 14204:2012
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of mycobactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants in the veterinary area
Virucidal Tests
Medical Area
EN 14476:2025
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of virucidal activity in the medical area
EN 16777:2018
– Quantitative carrier test for the evaluation of virucidal activity for non-porous surfaces used in the medical area
EN 17111:2018
– Quantitative carrier test for the evaluation of virucidal activity for instruments used in the medical area
Food, Industrial, Domestic and Institutional Areas
EN 13610:2002
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of activity against bacteriophages in the food and industrial areas
Veterinary Area
EN 14675:2015
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of virucidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in the veterinary area
Sporicidal Tests
Medical Area
EN 17126:2018
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of sporicidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in the medical area
EN 17846:2023
– Quantitative test method for the evaluation of sporicidal activity against Clostridium difficile on non-porous surfaces with mechanical action employing wipes in the medical area (4-field test)
Food, Industrial, Domestic and Institutional Areas
EN 13704:2018
– Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of sporicidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in the food, industrial, domestic, and institutional areas
Hand Disinfectant Tests
Medical Area
EN 1499:2013
– Hygienic handwash
EN 1500:2013
– Hygienic handrub – Bactericidal
EN 12791:2016+A1:2017
– Surgical hand disinfection
EN 17430:2024
– Hygienic handrub – Virucidal
Residual Activity or Long-lasting Effect of Disinfectant
Publicly Available Specifications Methods
1. PAS 2424
– disinfectant residual efficacy evaluation on non-porous hard surfaces
TECOLAB In-house Methods
1. In-House Method 002 Residual Virucidal Activity of Hand Sanitizers
– Residual efficacy evaluation of hand disinfectant product against virus using in-vitro skin model
2. In-House Method 003 Residual Bactericidal Activity of Hand Sanitizers
– Residual efficacy evaluation of hand disinfectant product against bacteria using in-vitro skin model
Have other specific claims in mind that do not fall under the scope of the European Norms above? Check out the other test methods we offer according to ASTM, ISO and even customized methods or contact us for further consultation.