Methods

This document describes a method for end-users to determine the susceptibility of polymer dispersions to microbial growth and the effectiveness of biocides (preservatives) used in them. This method is intended for technical service laboratories. It is not to be used to produce data for biocidal product registration. Samples are repeatedly inoculated with defined suspensions of microorganisms and then incubated. The changes in the size of the populations both over time and in treated compared with untreated materials (if appropriate) are used to describe the antimicrobial properties of the materials. The results obtained may not describe the performance of the treated materials under conditions of use.

This document describes a method for end-users to determine the susceptibility of paints to microbial growth and the effectiveness of biocides (preservatives) used in them. This method is intended for technical service laboratories. It is not to be used to produce data for biocidal product registration. Samples are repeatedly inoculated with defined suspensions of microorganisms and then incubated. The changes in the size of the populations both over time and in treated compared with untreated materials (if appropriate) are used to describe the antimicrobial properties of the materials. The results obtained may not describe the performance of the treated materials under conditions of use.

This document describes a method for determining the basic efficacy of biocidal active substances in aqueous based products for curative action and is intended for the generation of data to enable registration of active substances. Samples are inoculated with defined suspensions of bacteria and then incubated. Following growth of the populations, the samples are treated with the biocidal active substance under test and incubated for a defined period. The changes in the size of the populations over time are used to determine the basic antimicrobial properties of the active substances being evaluated. It is important to note that the results obtained may not describe the performance of the active substance under conditions of use.

In the previous version of this method (IBRG TEX 13/005) a fixed volume of inoculum is applied to a fixed weight of the test material. However, this does not take account the absorption characteristics of the material under test and in poorly absorbent materials the inoculum is not retained and pools below the sample, whereas in highly absorbent materials it fails to contact all of the sample. This results in a poor estimation of the antimicrobial properties of the material under test. This version of the method takes the absorbency of the material into account.

This document describes a method to determine the algicidal activity of biocidal washes on surfaces.

This document describes a method to determine the resistance of paints and coatings to the growth of Fungi and the effectiveness of biocides (preservatives) that might be used in them. Samples are inoculated with defined suspensions of microorganisms and then incubated. The changes in the size of the populations both over time and in treated compared with untreated materials are used to describe the basic antimicrobial properties of the materials. The results obtained may not describe the performance of the treated materials under normal conditions of use.