Fungicidal Activity of Disinfectants (AOAC Method 955.17)
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The AOAC Fungicidal Activity of Disinfectants Test method examines the fungicidal capabilities of water-soluble fungicides intended for use in disinfection of inanimate objects. The AOAC Fungicidal Activity of Disinfectants Test is specified by the US EPA as a method which can be used to substantiate fungicidal efficacy claims.
Below, you will find a summary of the AOAC Fungicidal Activity of Disinfectants Test, along with some of its strengths and weaknesses.
Summary of the AOAC Fungicidal Activity of Disinfectant Test Method
- Fungi are cultured then re-suspended to create a concentrated spore suspension of approximately 5 x 10^6 fungal spores/ml.
- Dilutions of the test substance are prepared in test tubes and arranged in order of ascending dilutions and placed in a water bath to standardize test temperature.
- A volume of the fungal spore suspension is added to each tube. At specified contact times (≤ 10 minutes), an aliquot of the test solution is removed from each inoculated disinfectant dilution and placed in growth-supporting neutralization broth.
- The tubes are then incubated for 10 days at a temperature conducive to fungal growth.
- The highest dilution that kills fungal spores within 10 minutes is considered as the highest dilution that could be expected to disinfect inanimate surfaces contaminated with pathogenic fungi.
Strengths of the AOAC Fungicidal Activity of Disinfectant Test Method
- Brief contact times can be studied with relative ease.
- The method is a fitting model system for the evaluation of disinfection performance in the presence of excess liquid, such as might be expected for sanitizing rinses (such as drinking glass rinses at a restaurant).
- The test parameters for this method are easy to control in the laboratory setting, so comparisons can more accurately be made between various products tested under the same conditions.
Weaknesses of the AOAC Fungicidal Activity of Disinfectant Test Method
- The outcome (percent reduction) observed from the AOAC Fungicidal Activity of Disinfectants Test is difficult to relate to disinfection of microorganisms on surfaces typically encountered by consumers, because no contaminated surface is treated as part of the assay. In general terms, this method is similar to a suspension time-kill assay.
Antimicrobial Test Laboratories specializes in testing disinfectant and other antimicrobial agents, such as fungicides. We encourage you to Contact the Lab to discuss your testing needs.
