Antimicrobial Test Laboratories traveled to EPA’s Ft. Meade laboratory recently to participate in a two day test method workshop, also attended by Susan Lewis, Director of the Antimicrobials Division. The workshop was fast-paced, informative and had a collaborative spirit. 

EPA microbiologists were approachable, competent, and friendly. We commend EPA’s Dr. Tomasino and his staff for organizing the event.

Below are several key take-aways from the meeting:

• Through method development and other activities, EPA continues to support the OECD quantitative test method, similar to ASTM E2197.
• EPA is organizing several collaborative (round robin) studies, including one focused on Mycobacterium bovis culture techniques and another focused on a new disinfectant towelette testing procedure, the quantitative Petri Plate Method (QPM).
• Future C. difficile efficacy studies may require 5% soil, a single strain and spore populations between 5 million and 50 million per test surface.
• EPA is developing capabilities based on the single-tube ASTM biofilm method and intends to set a performance threshold for “kills biofilm” claims soon.
• EPA is developing internal capabilities to test feline calicivirus (norovirus surrogate), presumably for surveillance of virucidal efficacy of registered products.