Antimicrobial Testing Methods & Procedures Developed by EPA's Microbiology Laboratory
We develop antimicrobial testing methods and standard operating procedures to measure the effectiveness of hard surface disinfectants against:
- Staphylococcus aureus.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Salmonella choleraesuis.
- Mycobacterium bovis (BCG).
- Clostridium difficile.
- Viruses.
- Biofilm.
Methods are available for the following types of antimicrobial formulations:
- Liquid.
- Spray.
- Towelette.
Our standard operating procedures are strict interpretations of AOAC International Exit and ASTM International Exit standard methods
For questions about the methods, procedures, and guidance below, please contact the OPP Microbiology Laboratory directly.
Methods
Procedures
The following standard operating procedures are pertinent to specific equipment and practices used in the EPA pesticide program's Microbiology Laboratory. The SOPs describe the laboratory's standard practices for:
- Calibrating equipment (EQ).
- Performing quality control procedures (QC).
- Administrative procedures (ADM).
- Maintaining chain of custody of samples (COC).
- Assuring quality management practices (QA).
Guidance
- Use Dilution Method Performance Standard Revision Document
- Sporicidal Claims Against Clostridium difficile
- Interim Guidance for the Efficacy Evaluation of Products for Claims against Candida auris
- Methods and Guidance for Testing the Efficacy of Antimicrobial Products Against Biofilms on Hard, Non-Porous Surfaces