What Is ISO 22196?
ISO 22196 is a quantitative test method used to determine the antibacterial effectiveness of non-absorbent, non-porous materials, e.g. plastic, foam.
How Does ISO 22196 Work?
Samples are challenged with two different types of bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The bacteria are exposed to the samples over a 18-24-hour period. During this time the bacteria and samples are kept at 37°C, an optimal temperature for the bacteria to grow.
Following the exposure time of bacteria to the test material, the bacteria are removed from the samples and counted. The number of surviving bacteria is compared to the number of starting bacteria. Differences between the starting and ending number of bacteria are calculated as a percentage reduction or log reduction.
The Microban Standard: 95%+ Reduction in Bacteria
By Microban's self-imposed standards, a 95%+ reduction is typically expected to demonstrate that your built-in antimicrobial formulation is working effectively.
ISO 22196 is like the JIS Z2801 test method.
Find Out More
For more information on our ISO 22196 testing capabilities, contact a member of the Microban team today.