Standards Navigator: find the right standard.
Choose a material and a claim. The navigator shows the matching standards with what they measure, the conditions and how to read the result.
Choose a material and a claim. The navigator shows the matching standards with what they measure, the conditions and how to read the result.
01
Define the material
plastic, textile, other non-porous surface, liquid product or medical device.
02
Define the claim
antibacterial, antiviral, protection of the material, disinfection or biocompatibility.
03
Compare the conditions of use with those of the standard and add a second method closer to the application if needed.
Material
Claim
ISO 22196:2011
Measurement of antibacterial activity on plastics and other non-porous surfaces
- Material
- Plastics and other non-porous surfaces; standard specimen 50 × 50 mm, no more than 10 mm thick
- Organisms
- Staphylococcus aureus (e.g. ATCC 6538P) · Escherichia coli (e.g. ATCC 8739)
- Conditions
- 0.4 ml bacterial suspension (2.5–10 × 10⁵ cells/ml) under a 40 × 40 mm cover film; 24 h at 35 °C and at least 90 % relative humidity
- How to read the result
- Antibacterial activity R = log difference in viable bacteria between untreated and treated specimens after 24 h. R = 2 means 99 % fewer viable bacteria. The standard sets no pass level; the parties involved agree on it.
Plastics & masterbatchPaints & coatingsPackagingTouch surfacesMedical devices
JIS Z 2801:2010
Antibacterial products – Test for antibacterial activity and efficacy
- Material
- as ISO 22196: plastics and other non-porous surfaces, specimen 50 × 50 mm
- Organisms
- Staphylococcus aureus (e.g. ATCC 6538P) · Escherichia coli
- Conditions
- as ISO 22196: 0.4 ml bacterial suspension under a 40 × 40 mm cover film; 24 h at 35 °C and at least 90 % relative humidity
- How to read the result
- Antibacterial activity R as in ISO 22196. Under JIS Z 2801 (section 4), a product with R of 2.0 or more counts as antibacterially effective. ISO 22196 is based on this standard.
Plastics & masterbatchPaints & coatingsPackagingTouch surfacesMedical devices
ISO 20743:2021
Textiles – Determination of antibacterial activity of textile products
- Material
- All textile products including nonwovens: fabrics, yarns, materials for clothing, bedding and home furnishings
- Organisms
- Staphylococcus aureus · Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Conditions
- Absorption, transfer or printing method; incubation for 18–24 h at about 37 °C; count by plate counting or ATP luminescence
- How to read the result
- Antibacterial activity value A (log) compared with the untreated control. 2 ≤ A < 3 counts as significant, A ≥ 3 as strong activity.
ISO 846:2019
Plastics – Evaluation of the action of microorganisms
- Material
- Plastics
- Organisms
- Moulds, e.g. Aspergillus brasiliensis, Chaetomium globosum, Penicillium pinophilum, Trichoderma virens, Aureobasidium pullulans · Bacteria (method C) · Soil microorganisms (method D)
- Conditions
- Method A: fungal spores without nutrient medium · B: fungal spores with nutrient medium (fungistatic effect) · C: bacteria in a medium without carbon source · D: soil burial; fungal tests at 29 °C and at least 95 % relative humidity, incubation over several weeks
- How to read the result
- Visual growth plus change in mass and physical properties (e.g. flexural properties, impact strength, hardness) against control specimens. Method A shows whether the plastic supports fungal growth; method B whether a biocide it contains inhibits it.
ASTM E2149-25
Standard Test Method for Determining the Antimicrobial Activity of Antimicrobial Agents Under Dynamic Contact Conditions
- Material
- Antimicrobial-treated specimens, especially fibres, textiles, powders and irregularly shaped surfaces
- Organisms
- Escherichia coli (typically ATCC 25922)
- Conditions
- Specimen in buffer with a defined bacterial suspension; 1 h contact with constant shaking in a flask
- How to read the result
- Reduction in viable bacteria compared with a control tested at the same time, in percent or log. According to the standard, it cannot determine whether a substance leaches or stays bound.
TextilesHygiene productsWater & membranesPlastics & masterbatch
EN 1276:2019
Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics used in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas – Test method and requirements (phase 2, step 1)
- Material
- Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics for food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas
- Organisms
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 · Escherichia coli ATCC 10536 · Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 · Enterococcus hirae ATCC 10541
- Conditions
- Product in bacterial suspension; obligatory conditions 20 °C and 5 min; clean (0.3 g/l bovine albumin) or dirty conditions (3.0 g/l)
- How to read the result
- Pass at a reduction of at least 5 log (99.999 %) for each obligatory organism.
EN 13697:2023
Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative non-porous surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal and yeasticidal and/or fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas without mechanical action – Test method and requirements (phase 2, step 2)
- Material
- Chemical disinfectants for non-porous surfaces without mechanical action; stainless steel carriers
- Organisms
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa · Escherichia coli · Staphylococcus aureus · Enterococcus hirae · Candida albicans · Aspergillus brasiliensis (fungicidal)
- Conditions
- Organisms dried onto the carrier, then product applied; contact time 1–60 min and temperature 4–40 °C per application; clean or dirty conditions
- How to read the result
- Pass at a reduction of at least 4 log (bactericidal) or 3 log (yeasticidal, fungicidal).
EN 14476:2025
Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of virucidal activity in the medical area – Test method and requirements (phase 2, step 1)
- Material
- Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics in the medical area: hand, surface and instrument disinfection
- Organisms
- Poliovirus · Adenovirus · Murine norovirus · Vaccinia virus (enveloped viruses)
- Conditions
- Product in virus suspension; contact time, temperature and interfering substance per application and claim; replaces EN 14476:2013+A2:2019
- How to read the result
- Pass at a titre reduction of at least 4 log. The claim follows from the test viruses: virucidal (polio-, adeno-, murine norovirus), limited spectrum virucidal (adeno-, murine norovirus), active against enveloped viruses (vaccinia virus).
EN 1500:2013
Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics – Hygienic handrub – Test method and requirements (phase 2, step 2)
- Material
- Hand disinfectants applied by rubbing
- Organisms
- Escherichia coli K12
- Conditions
- Hands of 18–22 volunteers contaminated; reference 2-propanol 60 %, 2 × 3 ml, 60 s in total; test product as specified by the manufacturer
- How to read the result
- Pass if the product's log reduction is not significantly inferior to that of the reference (non-inferiority test).
ISO 10993-5:2009
Biological evaluation of medical devices – Part 5: Tests for in vitro cytotoxicity
- Material
- Medical devices, their materials and extracts
- Organisms
- Mammalian cells, e.g. L929 mouse fibroblasts
- Conditions
- Extract, direct or indirect contact with cultured cells; quantitative read-out e.g. MTT, XTT or neutral red uptake
- How to read the result
- A reduction in cell viability of more than 30 % against the control counts as a cytotoxic effect. The test is part of the biological evaluation under the ISO 10993 series.
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Ten standards at a glance.
Organisms are those named in the standard or typically used. The current edition of each standard applies; the table reflects the status as of 26 September 2026.
| Standard | What is measured | Material | Organisms (typical) | Contact time, conditions | How to read the result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 22196:2011 [1] | antibacterial activity of a surface | plastics, non-porous surfaces; specimen 50 × 50 mm | Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli | 0.4 ml bacterial suspension under a 40 × 40 mm cover film; 24 h, 35 °C, ≥ 90 % RH | R = log difference to the untreated sample; the pass level is agreed by the parties |
| JIS Z 2801:2010 [2] | as ISO 22196, the Japanese original | as ISO 22196 | S. aureus, E. coli | as ISO 22196 | under JIS, R ≥ 2.0 counts as antibacterial efficacy |
| ISO 20743:2021 [3] | antibacterial activity of textiles | fabrics, yarns, nonwovens | S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae | absorption, transfer or printing method; 18–24 h at about 37 °C | activity value A (log): 2 to below 3 significant, 3 or more strong |
| ISO 846:2019 [4] | resistance to microorganisms | plastics | moulds (e.g. Aspergillus brasiliensis), bacteria, soil organisms | methods A to D; fungal tests at 29 °C, ≥ 95 % RH, several weeks | visual growth, change in mass and properties against control |
| ASTM E2149-25 [5] | activity under dynamic contact | fibres, textiles, powders, irregular shapes | E. coli (ATCC 25922) | sample in buffer with bacteria; 1 h shaking | reduction in % or log against control; does not distinguish leaching from non-leaching |
| EN 1276:2019 [6] | bactericidal activity of disinfectants, suspension test | disinfectants and antiseptics for food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas | Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, Enterococcus hirae | obligatory conditions 20 °C, 5 min; clean or dirty conditions (albumin) | pass at ≥ 5 log reduction |
| EN 13697:2023 [7] | bactericidal, yeasticidal, fungicidal activity on surfaces without mechanical action | disinfectants; stainless steel disc carriers | P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, E. hirae; Candida albicans, A. brasiliensis | organisms dried onto the carrier; contact time and temperature per application | pass at ≥ 4 log (bacteria) or ≥ 3 log (yeasts, moulds) |
| EN 14476:2025 [8] | virucidal activity in the medical area, suspension test | hand, surface and instrument disinfection | polio-, adeno- and murine norovirus; vaccinia virus for enveloped viruses | time and temperature per application; replaces EN 14476:2013+A2:2019 | pass at ≥ 4 log titre reduction |
| EN 1500:2013 [9] | hygienic handrub, test with volunteers | hand disinfectants | E. coli K12 | 18 to 22 volunteers; reference 2-propanol 60 %, 2 × 3 ml, 60 s in total | pass if not significantly inferior to the reference |
| ISO 10993-5:2009 [10] | in vitro cytotoxicity | medical devices and their extracts | mammalian cells, e.g. L929 fibroblasts | extract, direct or indirect contact; read-out e.g. MTT, XTT, neutral red | viability loss above 30 % against control counts as a cytotoxic effect |
Literature
Log Calculator: percent and log reduction.
Microbial counts span many orders of magnitude, so results are given as a base-10 logarithm. Log reduction = log₁₀ (count on control ÷ count on sample). As a percentage: (1 − 10^−log) × 100.
Percent · log reduction · survivors out of 1,000,000
At 99.99 %, 100 out of one million microorganisms remain.
A log value only holds together with the organism, starting count, contact time and conditions. Values from different standards cannot be compared directly.
4 log equals 99.99 %. Of 1,000,000 microorganisms, 100 remain.
Log reduction = log₁₀ (initial count ÷ remaining count) · Per cent = (1 − 10^−log) × 100
What standards do not show.
Laboratory tests reflect the application only in part. ISO 22196 keeps the inoculum moist and warm for 24 hours; none of these conditions matches a typical end-use environment [12]. In one study, more nutrients in the inoculum lowered the measured effect from over 3 log to under 1 log [13].
The newer ISO 7581:2023 tests non-porous surfaces under dry conditions: 1 µl inoculum, 20 °C, 30–65 % relative humidity, 1 to 2 hours [14, 15]. For ISO 10993-5, too, an interlaboratory study with 52 laboratories found markedly different assessments of the same material [16].
EN 1276, EN 13697, EN 14476 and EN 1500 apply to chemical disinfectants and antiseptics. For materials with a lasting antimicrobial treatment, ISO 22196, ISO 20743 or ASTM E2149 are the suitable methods.
Other claims have standards of their own: ISO 21702 measures antiviral activity on plastics and other non-porous surfaces, ISO 18184 that of textiles. ISO 4768 tests anti-biofilm activity on non-porous surfaces [17, 18, 19].
Literature
For your product
What this means for your product.
The Material Library on the Applications page shows which standard suits your material. For Z-Chitosan, ZCP sets the test plan for each material.