A method to evaluate the cleaning and disinfectant action of surface disinfectants

Surface disinfection tests, used to evaluate new disinfectants, do not take into account the effects of detergents or of the mechanical cleaning process. We describe methods which evaluate both the disinfection and cleaning effect of disinfectants on organic matter. When testing alcohols at high concentrations (greater than or equal to 70%) on blood spots contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, we found that the organisms were trapped and fixed to the test surface, probably due to denaturation of the blood. This gave a low inactivating factor (IF), as well as a poor subjective cleaning effect (SC). If serum was used instead of blood, we observed less pronounced trapping, resulting in a high IF although the SC was still poor. When broth was used, both IF and SC were satisfactory. With alcohols at a concentration of 42%, trapping was markedly reduced which improved the SC in blood contamination, with serum or broth contamination trapping did not occur. However, 42% ethanol lost its killing effect (i.e. low IF), whereas 42% isopropanol still demonstrated a high IF.