Standard Test Method for Determining the Antimicrobial Activity of Immobilized Antimicrobial Agents under Dynamic Contact Conditions

The test quantitatively evaluates the effectiveness of a sample treated with a non-leaching antimicrobial agent by shaking in an organism suspension.

This test method is designed to evaluate the resistance of specimens treated with a non-leaching antimicrobial agent to the growth of microbes under dynamic contact conditions. It has been developed for routine quality control and screening tests and is used to evaluate substrate bound antimicrobials.

All the samples are shaken in dynamic shake flasks in a wrist action shaker to ensure good contact between the bacteria and the treated fibre, fabric, or other substrate by constant agitation of the test specimen in a bacterial suspension during the test period.

Immobilized antimicrobial agents, such as surface bonded materials, are not free to diffuse into their environment under normal conditions of use. This test ensures good contact between bacteria and the treated fibre by constant agitation of the test specimen in a bacterial suspension during the test period (1hour). Microbial concentrations in the treated and untreated samples are usually determined at 0, 1 or 24 hours contact time.

Organisms typically used in this method: Staphylococcus aureus