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ASTM E1053 Virucidal Activity Test for Disinfectants on Nonporous Surfaces
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Summary
ASTM E1053 is a carrier-based test used to evaluate the virucidal efficacy of disinfectants on hard, non-porous surfaces replicating real world conditions. The method compares the reduction in viral titre on treated surface to untreated surface. The data generated from ASTM E1053 is used by manufacturers for regulatory submissions to substantiate antiviral claims for disinfectants used in healthcare, institutional and consumer markets.
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Quick understanding of the test
ASTM E1053 - Standard to Assess Virucidal Activity of Chemicals Intended for Disinfection of Inanimate and Nonporous environmental surfaces
Application
- Virus are selected based on claim. Commonly recommended viruses in ASTM E1053 include Hepatitis A virus, Feline Calicivirus , Influenza A Virus
- A viral suspension is spread over an inanimate, nonporous surface. and allowed to dry.
- The test sample is applied as directed and kept for the specified contact time.
- Eluate from the test surface is collected and titrated to measure the reduction in infectivity compared to a control.
Benefits
- ASTM E1053 mimics the conditions of use, such as testing on nonporous surfaces that are commonly found in medical and public environments.
- Provides a standardized and efficient process for evaluating disinfectant efficacy.
Turnaround Time
Passing criteria
To pass the test, product must achieve a 4-log reduction in viral infectivity in comparison to control .
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What is ASTM E1053?
ASTM E1053 is a carrier test used to evaluate virucidal activity of disinfectants. Developed by ASTM International, the method measures the virucidal activity of disinfectants by using dried viruses on hard, non-porous surfaces which closely replicates real world conditions.
It simulates real-world conditions where carriers (test surfaces) are contaminated with viruses and are later challenged with disinfectant.
The data generated by this test method is used by manufacturers to support their virucidal claims, regulatory submissions and market credibility.
Applications of ASTM E1053 test
This test method is applicable to disinfectant products used on non-porous surfaces which include –
- Liquids / liquid disinfectants (ready-to-use or diluted)
- Trigger sprays
- Aerosol sprays
- Mists
- Disinfectant wipes
ASTM 1053 test method overview
- Carrier preparation
- Sterile, non-porous carriers such as glass petri dishes or similar hard surfaces are prepared for the test
- Viral inoculation and drying
- A viral suspension is applied evenly onto the carrier surface
- Inoculated carriers are then allowed to dry under controlled temperature and humidity
- Disinfectant application and Contact time
- The test disinfectant is applied to the surface
- Treated surface is maintained for a predefined contact time, allowing the product to act against the dried virus
- Neutralization and Virus recovery
- At the end of contact time, neutralization step is performed to inhibit the activity of disinfection immediately.
- The remaining viral population is recovered by resuspending and scraping the treated film, followed by gel filtration or chemical neutralization.
- Infectivity assay and result calculation
- Results are calculated by comparing treated samples to control samples.
- Efficacy is expressed as log10 reduction
ASTM E1053 test conditions and key parameters
Mandatory test organisms | • SARS CoV-2 • Beta coronavirus (OC43) • Human coronavirus (229E) • Influenza A Viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) • Poliovirus • Adenovirus • Murine Norovirus • Vaccinia virus • Feline Calicivirus |
Test temperature | 22 ± 2 °C |
Contact time | As suggested by manufacturer |
Interfering substance | Fetal bovine serum (5% concentration) or Mixture of tryptone, BSA and Mucin |
Log reduction | ≥ 4 log reduction |
ASTM E1053 Results & Log Reduction Interpretation
Results are typically expressed as log reductions, indicating how effectively the disinfectant reduces viral infectivity. For most virucidal claims, a ≥4 log reduction (99.99% reduction) is considered a strong benchmark, though requirements may vary depending on guidelines and product category.
Importance of ASTM E1053 Test Method
Viruses can survive on hard, non-porous surfaces for extended periods, creating a significant risk of indirect transmission in hospitals, public spaces, and high-touch environments.
ASTM E1053 offers a standardized, carrier-based virucidal test in which viruses are dried on non-porous surfaces, treated with the disinfectant, and measured for infectious virus reduction. By replicating real-world surface contamination and strict controls on inoculum, contact time, and recovery, the method produces reliable, regulatory-accepted evidence of virucidal efficacy. This allows manufacturers to substantiate claims confidently, enables regulators to compare products consistently, and ultimately ensures that surface disinfectants perform effectively where they matter most.
ASTM E1053 vs Other standards
Parameter | ASTM E1053 | ASTM E1052 | EN 14476 |
Origin | ASTM International | ASTM International | European committee for Standardization |
Purpose | Carrier test to evaluate virucidal efficacy of disinfectants on non-porous surfaces | Suspension test to evaluate virucidal efficacy of disinfectants | To evaluate virucidal efficacy of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics |
Mandatory test organisms | Virus selected based on claim | Virus selected based on claim | Enveloped and Non-enveloped viruses such as Poliovirus, Adenovirus, Murine Norovirus, Vaccinia virus |
Scope of products | Disinfectants such as liquids, trigger sprays, aerosols etc used high-touch surfaces | Disinfectants and sanitizers used in healthcare, institutional settings | Disinfectants, antiseptics, hand hygiene products, and textile disinfectants for medical/healthcare applications |
Result interpretation | ≥ 4 log reduction | ≥ 4 log reduction | ≥ 4 log reduction |
Advantages of ASTM E1053 test method
- Simulates real-world conditions by testing dried viral films on hard, nonporous carriers (e.g., glass, stainless steel), unlike suspension tests.
- Can be performed with multiple viruses, including enveloped (e.g., influenza, coronaviruses) and non-enveloped (e.g., norovirus surrogates, adenovirus) pathogens.
- Allows variation in contact time, soil load, and temperature to reflect intended use environments.
- Recognized by EPA, Health Canada, and other agencies for supporting virucidal claims, making it essential for product registration.
Limitations of ASTM E1053 test method
- Does not assess efficacy on porous materials (e.g., fabrics, paper) where virus penetration may differ.
- While realistic for surface contamination, it does not replicate wiping actions, cleaning steps, or continuous contamination cycles.
- Does not evaluate residual antiviral activity or performance after repeated contamination/cleaning cycles.
Why MIS?
At MIS, ASTM E1053 testing is performed in line with international guidelines and accepted protocols. Our lab is fully equipped to handle virucidal studies, with a team of experienced microbiology and virology experts ensuring the testing is carried out accurately and consistently.
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Frequently Asked Questions
DR. Martinoz Scholtz
ASTM E1052 is a suspension test while ASTM E1053 is a carrier test, replicating real world conditions better.
ASTM E1053 test uses non-porous surfaces such as glass, stainless steel etc.
To pass ASTM E1053, the product must show at least 4-log reduction indicating 99.99% reduction in viral population
Yes, ASTM E1053 can be used for Coronavirus
ASTM E1053 typically takes 3-4 weeks to complete.
ASTM E1053 test is applicable to liquid, aerosol, or trigger-spray microbicides used for disinfection of inanimate and nonporous environmental surfaces.
ASTM E1053 is a carrier-based test method that simulates real-world surface contamination conditions. In the test procedure, viruses are applied to the surface and allowed to dry for a specific time period and then challenged with disinfectant which closely replicates real world conditions as compared to suspension tests.
No, ASTM E1053 measures immediate antiviral efficacy after letting the viruses dry on surface for a specified contact time. For evaluating residual antiviral efficacy, test standards like Modified PAS 2424 and EPA #01 01A are typically used.
Healthcare, household disinfectants, and institutional sanitation are some of the industries requiring ASTM E1053 testing.
While it is not a compulsion, ASTM E1053 data substantiate disinfectant claims which is credible for regulatory submission.
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