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BS EN 13697 Disinfectant Testing โ Bactericidal, Fungicidal & Yeasticidal Activity
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Summary
BS EN 13697 evaluates the bactericidal, yeasticidal, and fungicidal claims of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics used on non-porous surfaces. Our laboratory helps manufacturers and product developers generate reliable log reduction data aligned with BS EN 13697 requirements, supporting regulatory submissions, product validation, and market readiness.
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Quick understanding of the test
EN 13697:2015+A1:2019 - Quantitative non-porous surface test for the evaluation of bactericidal and/or fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants used in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas
Applicable to disinfectants intended for food preparation areas, public facilities, industrial cleaning, and domestic environments.
- Bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus hirae
- Fungi/Yeast: Aspergillus brasiliensis, Candida albicans
- A stainless steel surface is used as a carrier for the test.
- Test strains are inoculated onto the carrier and allowed to dry.
- Disinfectant is applied to the dried microbial film on the carrier surface.
- After the contact time, the dried inoculated surface is neutralized, and the surviving microorganisms are quantified.
- This standard closely mimics practical usage conditions, ensuring the test results are highly relevant to real-life applications.
- It covers a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi.
Turnaround Time
- โฅ 4 log reduction for bactericidal activity.
- โฅ 3 log reduction for fungicidal/yeasticidal activity.
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What Is EN 13697?
BS EN 13697 is phase 2 step 2 carrier test for assessing the bactericidal, fungicidal and yeasticidal activity of chemical disinfectants intended for use on non-porous surfaces. This test method simulates practical conditions under which disinfectants are used on non-porous surfaces with or without mechanical action like scrubbing or wiping. The method tests disinfectants both under clean and dirty conditions thus providing an all-round analysis of whether disinfectant agents significantly decrease microbial contamination during practical usage.
Scope of EN 13697 Disinfectant Testing
EN 13697 is applicable to chemical disinfectants that form a homogeneous physically stable preparation in hard water or for ready-to-use products with water intended for use in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas. It excludes areas and situations where disinfection is medically indicated and products used on living tissues.
Microorganisms Used in EN 13697
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442)
- Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739)
- Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P)
- Enterococcus hirae (ATCC 10541)
- Candida albicans (MTCC 3017)
- Aspergillus brasiliensis
EN 13697 Test Conditions & Requirements
Test conditions | Bactericidal activity on non-porous surfaces | Yeasticidal activity on non-porous surfaces | Fungicidal activity on non-porous surfaces |
Mandatory test organisms | Enterococcus hirae (ATCC 10541) Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442) Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P) | Candida albicans (MTCC 3017) | Candida albicans (MTCC 3017) Aspergillus brasiliensis (ATCC 16404) |
Test temperature | In the range of 4 ยฐC and 40 ยฐC. For tests carried out at room temperature, the temperature may range from 18 ยฐC to 25 ยฐC | ||
Contact time | In the range from 1 min to 60 min (from 1 min to 5 min at intervals of 1 min and from 5 min to 60 min at intervals of 5 min) | ||
Interfering substance | 0,3 g/l bovine albumin for clean conditions 3,0 g/l bovine albumin for dirty conditions 1,0 g/l Reconstituted Milk (Milk Powder) for Dairy Industry | ||
Passing criteria | โฅ 4 log reduction | โฅ 3 log reduction | โฅ 3 log reduction |
How the EN 13697 Test Is Performed
- A test suspension containing the target organisms is added to an interfering substance.
- The mixture is then inoculated onto a non-porous surface like glass or stainless steel and is allowed to dry.
- The test product (sample) and the control (hard water) are then applied to the surface containing the dried microbial film.
- The surface is maintained at the specified temperature for a defined contact time as instructed by the manufacturer.
- After the contact time lapses, the surface is neutralized using a neutralizing solution to halt the disinfectant action.
- The surviving microorganisms are then quantified to assess the efficacy of the disinfectant.
- The difference between the initial microbial count and the surviving count after disinfectant treatment is calculated as the log reduction value.
Log Reduction Requirements Under EN 13697
Under EN 13697, a disinfectant must demonstrate a minimum 4 log reduction for bactericidal activity, a minimum 3 log reduction for yeasticidal activity and fungicidal activity, when tested under defined clean and/or dirty conditions using dried microorganisms on non-porous surfaces.
Difference Between EN 1276 and EN 13697
Category | EN 1276 | EN 13697 |
Claims | Antibacterial | Antibacterial, Antifungal /Yeasticidal |
Test Phase | Phase 2, Step 1 | Phase 2, Step 2 |
Mandatory test organisms | Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus hirae | Bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus hirae Fungi/Yeast: Candida albicans, Aspergillus brasiliensis |
Scope | Disinfectants and antiseptics intended for food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas | Disinfectants and antiseptics intended for food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas |
Passing criteria (Log reduction) | โฅ 5 log reduction | โฅ 4 log for bactericidal activity โฅ 3 log for fungicidal/yeasticidal activity |
Strengths of EN 13697 test
The strengths of performing this test method are:
- It closely mimics the conditions found in everyday usage thus providing reliable results.
- The method applies to disinfectants used in a wide range of environments, including food processing, industrial cleaning, and household use.
- By testing under both clean and dirty conditions, the standard ensures that disinfectants are effective in various scenarios.
- It tests both bactericidal and fungicidal activity of disinfectants, thus encompassing a very wide range of microorganisms.
Why Choose Our EN 13697 Testing Laboratory
At Microbe Investigations Switzerland (MIS), we specialize in conducting EN 13697 tests to validate your disinfectant products. Our experienced team provides comprehensive testing services to ensure your products meet the required bactericidal and fungicidal standards.
For antimicrobial efficacy of surface disinfectants, MIS also performs EN 1276 and EN 14476 test methods.
For more information on our test pricing, facilities, and services, contact our team of experts today.
Request EN 13697 Disinfectant Testing
Need to validate the bactericidal, yeasticidal, or fungicidal efficacy of your disinfectant as per EN 13697? Contact us today to schedule quantitative surface testing and obtain reliable, standards-compliant results.
Frequently Asked Questions
DR. Martinoz Scholtz
EN 13697 is a quantitative (phase 2 step 2) non-porous surface test that specifies the bactericidal and/or fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants. This test is only for chemical disinfectants used in food, industrial, domestic, and institutional areas.
EN 13697 evaluates disinfectant efficacy on non-porous carrier surfaces, simulating real-world surface disinfection, whereas EN 1276 is a suspension test that assesses efficacy by challenging target microbes directly to the disinfectant in a liquid medium.
Manufacturers/companies who develop disinfectants that are intended to be used in industries such as food processing, hospitality, public transportation, and industrial areas must comply with this standard.
EN 13697 specifies standard test organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa for bactericidal activity, Candida albicans for yeasticidal activity, and Aspergillus brasiliensis for fungicidal activity.Additional organisms can be used for testing upon manufacturerโs requirement.
Under EN 13697, testing is performed in clean conditions (0.3 g/L bovine albumin), dirty conditions (3.0 g/L bovine albumin) and 1% reconstituted milk used for dairy applications. Disinfectants are evaluated on dried microorganisms on non-porous surfaces at defined contact times (between 1 to 60 minutes)
EN 13697 evaluates the ability of a disinfectant to inactivate dried microorganisms on non-porous surfaces without mechanical action. It demonstrates surface efficacy closer to real-use conditions than suspension tests.
Yes, interfering substances are used to simulate organic contamination such as clean or dirty conditions. They can reduce disinfectant effectiveness, making the test more challenging and realistic.
EN 13697 is applicable to liquid disinfectants and sprays intended for non-porous surfaces. It excludes disinfectant wipes because the test is designed for products used without mechanical action
EN 13697 includes bactericidal, yeasticidal, and fungicidal claims. It does not cover virucidal efficacy, which requires other standards such as EN 14476 or EN 17914.
The test takes 1-2 weeks for Bacterial efficacy and 4-5 weeks for Fungicidal efficacy.
EN 13697 is commonly used in industries where non-porous surface hygiene is critical and disinfection is indicated without wiping or scrubbing. They typically include food and beverage industry, industrial manufacturing, pharmaceutical and cosmetic production, and domestic and institutional settings such as schools, public facilities, transport, and hospitality environments.
Yes, EN 13697 results support efficacy claims and regulatory submissions. They are also used for compliant marketing within applicable regional regulations.
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