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EN 17422 Veterinary Teat Disinfectant Test (Phase 2 Step 2)
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Summary
EN 17422 is a Phase 2, Step 2 quantitative surface test that assesses the bactericidal efficacy of veterinary teat disinfectants applied pre and post milking. The standard simulates real-use conditions on synthetic skin surfaces, including defined soiling to measure microbial reduction without mechanical action, ensuring disinfectants meet performance requirements for mastitis prevention.
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Quick understanding of the test
EN 17422:2022 - Quantitative surface test method for the evaluation of teat disinfectants used in the veterinary area (phase 2 step 2)
Application
- Escherichia coli
- Staphylococcus aureus
- A bacterial suspension mixed with an interfering substance is applied to synthetic skin test surfaces and held for a specific period of conditioning.
- Afterward, the test surface is immersed in a disinfectant solution for a specified duration, followed by neutralization, plating, and incubation.
- Post incubation, bacteria are enumerated and reduction rate is determined.
- Provides a standardized method to assess the efficacy of teat disinfectants against specific pathogens.
- Ensures products meet international standards, facilitating easier market entry and broader acceptance.
Turnaround Time
Passing criteria
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What Is EN 17422 Test?
EN 17422 is designed to evaluate the bactericidal activity of pre/post – milking teat disinfectants disinfectants applied on the teat skin without mechanical action EN 17422 is a quantitative carrier based test (phase 2, step 2) that uses synthetic test surfaces along with other conditions to replicate real-world product usage scenarios within a controlled laboratory setting.
EN 17422 helps demonstrate that teat disinfectants meet required performance criteria to support mastitis prevention claims required under EU veterinary hygiene and biocidal product frameworks.
Veterinary Applications of EN 17422
This test is designed for pre- and post-milking teat disinfectants used in
- Breeding,
- Husbandry,
- Production,
- Transport,
- Veterinary care, and
- Disposal of animals (excluding food chain processing).
EN 17422 Test Conditions & Requirements
Parameter | SIST EN 17422 | SIST EN 1656 |
Purpose | Quantitative surface test to evaluate teat disinfectants used in the veterinary area (Phase 2, Step 2) | Quantitative suspension test to evaluate bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants/antiseptics used in the veterinary area (Phase 2, Step 1) |
Scope of products | Only teat disinfectants used on teat skin without mechanical action (pre- and/or post-milking) | Veterinary disinfectants for equipment (immersion), surface disinfection (wiping/spraying/flooding), and teat disinfection |
log reduction | Post-milking – ≥ 4 log reduction Pre-milking – ≥ 3 log reduction | ≥ 5 log reduction |
Interfering substances | Post-milking – milk powder (final 10 g/L) Pre-milking – bovine albumin (final 3 g/L) | For teat disinfectants – Post milking: 10,0 g/l of milk powder Pre-milking: 3,0 g/l bovine albumin For other disinfection purposes – 3,0 g/l bovine albumin(low soiling), 10 g/l yeast extract + 10 g/l bovine albumin (High soiling) |
Mandatory Test organisms | Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) , Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P) | General veterinary disinfectants: Enterococcus hirae, Proteus hauseri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus |
EN 17422 Test Method Overview
- Bacterial test suspension with interfering substance is inoculated onto a synthetic skin test surface and held at 30 °C for a specific period of conditioning.
- Following the conditioning time, inoculated test surface is immersed in the disinfectant samples / dilutions of the product for a specific contact time.
- At the end of that contact time, test surface is transferred into the neutralizer.
- The bacteria are removed from the test surface by ultrasound technique. Bacteria recovered in neutralizing solution are enumerated by plate count method.
- The number of surviving bacteria recovered from the treated surface is compared with the number of bacteria observed in the control test. (In control test, surface is exposed to water instead of the disinfectant product)
Note – Pre-milking teat disinfectants are evaluated under clean conditions, focusing on rapid bacterial reduction to minimize contamination risk prior to milk collection. In contrast, post-milking teat disinfectants are tested under soiled conditions, simulating exposure to milk residues and organic matter to verify bactericidal activity after milking.
By incorporating these differentiated conditions, EN 17422 ensures that efficacy data accurately reflects real-world application and meets European regulatory requirements for veterinary teat disinfectant products.
Interpretation of EN 17422 Test Results
As per EN 17422 passing criteria, the test product is evaluated against control samples.
- Post-milking disinfectants must demonstrate a minimum 4-log reduction
- Pre-milking disinfectants must demonstrate a minimum 3-log₁₀ reduction
EN 17422 vs Other Veterinary Teat Disinfectant Tests
Parameter | SIST EN 17422 | SIST EN 1656 |
Purpose | Quantitative surface test to evaluate teat disinfectants used in the veterinary area (Phase 2, Step 2) | Quantitative suspension test to evaluate bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants/antiseptics used in the veterinary area (Phase 2, Step 1) |
Scope of products | Only teat disinfectants used on teat skin without mechanical action (pre- and/or post-milking) | Veterinary disinfectants for equipment (immersion), surface disinfection (wiping/spraying/flooding), and teat disinfection |
log reduction | Post-milking – ≥ 4 log reduction Pre-milking – ≥ 3 log reduction | ≥ 5 log reduction |
Interfering substances | Post-milking – milk powder (final 10 g/L) Pre-milking – bovine albumin (final 3 g/L) | For teat disinfectants – Post milking: 10,0 g/l of milk powder Pre-milking: 3,0 g/l bovine albumin For other disinfection purposes – 3,0 g/l bovine albumin 10 g/l yeast extract plus 10 g/l bovine albumin |
Mandatory Test organisms | Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P) | General veterinary disinfectants: Enterococcus hirae, Proteus hauseri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus |
Importance of EN 17422 Test
In veterinary settings, teat disinfection before and after milking is a vital practice to reduce the number of pathogens causing mastitis. Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland and is predominantly caused by bacterial pathogens and occasionally mycotic or algal microbes. Mastitis infection is a common concern among dairy animals which results in substantial economic losses within the dairy sector.
EN 17422 test is an important and widely accepted industry standard that helps to verify the claims of disinfectant products specifically formulated for teat disinfection in veterinary applications. By complying with EN 17422, manufacturers and dairy producers can be confident that teat disinfectants meet stringent performance criteria. This helps to safeguard animal health by minimizing the spread of mastitis-causing pathogens and ensures that products deliver reliable antimicrobial action without relying on mechanical cleaning action.
Why Choose Our Lab for EN 17422 Testing
At MIS, we provide accurate EN 17422 testing to evaluate the bactericidal performance of teat disinfectants under real-world veterinary conditions.
Our experts tailor testing studies as per product’s intended use to ensure results are reliable and accurate.
We support you from study planning through final reporting, helping you generate high-quality data to validate formulations, support compliance needs, and confidently support your EN 17422 product claims.
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Frequently Asked Questions
DR. Martinoz Scholtz
EN 17422 evaluates the bactericidal efficacy of pre-milking and post-milking veterinary teat disinfectants under practical, real-world conditions using a carrier test on synthetic skin.
Yes. It is typically required to support regulatory approval and product claims under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) for teat disinfection use.
EN 1656 is a suspension test (Phase 2, Step 1) that evaluates bactericidal activity in a liquid medium, while EN 17422 is a surface/carrier test (Phase 2, Step 2) using synthetic skin to simulate real teat application, simulating more real conditions.
EN 17422 requires a minimum ≥ 3 log₁₀ reduction for pre-milking teat disinfectants and ≥ 4 log₁₀ reduction for post-milking teat disinfectants.
EN 17422 applies to pre- and post-milking teat disinfectants intended for use on teat skin in veterinary settings without mechanical action.
EN 17422 typically takes 3-4 weeks to complete.
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