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JIS Z 2801 Antibacterial Testing for Plastics & Non-Porous Surfaces
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Summary
JIS Z 2801 is a standardized method used to verify the antibacterial claims of plastic and other non-porous surface materials. It measures the reduction of bacteria on antibacterial-treated surfaces compared to untreated control surfaces. JIS Z 2801 is widely used to support antibacterial claims for regulatory submissions. It is applicable for plastics, ceramics, metal and other hard non-porous surfaces.
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Quick understanding of the test
JIS Z 2801 - Measurement of Antibacterial Activity on Plastics Surfaces (Plastics)
Application
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442)
- Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739)
- Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P)
- Candida albicans (MTCC 3017)
- Test samples are inoculated with bacterial suspension and incubated.
- After incubation, neutralizing solution is added onto test samples, further followed by serial dilution, plating, and incubation.
- Viable bacteria are counted and the colony-forming units (CFU) are compared between treated and untreated samples.
Benefits
- Provides a quantitative assessment of the antibacterial performance of a material, confirming the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments.
- Helps manufacturers comply with international standards and regulatory requirements for marketing antimicrobial plastic products.
Turnaround Time
Typically, 1 – 2 weeks
Log reduction in the viable bacterial count of the test product is compared to the control.
To pass JIS Z 2801, the product must demonstrate a higher log reduction in viable bacterial count in comparison to the control surface.
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What Is JIS Z 2801?
JIS Z 2801 is a Japanese Industrial Standard used to measure the antibacterial activity and efficacy of plastic materials and other hard, non‑porous surfaces treated with antimicrobial agents. It provides a standardized laboratory method to determine how effectively a surface inhibits or kills target bacteria, helping manufacturers quantify antibacterial performance.
Many bacterial species have the ability to survive on the hard surface and remain infectious for several days. This clearly increases the possibility of transmission of bacterial infections through high contact on solid surfaces. To avoid the rapid spread of such infections, it becomes prerequisite to develop antibacterial surface applications for the things that can act as primary or common sources of infection.
JIS Z2801 and ISO 22196 are two identical and widely used test standards that determine the antibacterial activity of solid surfaces that are treated with antimicrobial agents.
What Does the JIS Z 2801 Test Measure?
This test measures the reduction in viable bacterial counts on treated surfaces after a specified incubation period. It provides quantitative data expressed as log reduction, allowing manufacturers to substantiate antibacterial claims confidently.
When Is JIS Z 2801 Required ?
The standard is required when manufacturers or brands need to substantiate antibacterial claims for treated plastic and non porous products, and meet regulatory requirements before market launch. JIS Z 2801 standard is particularly relevant for manufacturers/ companies developing antimicrobial or antibacterial innovations for the inanimate, hygiene sensitive environments.
Materials Suitable for JIS Z 2801 Testing
This Standard applies to
- Antimicrobial plastic products,
- Metal surfaces
- Ceramic products and
- Other hard non-porous surfaces.
The standard excludes testing of textile products and the photocatalyst products.
Bacterial Strains Used in JIS Z 2801
Mandatory test strains
- Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739)
- Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P)
Additional test strains available at MIS
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442),
- Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P),
- Enterococcus hirae (ATCC 10541),
- Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 4352),
- MRSA (ATCC 33591),
- Salmonella enterica (ATCC 10708),
- Candida albicans (MTCC 3017).
- Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739)
JIS Z 2801 - Test procedure
- Test bacterial inoculum is placed on the testing samples (treated and untreated) and is covered with a piece of film (size of 40 mm × 40 mm) to prevent the spread of the inoculum from the edges.
- These petri plates are incubated for 24 hrs under specific temperature (35°C) and humidity conditions.
- For untreated samples (control) – 10 ml of SCDLP broth (used as a neutralizer) is added to Petri plates containing sample material immediately after incubation. Further, a 10-fold serial dilution is performed with the recovered neutralizing solution to enumerate the viable bacteria. TSA (Tryptic Soya Agar) is used as a bacterial growth medium and plates are incubated at 35 °C for 40 to 48 hours.
- For treated samples (test) – 10 ml of SCDLP broth (used as a neutralizer) is added to Petri plates having samples after the incubation of 24 hours. Further, 10-fold serial dilution is performed and is plated on Plate Count Agar (PCA) to enumerate the viable bacteria. Plates are incubated at 35 °C for 40 h to 48 hours.
- After incubation, CFU (Colony Forming Unit) is counted for plates (sample and control) containing 30 – 300 colonies.
- Bactericidal activity of the testing material is determined by the evaluation of the reduction in viable bacterial count of treated samples as compared to the control samples.
JIS Z 2801 Acceptance Criteria & Log Reduction
Under JIS Z 2801, antibacterial performance is determined by comparing the log reduction in viable bacteria on treated samples relative to untreated control surfaces after a defined contact period. The treated samples should demonstrate higher log reduction values compared to the control in order to pass the test.
JIS Z 2801 vs ISO 22196
JIS Z 2801 is the original Japanese Industrial Standard that served as the basis for the development of ISO 22196. The two standards are technically equivalent in test methodology, specified microorganisms, and result calculation. JIS Z 2801 is mainly accepted in Japan and some Asian markets. ISO 22196 is accepted globally, including Europe, the US, and other international markets, and is widely used for worldwide antibacterial claims.
Strengths of the JIS Z 2801 Test
- Provides quantitative analysis of the products efficacy expressed in the form of log reduction/percentage reduction.
- Microbial concentrations are standardized which ensures that the results are reproducible across labs.
- Widely harmonized with ISO 22196 and accepted globally in hygiene-sensitive industries.
- Adaptable to many material types and bacterial strains.
- Supports regulatory and marketing needs by providing efficient data to substantiate antimicrobial claims.
Why Choose Our Lab for JIS Z 2801 Testing
MIS performs JIS Z 2801 antibacterial activity testing to evaluate the performance of treated plastics and other non-porous surfaces under controlled laboratory conditions. This method is widely used to support antibacterial claims for polymers, coatings, and finished products intended for hygienic, consumer, and industrial applications.
Our experts strictly follow JIS Z 2801 and harmonized ISO 22196 protocols to generate accurate, reliable, and reproducible quantitative results. These data support antibacterial performance validation, quality assurance, and product durability claims prior to market release.
We work closely with manufacturers, R&D teams, and regulatory professionals developing plastics and other non-porous surfaces claiming antibacterial efficacy, to deliver them reliable test reports.
Request JIS Z 2801 Testing
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Frequently Asked Questions
DR. Martinoz Scholtz
Yes, JIS Z 2801 is technically equivalent to ISO 22196 in methodology and result calculation. However, regional acceptance differs. JIS Z 2801 is the Japanese standard, while ISO 22196 is internationally recognized.
Yes, JIS Z 2801 is widely used to support antibacterial claims for plastic and other hard, non – porous surfaces.
The standard test organisms are Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
Yes, JIS Z 2801 is suitable for coated plastics with non-porous, cleanable surfaces.
Total turnaround time for JIS Z 2801 is typically 2-3 weeks.
Yes, plastics containing antimicrobial additives can be evaluated using JIS Z 2801.
JIS Z 2801 can be used to assess antibacterial performance of materials intended for medical or food-contact plastics applications.
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