Standardized tests for the determination of bactericidal, mycobactericidal, sporicidal and fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics necessitate the use of test organisms whose purity and identity have been verified and whose biological behaviour remains stable. Therefore it is essential to specify the storage requirements.
This European Standard aims at describing methods for preservation of test organisms used for such purposes. It specifies methods for keeping test organisms used and defined in European Standards for the determination of bactericidal, mycobactericidal, sporicidal and fungicidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics drawn up by CEN/TC 216. These methods for keeping test organisms can only be carried out in connection with at least one of those standards where a reference to this standard is established.
An informative annex contains a non-exhaustive list of test organisms for which this standard can be applied. European Standards (EN and prEN) where this BS EN is referenced are listed in the Bibliography.
BS EN 12353:2006 supersedes BS EN 12353:2000, which has been withdrawn.
