AOAC 960-09. Germicidal and detergent sanitation action of disinfectants.
Test not accredited in our laboratory.
AOAC 960.09 describes a quantitative suspension test method for evaluating the properties of food contact surface sanitizers. This test determines the minimum concentration of a chemical that can be used on non-porous food contact surfaces that have been previously cleaned. The recommended minimum use concentration is 2 to 4 times the minimum concentration determined in the assay.
To perform the test, the pure disinfectant or a dilution to its use concentration in hard water (200 ppm CaCO3) is prepared. Subsequently, the prepared disinfectant solution is exposed to the test microorganism at 25°C for 30 seconds. Escherichia coli, as a representative of Gramnegative bacteria, and Staphylococcus aureus, as a representative of Grampositive bacteria, are included as test microorganisms. After exposure, a sample of the test mixture is neutralized and plated on an appropriate agar to determine the surviving bacteria and calculate the bacterial reduction compared to the initial population of bacteria used in the test. For the test concentration to be considered effective, it must demonstrate a reduction of 99.999% within 30 seconds.
The test also makes it possible to determine the maximum hardness of the water for which the concentration to be declared is effective. If the test is required with other water hardnesses greater than 200 ppm of CaCO3, the client must specify it in the request.