EN 17915: 2025. Quantitative carrier test method for the evaluation of virucidal activity of chemical disinfectants on hard non-porous surfaces in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas. Test methods and requirements (phase 2, step 2).

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The EN 17915 standard describes a surface test method for establishing whether a product proposed as a disinfectant in the food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas has or does not have virucidal activity on non-porous surfaces, following a laboratory test which simulates practical conditions of application. The chosen conditions (contact time, temperature, organisms on surfaces etc.) correspond to those which are found in practical situations including conditions which may influence the action of disinfectants. However, for special applications the recommendations of use of a product can differ and therefore additional test conditions might be needed.

This European Standard describes a test method and the minimum requirements for the virucidal activity of chemical disinfectants that form a homogeneous, physically stable preparation when diluted in hard water or, in the case of ready to use, in the water. This testing applies to products used in the food, industrial, domestic and institutional area for disinfection of non-porous surfaces, without mechanical action, excluding areas and situations where disinfection is medically indicated and excluding products used on living tissues. This applies at least to the following: 1) food of animal origin: milk and milk products; meat and meat products; fish, seafood, and related products; eggs and egg products;  animal feeds; etc.; 2) food of vegetable origin: beverages; fruits, vegetables and derivatives (including sugar, distillery, etc.); flour, milling and baking; animal feeds; etc.; 3) institutional and domestic areas: catering establishments; public areas; public transports; schools; nurseries; shops; sports rooms; waste containers (bins, etc.); hotels; dwellings; clinically non sensitive areas of hospitals; offices; etc.; 4) industries other than food: packaging material; biotechnology (yeast, proteins, enzymes, etc.); pharmaceutical; cosmetics and toiletries; textiles; space industry, computer industry; etc.

In the test, to determine the virucidal action of the product, a virus suspension is inoculated into a solution of interfering substances, which is deposited on a test surface and dried. A prepared sample of the test product is applied to this surface and is kept at a specified temperature for a defined contact time.

The test temperature must be chosen between 18 and 25ºC, as recommended by the manufacturer, except for chemothermal disinfection in which a temperature ≥40ºC is required. Additional temperatures can be chosen between 4ºC and 40ºC. The contact time with the surface must be chosen based on the practical conditions of use of the product but must not exceed 60 minutes. To simulate clean conditions, the interfering substance is a 0.3 g/L bovine albumin solution, and for dirty conditions, a 3.0 g/L bovine albumin solution. The standard also allows the use of 10 g/L reconstituted milk as an interfering substance when the product is intended for dairy industry. The product must be tested at a minimum of three concentrations, including one in the non-active range and one in the active range (these last two concentrations are chosen by the laboratory that performs the test because they correspond to the internal controls of the test).

Depending on the area of ​​application of the product, the standard establishes a minimum spectrum of test viruses:

• Disinfection of surfaces in industries, food processing, distribution and retailing areas: Viricidal activity for biopharmaceutical industry: Murine parvovirus; Virucidal activity for the food industry:  Murine Norovirus; Virucidal activity for industries other than biopharmaceutical and food industry: Murine Adenovirus and Norovirus; Activity against enveloped viruses: Vaccinia virus; Virucidal activity (chemo-thermal) (Tª ≥40ºC): Murine parvovirus.

• Disinfection of surfaces in institutional and domestic areas: Viricidal activity for institutional and domestic use: Murine Adenovirus and Norovirus; Activity against enveloped viruses: Vaccinia virus. 

When appropriate for specific uses, additional specific virucidal activity may be determined with additional viruses or under other conditions of time, temperature, and interfering substances to take into account specific conditions of use. If the mandatory conditions are not tested, the test will be issued with deviations from the standard.

In order for the product to show virucidal activity in accordance with the prEN 17915 standard, it must demonstrate a logarithmic reduction of at least 4 logs in the titer of the test viruses that apply according to the area of ​​use of the product or the Vaccinia virus to demonstrate activity against enveloped viruses.