My first blog post! Yea!!!
Let us start with some definitions:
Anti-bacterial Agent is a biocide that is effective only against bacteria making no claims against fungi or viruses.
Anti-Bacterial Testing This is the method that manufacturers use to test efficacy, or effectiveness of bacteria death. This is where information comes from to write the label directions. (Please, please, please read label directions.) The method gives them information about how much active ingredient to put into their formulation.
Biocide translates as killer (cide) of life (bio). Life in this case can refer to bacteria, fungi, or virus. It is the active ingredient in the Disinfectant formulations. Biocides are tested by the companies that produce them against certain organisms such as:
- E. coli, an intestinal bacterium, also called a fecal coliform.
- Staph, is commonly found on our skin, a resistant form is MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- Strep, you are familiar with strep throat
- Salmonella can come from chicken or other meat products including eggs
- And now Corona virus
Disinfectant contains a biocide or an anti-bacterial agent with a surfactant.
Disinfection is the process of killing pathogens or harmful microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Parts Per Million (ppm) If you understand percentages, you can understand ppm. Percentage is part of a hundred (100) while ppm is part of a million (1,000,000). Ppm allows for measuring smaller levels of a substance.
Surfactant think of soap which makes it easier to lift the offender usually bacteria into the water phase to wash it away.
Links to references for this article and many future articles
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-analytical-methods/antimicrobial-testing-methods-procedures-developed-epas-microbiology general EPA site for disinfectant testing
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-03/documents/mb-09-07.pdf for wipes testing method
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/emerging_viral_pathogen_program_guidance_final_8_19_16_001_0.pdf standards for virus claims
https://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/2046-CloroxDisinfectingWipesOrange/ review of ingredients
Label Translator 