ASTM E1153 Standard Test Method for Efficacy of Sanitizers Recommended for Inanimate, Hard, Nonporous, Non-Food Contact Surfaces

Get Certified ASTM E1153 Testing for Reliable Sanitizer Efficacy Evaluation

ASTM E1153 is a standard test method used by manufacturers, engineers, technicians, and suppliers to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of sanitizers intended for hard, nonporous surfaces that do not come into contact with food. Testing quantifies the reduction in selected microorganisms after treatment with the sanitizer under specified conditions. Results help determine whether the product achieves the required microbial reduction compared with untreated controls. ASTM E1153 evaluations can support product verification, formulation development, quality control, and documentation of sanitizer performance. The required evaluation varies based on the sanitizer formulation, target microorganism, test surface, application method, contact time, and other requirements specified by the sanitizer manufacturer or purchaser.

• Sanitizer Products: Evaluating chemical sanitizers intended for use on hard, nonporous, non-food-contact surfaces.
• Test Microorganisms: Assessing efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella aerogenes, or a combination of the specified organisms.
• Test Surfaces: Using precleaned, nonporous surfaces such as borosilicate glass, glazed glass, or stainless steel.
• One-Step Cleaner-Sanitizers: Evaluating formulations recommended for use on lightly soiled, nonporous, non-food-contact surfaces.
• Microbial Inoculation: Inoculating test carriers with a controlled microbial suspension before sanitizer treatment.
• Sanitizer Exposure: Applying the product under specified conditions and for the required contact time.
• Microbial Recovery: Recovering surviving microorganisms from treated and control carriers using appropriate recovery procedures.
• Efficacy Evaluation: Determining the percentage reduction in selected microorganisms compared with control results.
• Reporting: Recording microbial counts, product information, test conditions, and calculated reductions.

What are the Uses of ASTM E1153 Testing?

ASTM E1153 assists manufacturers, technical personnel, operators, and engineers in assessing the antimicrobial efficacy of sanitizers on hard, nonporous, non-food-contact surfaces. It can be used for sanitizer verification, formulation assessment, and manufacturing quality control. The ASTM E1153 standard:

• Offers a method for testing sanitizers on non-food-contact surfaces.
• Measures the reduction of specified microorganisms after sanitizing.
• Aids in assessing products intended for use on precleaned hard surfaces.
• Assists in evaluating one-step cleaner-sanitizer formulations for lightly soiled surfaces.
• Permits comparison of microorganism recovery from treated and control carriers.
• Provides information for evaluating sanitizer performance under controlled conditions.
• Assists manufacturers in evaluating formulations against product requirements.
• Helps maintain quality control during sanitizer development and manufacturing.
• Supports engineers and microbiologists in assessing antimicrobial performance against specified organisms.
• Supports the documentation of test results for product verification and traceability.

Which Materials Can Be Tested Under ASTM E1153?

ASTM E1153 applies to sanitizer products intended for use on inanimate, hard, nonporous, non-food-contact surfaces. The method employs standardized test carriers, such as borosilicate glass, glazed glass, or stainless steel, to assess the antimicrobial effect of the product. It may also be used to evaluate cleaner-sanitizer formulations recommended for lightly soiled surfaces. Technicians and microbiologists prepare the selected carriers, inoculate them with the specified microorganisms, and apply the sanitizer under controlled conditions. The procedure may require modification to accommodate spray-type or towelette-type products and products intended for use on surfaces not specifically described in the method.

Why is ASTM E1153 Important?

ASTM E1153 is significant because it is a standard method to measure sanitizer effectiveness by determining the reduction of microorganisms on treated carriers. Controlled inoculation, sanitizer application, microbial recovery, and enumeration procedures provide data for product evaluation and quality control. This method helps assess whether a sanitizer reduces the selected microorganisms compared with untreated controls. It can also be used to compare sanitizer formulations and product batches under specified test conditions. However, antimicrobial effectiveness varies with the test organism, carrier surface, product concentration, and exposure conditions. Engineers and microbiologists should also consider the intended use, directions for use, regulatory requirements, and other relevant performance characteristics when evaluating product suitability.

The procedures used to evaluate sanitizer efficacy include:

ASTM E1153 Testing Process and Data Collection

The ASTM E1153 evaluation process starts with a review of the sanitizer formulation, target microorganisms, carrier material, and product application requirements. Technicians prepare the nonporous carriers, apply the selected microorganisms, and establish the necessary control conditions. They then treat the inoculated carriers with the sanitizer, maintain the specified contact time, and recover the surviving microorganisms through appropriate neutralization and recovery procedures. Technicians count the recovered microorganisms and compare the results with the control results to calculate the percentage reduction. Microbial counts, product information, contact time, carrier details, and observations help document sanitizer efficacy and support further investigation when results do not meet the specified criteria.

Common Challenges and Troubleshooting

Microbial preparation, carrier cleanliness, sanitizer application, neutralization, and recovery consistency are the major challenges in ASTM E1153 evaluation. Inoculum preparation or contamination of carriers can influence the reliability of microbial counts. Inadequate neutralization can allow the sanitizer to continue affecting microorganisms during recovery and produce inaccurate results. The measured microbial reduction may also vary because of differences in contact time, product application, or incubation conditions. Before recording results, technicians must verify carrier condition, microbial preparation, sanitizer exposure, and the suitability of the neutralization system. If microbial recovery results show unexpected findings or significant discrepancies, microbiologists should examine the control results, neutralizer effectiveness, recovery procedure, incubation conditions, and test records to determine whether further testing is necessary.

• Technicians record the sanitizer identification, test microorganisms, carrier material, and test conditions.
• Control-carrier results provide the basis for comparison when determining microorganism recovery from treated carriers.
• Treated-carrier results indicate the number of microorganisms recovered following exposure to the sanitizer.
• The calculated percentage reduction represents the antimicrobial effect under the test conditions.
• Neutralization and recovery records help establish the reliability of microbial enumeration results.
• Engineers compare the measured reduction with the applicable product performance requirements.
• The final report documents the test results, relevant test information, and observations about sanitizer efficacy and conformity with the acceptance criteria.

Link to ASTM E1153