Biofilm growth device approved as an international standard
Innovotech\'s MBEC Assay tests the effectiveness of hard surface disinfectants that kill biofilms
The MBEC Assay produced by Innovotech Inc has been approved as an ASTM International (ASTM) standard. The Assay was validated for testing the effectiveness of hard surface disinfectants formulated to kill biofilm.
The MBEC Assay is a biofilm growth device, which allows for the rapid, reproducible and simultaneous evaluation of multiple test conditions against microorganisms in their natural, biofilm state.
‘Currently, most disinfectants are evaluated using bacteria grown in suspension,’ said Dr Darla Goeres, assistant research professor, Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE) at Montana State University, and a member of the ASTM Subcommittee E35 on Pesticides, Antimicrobials, and Alternative Control Agents. ‘This method enables companies to determine the efficacy of products against bacteria in their more natural state, and therefore provides a better approach for predicting the efficacy of disinfectants under real-use conditions.’
‘The approval of the MBEC Assay as an ASTM standard represents a fundamental shift in how disinfectants will be evaluated on their effectiveness in protecting against harmful microorganisms,’ said Ken Boutilier, president and ceo of Innovotech, a pioneer in the field of biofilm product development.
‘This approval paves the way for a new generation of disinfectants in the food industry and in hospitals, designed specifically to address the issue of biofilms, thereby reducing the number of deaths and sicknesses resulting from foodborne and infection related illnesses.’
Biofilms are organised communities of microorganisms that exist in virtually every natural environment and can be up to 1000 times more resistant to treatment than the same organism in a free-floating state.
ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials) provides a global forum for the development and publication of international voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems and services. Known for their high technical quality and market relevance, ASTM standards are used in research and development, product testing and quality systems.
