ASTM E2362-22 PDF

Full title and description

St ASTM E2362-22 — Standard Practice for Evaluation of Pre-saturated or Impregnated Towelettes for Hard Surface Disinfection. This practice provides a laboratory method to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and efficacy of pre-saturated or impregnated towelettes when used as hard-surface disinfectants.

Abstract

ASTM E2362-22 establishes a standardized procedure for challenging towelettes that are pre-saturated or impregnated with disinfectant formulations against defined test organisms on carriers (typically glass carriers) and for determining microbial reductions under specified contact times, neutralization procedures, and test conditions. The practice emphasizes that testing should be performed by personnel trained in microbiological techniques, that Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) may be required at the investigator’s discretion, and that SI units are the standard for reporting.

General information

• Status: Active.
• Publication date: October 1, 2022 (approved Oct 1, 2022; published November 2022).
• Publisher: ASTM International.
• ICS / categories: 71.100.35 — Chemicals for industrial and domestic disinfection purposes.
• Edition / version: E2362-22 (2022 edition); current edition supersedes E2362-15.
• Number of pages: 7 pages.

Scope

This practice is designed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of pre-saturated or impregnated towelettes when used as a hard surface disinfectant. It covers test setup using inoculated carriers (approximately a one-square-inch inoculation area), selection of representative test organisms, contact time control, and neutralization and recovery procedures; it notes that appropriate modifications may be required when testing organisms not specified and that users must establish appropriate safety and regulatory practices before use. Testing is intended for laboratories and investigators competent in microbiological techniques.

Key topics and requirements

• Purpose and scope: evaluation of pre-saturated/impregnated towelettes for hard-surface disinfection.
• Test carriers and inoculation: typical use of glass carriers and defined inoculation areas (approx. 1 in²).
• Representative test organisms: common bacterial and fungal challenge organisms referenced in the practice (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp., Mycobacterium bovis surrogate organisms, Trichophyton mentagrophytes where applicable).
• Contact time and efficacy criteria: specified contact times under which microbial reduction is measured and reported.
• Neutralization and recovery: procedures for inactivator selection and validation (references to practices for evaluation of inactivators).
• Reporting and units: results reported in SI units; investigators responsible for GLP considerations and laboratory safety.

Typical use and users

Used by disinfectant/towelette manufacturers for product development and internal efficacy testing, contract and commercial microbiology laboratories performing efficacy validation, regulatory reviewers and compliance groups assessing label claims, and quality assurance teams in healthcare and institutional cleaning product procurement. The standard is intended for trained microbiologists and laboratories that can perform challenge testing and validate neutralizers and recovery methods.

Related standards

ASTM E2362-22 references and is used alongside other test and procedural standards, including ASTM practices for evaluation of inactivators (E1054), reagent water specification (D1193), and other committee-developed methods; the 2022 edition supersedes E2362-15. Additional standards and regional methods for disinfectant efficacy and carrier testing are often consulted in parallel.

Keywords

pre-saturated, impregnated, towelette, hard-surface disinfection, efficacy, carrier test, glass carrier, contact time, neutralizer, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Mycobacterium bovis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, antimicrobial testing.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM E2362-22 is a standard practice that defines laboratory methods to evaluate the antimicrobial performance of pre-saturated or impregnated towelettes intended for hard-surface disinfection.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers carrier preparation and inoculation (commonly glass carriers), selection of challenge organisms, application of towelettes to inoculated carriers, controlled contact times, neutralization and recovery procedures, and reporting requirements; it notes GLP considerations and that modifications may be necessary for organisms not specifically listed.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Product manufacturers (formulation and claims substantiation), contract test laboratories, regulatory reviewers, healthcare procurement and QA/QC groups, and researchers conducting comparative efficacy testing. Users should be trained in microbiological techniques.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The E2362-22 edition (approved October 1, 2022) is the current ASTM edition and supersedes the prior E2362-15 edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: E2362-22 is developed under ASTM Committee E35 (Pesticides, Antimicrobials, and Alternative Control Agents), Subcommittee E35.15 (Antimicrobial Agents), and is intended to be used alongside other ASTM practices and referenced methods for neutralizer evaluation and reagent quality.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Towelettes, pre-saturated, impregnated, hard-surface disinfection, efficacy, carrier test, contact time, neutralization, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella, Mycobacterium (surrogates), Trichophyton.