Antimicrobial Product Challenge Testing

In recent years, antimicrobial products have become increasingly popular as fears of MRSA, C. diff and other superbugs continue to grow.  In fact, approximately one billion dollars are spent annually on a variety of different types of antimicrobial products.

More than 5,000 antimicrobial products are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and sold in the marketplace.  Nearly 60% of these products are registered to control infectious microorganisms in hospitals and other healthcare environments.

According to the EPA, antimicrobial pesticides are substances or mixtures of substances used to destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms on inanimate objects and surfaces. Antimicrobial products contain about 275 different active ingredients and are marketed in several formulations: sprays, liquids, concentrated powders and gases.

Antimicrobial pesticides have two major uses:

1. Disinfect, sanitize, reduce or mitigate the growth or development of microbiological organisms;
   
   
2. Protect inanimate objects, industrial processes or systems, surfaces, water or other chemical substances from contamination, fouling or deterioration caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, algae or slime.

These uses do not include certain pesticides intended for food use; but do encompass pesticides with a wide array of other uses. For example: antimicrobial pesticides act as preserving agents in paints, metalworking fluids, wood supports and many other products.

“At EMSL, we offer a wide range of indoor and outdoor environmental testing services to identify pesticides to help protect people from unnecessary exposure,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “EMSL also provide testing services for manufacturers of antimicrobial pesticides who need to determine the efficacy of their product against a wide range of microbial agents.”

EMSL recently sponsored an educational video about antimicrobial pesticides that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/-r6yt7vkrPs.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental, industrial hygiene, food and materials testing services and products to government agencies, industry professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.