ISO 22196-2011 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 22196:2011 — Measurement of antibacterial activity on plastics and other non-porous surfaces. This International Standard specifies a laboratory method for evaluating the antibacterial activity of antibacterial-treated plastics and other non-porous product surfaces (including intermediate products); it is not intended for untreated surfaces, textiles, building materials used outside treated-article use, or photocatalytic materials and products.

Abstract

ISO 22196:2011 describes an in vitro quantitative test to determine the reduction of viable bacteria on treated non‑porous surfaces relative to untreated controls after a specified contact time (typically 24 ± 1 h). The method uses defined bacterial inocula, film-covered application of the inoculum, controlled incubation (temperature and high relative humidity), recovery with a neutralizer, serial dilution and colony counts to calculate antibacterial activity (log reduction / CFU per cm²). The standard explicitly excludes antibacterial‑treated textiles, photocatalytic materials and general biodeterioration or odour claims.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; confirmed current on review).
• Publication date: August 2011 (Edition 2).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO), technical committee ISO/TC 61/SC 6.
• ICS / categories: 83.080.01 (Plastics — microbiological testing related classification).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2011).
• Number of pages: 15 pages.

(Core bibliographic and lifecycle details as recorded by ISO; the publication was last reviewed and confirmed in 2021 and remains the current edition as listed on the ISO record.)

Scope

Defines a laboratory procedure for measuring antibacterial activity on antibacterial‑treated plastics and other non‑porous surfaces of products. It applies to treated articles used in typical contact situations and is intended for comparative performance testing and verification of claimed antibacterial properties. The standard does not apply to untreated non‑porous surfaces (covered by other methods), antibacterial‑treated textiles (ISO 20743), photocatalytic materials (ISO 27447), or for certifying biodegradability or odor prevention.

Key topics and requirements

• Test organisms: commonly Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (standard strains are specified or referenced by the method).
• Specimen preparation: flat test specimens (typical size 50 mm × 50 mm; thickness ≤ 10 mm) with at least 3 replicates for treated material and 6 for untreated reference material (half processed immediately, half after incubation).
• Inoculation and contact: known volume and concentration of bacterial suspension applied to the specimen (commonly 400 μL), spread and covered with a sterile film to ensure close contact and limit evaporation.
• Incubation conditions: typically 24 ± 1 h at about 35 ± 1 °C and relative humidity not less than 90% (high humidity climate chamber is specified to prevent drying and ensure contact conditions).
• Recovery and neutralization: bacteria are recovered after contact by adding a neutralizer/recovery solution, followed by vigorous mixing, serial dilution and plating for colony counts.
• Calculation and reporting: results expressed as CFU per cm² and antibacterial activity (log reduction) compared with untreated control; selection of plates with appropriate colony counts (e.g., 15–300 colonies) for statistical validity.
• Controls and validation: untreated material controls, immediate‑time zero controls, appropriate neutralizer validation and replicate testing to address variability.
• Limitations: laboratory conditions (high humidity, static inoculum volume) are artificial and intended for comparative/claim verification rather than direct prediction of in‑service behaviour.

Typical use and users

Used by product manufacturers (plastics, coatings, treated surfaces), independent test laboratories and quality/R&D teams to substantiate antibacterial claims, compare treatments or formulations, and perform internal product control. Regulatory, procurement and certification bodies and material development teams also use the method for performance evaluation and comparative screening. Microbiology labs performing ISO 22196 often require ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for formal testing services.

Related standards

Closely related or complementary standards include JIS Z 2801 (original Japanese method harmonized with ISO 22196), ISO 20743 (textiles — antibacterial testing), ISO 27447 (photocatalytic materials), ISO 21702 (measurement of antiviral activity on plastics and non‑porous surfaces), ISO 18184 (textiles — antiviral testing), ASTM E2180 (antibacterial activity of materials), and EN/other regional test methods (e.g., EN 16615 for surface disinfection simulation). These standards cover different material families, organisms or test conditions and may be cited as appropriate for specific product types or claim categories.

Keywords

ISO 22196, antibacterial, antimicrobial, plastics, non-porous surfaces, test method, contact-killing, log reduction, CFU/cm², JIS Z 2801, neutralizer, incubation conditions.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 22196:2011 is an international laboratory method for measuring the antibacterial activity of antibacterial‑treated plastics and other non‑porous surfaces by comparing viable bacterial counts on treated versus untreated specimens after a defined contact time.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers specimen preparation, inoculation (film-covered), incubation under controlled temperature and high relative humidity, recovery with neutralizer, serial dilution and colony counting, and calculation of antibacterial activity (log reduction). It excludes textile products (ISO 20743), photocatalytic materials (ISO 27447) and untreated surface propagation studies.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Product manufacturers (plastics, coatings), R&D and QC laboratories, independent test houses, and regulatory or procurement teams that need a standardized, reproducible method to substantiate antibacterial performance claims.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 22196 was published in August 2011 (Edition 2). The ISO record indicates the publication was reviewed and confirmed in 2021 and remains the current edition as listed on the ISO website. Users should check the ISO catalogue for any later revisions or new related ISO methods (for example, ISO 7581 published later) if they need the very latest standards landscape.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of a set of ISO methods addressing antimicrobial/antiviral testing of materials and surfaces; companion standards address textiles (ISO 20743), photocatalytic materials (ISO 27447), antiviral testing on plastics (ISO 21702) and others — each covers different materials, organisms or test endpoints.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Antibacterial, antimicrobial, plastics, non‑porous surfaces, log reduction, CFU/cm², JIS Z 2801, test method, neutralizer, incubation, contact time.