AOAC Available Chlorine Equivalency Test

Test Purpose
The purpose of this microbiology test is to determine the efficacy of sanitizing rinses of halide containing products. The test substance is assayed alongside 50 ppm, 100 ppm, and 200 ppm NaOCl and compared for equivalency to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other regulatory agency requirements. The test substance must demonstrated equivalency to a minimum 50 ppm NaOCl standard.

Test Summary
A suspension of bacterial cells is exposed to the sanitizer and control NaOCl solutions of known concentrations for a specified contact time. After exposure, an aliquot of the exposed suspension is transferred to tubes containing neutralizing subculture media. The reinoculation and subculture process is repeated nine times. Subculture tubes are then incubated and assayed qualitatively for survivors. Appropriate viability and neutralization controls are performed.