ISO 22196

Measurement of antibacterial activity

ISO 22196 is an international standard that establishes the method for measuring antibacterial activity in plastics and other non-porous surfaces. Its objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments applied to materials, ensuring that they truly inhibit bacterial growth.

The test consists of:

• Comparing the reduction of bacterial load on the treated surface versus the untreated surface.
• Inoculating bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) onto the treated surface and a control sample without treatment.
• Covering with a sterile film and maintaining under controlled conditions (35 °C, high humidity) for 24 hours.

In tests based on the ISO 22196 standard, esbelt® belts with anti-microbial properties reduce microbial growth by more than 99% against bacteria such as Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli, according to internal and external tests.