The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered 282 copper alloys as antimicrobial materials with public health claims in February 2008. Now, test methods developed in discussions between the EPA and the Copper Development Association during the registration process are being developed as proposed ASTM International standards.

Subcommittee E35.15 on Antimicrobial Agents, part of ASTM International Committee E35 on Pesticides and Alternative Control Agents, is currently at work on three proposed new standards:

WK25874, Test Method for Efficacy of Treated Surfaces as Sanitizers;
WK25875, Test Method for Determination of the Residual Self-Sanitizing Activity of Treated Surfaces; and
WK25876, Test Method for Determination of the Continuous Reduction of Microbials Contamination by Treated Surfaces.

“These proposed standards will provide known international standards for efficacy testing of solid surface materials that will allow companies and products to be evaluated for potential registration with the EPA as antimicrobial products,” says James Michel, manager, technical services, Copper Development Association and a member of several ASTM committees, including E35 and B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys.

In addition to the regulatory community, Michel says that manufacturers of sanitizers and hospital components will have an interest in the proposed E35 standards.

ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

ASTM Committee E35 Next Meeting: April 19-22, April committee week, St. Louis, Mo.
Technical Contact: James H. Michel, Copper Development Association Inc., New York, N.Y., Phone: 212-251-7210; jmichel@cda.copper.org
ASTM Staff Contact: Jennifer Rodgers, Phone: 610-832-9694; jrodgers@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #8508/Feb2010