ASTM E2967-15
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Assessing the Ability of Pre-wetted Towelettes to Remove and Transfer Bacterial Contamination on Hard, Non-Porous Environmental Surfaces Using the Wiperator (Withdrawn 2024)
Standard Test Method for Assessing the Ability of Pre-wetted Towelettes to Remove and Transfer Bacterial Contamination on Hard, Non-Porous Environmental Surfaces Using the Wiperator (Withdrawn 2024)
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Microbial decontamination of environmental surfaces by wiping is subject to many variables (4), and failure to standardize them properly during testing of towelettes may give inconsistent test data. (See Practice E2362 and Test Method E2896.) In particular, precise control of the pressure applied during wiping, the normally brief wiping times of a few seconds as well as the style and number of wiping strokes are difficult without a programmable mechanical device. The Wiperator has been designed and tested with these crucial factors in mind. The method described here is to assess the role of wiping in ridding non-porous environmental surfaces of bacterial contamination using prewetted towelettes, and also to determine if the used towelette can transfer viable contamination to clean surfaces on contact.
SCOPE
1.1 This standard is designed for use with a mechanized device (the Wiperator; Appendix X1) to test pre-wetted towelettes.
1.2 Two species of vegetative bacteria, one Gram-positive coccus (Staphylococcus aureus) and one Gram-negative bacillus (Acinetobacter baumannii), representing important nosocomial pathogens, are used to separately contaminate disks of magnetized and brushed stainless steel in order to test the towelettes for their relative ability to:
1.2.1 Decontaminate non-porous environmental surfaces experimentally-contaminated with vegetative bacteria; and
1.2.2 Transfer any acquired bacterial contamination on the towelettes to clean surfaces.
1.3 This test method is not meant for use with towelettes for decontamination of skin.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses, if any, are for information only.
1.5 This test method should be performed by persons with training in microbiology in facilities designed and equipped for work with infectious agents at the appropriate biosafety level.
1.6 It is the responsibility of the investigator to determine whether Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations are required and to follow them where appropriate.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This test method was designed for use with a mechanized device (the Wiperator) to test pre-wetted towelettes.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee E35 on Pesticides, Antimicrobials, and Alternative Control Agents, this test method was withdrawn in January 2024 in accordance with section 10.6.3 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2967 − 15
Standard Test Method for
Assessing the Ability of Pre-wetted Towelettes to Remove
and Transfer Bacterial Contamination on Hard, Non-Porous
1
Environmental Surfaces Using the Wiperator
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2967; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
‘High-touch’ environmental surfaces (HITES) are increasingly being recognized as potential
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vehicles for infectious agents (1-3). Decontamination of such surfaces is almost always by either a
disinfectant-spray-and-wipe procedure or, more commonly, by wiping with an applicator or towelette
prewettedwithadisinfectant (4).Ineithercase,themicrobicidalactionofthedisinfectantiscombined
with the physical action of wiping (mechanical removal). This standard, formulated after a critical
review of available wipe test methods (5-8) and published standards, is based on the use of a
mechanicaldevice(theWiperator;AppendixX1)designedtowipeHITESundercontrolledconditions
and also to test the transfer of acquired microbial contamination to clean surfaces.
1. Scope 1.6 It is the responsibility of the investigator to determine
whether Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations are
1.1 This standard is designed for use with a mechanized
required and to follow them where appropriate.
device (the Wiperator; Appendix X1) to test pre-wetted tow-
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
elettes.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.2 Two species of vegetative bacteria, one Gram-positive
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
coccus (Staphylococcus aureus) and one Gram-negative bacil-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
lus(Acinetobacter baumannii),representingimportantnosoco-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
mial pathogens, are used to separately contaminate disks of
magnetized and brushed stainless steel in order to test the
2. Referenced Documents
towelettes for their relative ability to:
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2.1 Decontaminate non-porous environmental surfaces
D1129Terminology Relating to Water
experimentally-contaminated with vegetative bacteria; and
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
1.2.2 Transfer any acquired bacterial contamination on the
E1054Test Methods for Evaluation of Inactivators of Anti-
towelettes to clean surfaces.
microbial Agents
1.3 Thistestmethodisnotmeantforusewithtowelettesfor
E2197Quantitative Disk Carrier Test Method for Determin-
decontamination of skin.
ing Bactericidal, Virucidal, Fungicidal, Mycobactericidal,
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
and Sporicidal Activities of Chemicals
standard. The values given in parentheses, if any, are for
E2362Practice for Evaluation of Pre-saturated or Impreg-
information only.
nated Towelettes for Hard Surface Disinfection
E2756Terminology Relating toAntimicrobial andAntiviral
1.5 This test method should be performed by persons with
Agents
traininginmicrobiologyinfacilitiesdesignedandequippedfor
E2896Test Method for Quantitative Petri Plate Method
work with infectious agents at the appropriate biosafety level.
(QPM) for Determining the Effectiveness of Antimicro-
bial Towelettes
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E35 on
Pesticides, Antimicrobials, and Alternative Control Agents and is the direct
responsibility of Subcommittee E35.15 on Antimicrobial Agents.
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CurrenteditionapprovedMay1,2015.PublishedFebruary2016.DOI:10.1520/ For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
E2967-15. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
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Theboldfacenumbersinparenthesesrefertothelistofreferencesattheendof Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
this standard. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E2967 − 15
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2.2 AOAC Standard: environmental surfaces. Each disk receives at its center 10 µL
AOAC Standards Method 961.02Germicidal Spray Prod- ofthetestorganism,andtheinoculumisdried.Thediskisthen
ucts as Disinfectants. Official Methods of Analysis placed in one of the two recessed areas on the Wiperator’s
5 2
carrierplatform.A4cm pieceofcontrolortesttoweletteiscut
2.3 CFR Standards:
and mounted
...
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