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An evaluation of the repeatability and reproducibility of a surface test for the activity of disinfectants
Author(s) -
Bloomfield Sally F.,
Arthur M.,
Klingeren B.,
Pullen W.,
Holah J.T.,
Elton Rebecca
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1994.tb04420.x
Subject(s) - repeatability , reproducibility , test (biology) , replication (statistics) , standardization , test method , statistics , round robin test , disinfectant , reliability engineering , computer science , medicine , mathematics , engineering , biology , pathology , ecology , operating system
A collaborative study was carried out to determine the precision of a disinfectant surface test method which is currently under consideration for development as a harmonized European standard surface test. Results indicate that significant variation in microbicidal effect occurs both within and between test laboratories despite careful standardization of test conditions, but that the variability may be less than that associated with suspension tests. Indications are that much of this variability derives from random variations in the resistance of the test strains from day to day and, most particularly, from test period to test period both within as well as between laboratories. It is concluded that although the test may be sufficiently reliable to be used as a standard method, adequate replication must be specified to distinguish borderline pass from borderline fail concentrations.