[A new sensitivity test for substances used as antiseptics or disinfectants. I. Biological studies].

In this first article, the authors present a fast method of determining the bactericide and bacteriostatic power of the germs, based on the disparition of the succino-dehydrogenase activity of a bacterium, objectified by a neotetrazolium chloride reaction. This reaction allows a colorimetric qualitative and quantitative determination of the activity of a preparation and the duration of its contact with the bacteria. This method allows a study in electronic microscopy which will be published in a second article.