[In vitro virucidal activity of antiseptics and disinfectants. I. Draft of the AFNOR virucidal activity standard].

An antiseptic (ATS) or disinfectant (DSF) is defined as virucidal if it produces a 10 000-fold (4 log) or greater reduction in the number of infective units (IU) of three viral species (Sabin type I poliovirus, type 5 adenovirus, and vaccinia virus) and three E. coli bacteriophages (MS2, T2 and phi X174). and three E. coli bacteriophages (MS2, T2 and phi X174). Preliminary trials produce viral suspensions at concentrations of 10(6) to 10(9) IU/ml, and determine the subtoxic dilution "d" of the tested agent, susceptibility of treated cells to the viral infection, and antiviral activity termination dilution "D". Actual trials may be performed with one of three methods: simple dilution, dilution-ultrafiltration-reconcentration, or gel column filtration. With these techniques, virucidal activity can be determined after a set time of contact (15 to 60 mn) at a given temperature (21 degrees C or 37 degrees C) by titrating the viral suspension after elimination or neutralization of the ATS or DSF.