AFNOR NFT 72-28
AFNOR NFT 72-28 is the name of a French test standard. It has established itself as the standard method for testing the effectiveness of autonomous room disinfection systems. It is known for its particularly strict compliance conditions. Many suppliers of disinfection systems are deterred by this rigorous and expensive test; it is therefore not surprising that only about 30% of the systems offered on the market have passed the test. It is important in this context that the entire system, i.e. the disinfectant and the device are tested together.
A distinction is made between “automatic application” and “directed spraying”.
Direct spraying
The disinfectant is sprayed onto a test surface from a predetermined distance. The sample plates are located on this surface. The test germs are applied to these sample plates. Germs can be bacteria, fungi, yeasts or viruses.
Automatic application
The device to be tested is placed in a defined room. The disinfectant is fogged fully automatically into the room, an thus onto all surfaces. In contrast to directional spraying, the sample plates are located on the back of the test surface. (see picture above). The aerosols generated by the device must therefore be applied in such a way that they not only touch the test surface facing the device, but also the test surface facing away from the device. The sample plates are placed somewhere in the room.
The AFNOR test is very close to reality, if one compares the set up of the test and, for example, a patient’s room in which furniture, equipment, etc. is placed randomly.
Systems with UV-light and AFNOR
Disinfection systems that are operated with UV-C light can never fulfil the AFNOR test. Because the sample plates are on the dark side of the test surface, the emitted UV rays never reach the test germs. Even automatic or autonomous movement of the device does not help, because the sample plates are placed so close to the wall that they are always in the shadow.
aseptobot
The aseptobot, which we developed recently passed the AFNOR test successfully. The disinfectant fog-it plus was used in the test.
