Virology Testing
We specialise in delivering cutting-edge virology services that support the development of novel antivirals and virucidal agents. From stringent virus testing on biocides to tailoring bespoke virology research to meet your unique needs, we ensure your products meet the highest standards of efficacy and safety.
Importance of Virucide Testing
Virucides play a pivotal role in safeguarding public health, preventing the spread of infectious diseases, and maintaining safe environments. Virucide testing is not just a regulatory requirement; it's a critical step in verifying the efficacy of your products against viruses. With viruses being notoriously resilient and diverse, accurate testing is key to instilling confidence in the performance of your biocidal products.
The importance of effective viral control mechanisms was never more in the spotlight than during the coronavirus pandemic. BluTest Laboratories proudly supported disinfectant manufacturers to fast-track their safe and effective products onto the virucidal market, aiding the global fight against COVID-19.
What we offer
-
Virucidal Product Testing
Ensure your virucidal agents meet required regulatory standards for efficacy and safety in domestic, veterinary, or medical areas. We test against a large selection of viruses, from standard strains to those specifically indicated in your product claims.
Validate cleaning and disinfection regimes in your cell-handling facilities, covering cell and gene therapy, cell culture, and viral vector industries. We can test your specific virus strains or a suite of representative, model, or surrogate viruses to simulate actual facility disinfection as closely as possible.
-
Product Development Support
Test the safety and efficacy of new antiviral agents or products. We screen virucidal actives for efficacy against a range of specific viruses and cytotoxicity against mammalian cells, giving you confidence to move forward to clinical trials.
-
Bespoke Virology Research
Collaborate with our experienced team to develop bespoke protocols tailored to your needs. Our scientists adapt established methods to match your unique research requirements.
-
Regulatory Support
Our team assists in preparing regulatory submissions, providing information on efficient testing packages to suit your product claims. We ensure you have the necessary data and documentation for compliance with BPR and other regulatory bodies.
In-depth look
Virucidal products can be tested with different levels of rigour to cover claims against varying sets of viruses. This can be conducted in a step-wise manner.
The most basic of these is ‘enveloped virus efficacy’, which is claimed by achieving a pass against Vaccinia virus. This enables claims of efficacy against all known enveloped viruses, including coronavirus, monkeypox, influenza and more. For veterinary product, Feline coronavirus is used as the model enveloped virus.
Next, virucidal products that can demonstrate efficacy against Adenovirus and Murine norovirus can claim ‘limited spectrum’ efficacy. This enables claims against all known enveloped viruses (as above), plus Adenovirus, murine norovirus, and rotavirus.
Finally, the most rigorous virucidal claim is ‘full virucidal efficacy’. To hold this claim, virucidal products must demonstrate efficacy against Adenovirus and Murine norovirus as above, plus Poliovirus. A pass against all three of these model viruses effectively enables a claim against all known viruses, enveloped and non-enveloped. For veterinary product, Bovine enterovirus is used as the model for full virucidal efficacy.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of the services we offer to aid with virucidal product testing. If there is a service you are interested in which is not listed here, please contact us to discuss.
Virucidal Efficacy Tests |
|
Standard |
Test |
| EN 14476 | Virucidal suspension test (medical area) |
| EN 16777 | Virucidal non-porous surface test (medical area) |
| EN 17111 | Virucidal instrument immersion test (medical area) |
| EN 14675 | Virucidal suspension test (veterinary area) |
| EN 17122 | Virucidal non-pourous suspension test (veterinary area) |
| EN 13610 | Phagocidal suspension test (dairy industry) |
| EN 17272 | Zonal disinfection |
| EN 17430 | Virucidal hand rub test |
| prEN 17914 | Virucidal suspension test (general purpose) |
| prEN 17915 | Virucidal surface test (general purpose area) |
| ISO 18184 | Antiviral textiles |
| ISO 21702 | Antiviral plastics |
| ISO 18061 | Antiviral photocatalytic ceramics |
Advanced Capabilities in Bespoke Virology Research
At BluTest and Tentamus, alongside our standard testing offering, we have a suite of bespoke virus research capabilities, including:
- Replication Inhibition
- Assess a compound's ability to prevent the proliferation of virus in a host cell line
- Virus Transference
- Evaluate the transfer level of virus particles from substrate to substrate, including to and from skin models
- Viral Stability
- Assess the duration of virus viability on various substrates and how this changes over time or under different environmental conditions
- Inactivation of Viral Vectors
- Test the efficacy of disinfectants against industry-specific viral vectors in complex matrices
- In-vitro Cytotoxicity
- Determine how cell viability is impacted when exposed to different compound concentrations
- Virus Removal from Fabric
- Assess efficacy of laundry sanitisers and detergents to remove or inactivate viruses from textiles based on EN 16616 and ASTM E2274-09
- Anti-viral Bacteria
- Evaluate the efficacy of bacterial exo-enzymes on virus recovery and proliferation
- In-situ Disinfection Qualification
- Assess efficacy of zonal disinfection of viruses in your facility
Reach out to us for specific bespoke testing requirements, and we can help design a protocol to suit your needs.