Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies a proper method for measuring antiviral activity on non-porous surfaces of
products treated with antiviral agents used in a dry condition against specified viruses following airtransmitted contamination. It evaluates the resistance of non-porous materials to specific airtransmitted viruses by simulating the situation where the activity of the virus is reduced after the
microdroplets and aerosols generated during activities such as sneezing and coughing settle onto the
material's surface. Due to individual sensitivities, the results of one test virus might not be applicable to
other viruses.
This document is not intended to be used to substantiate cleaning or disinfecting properties.
This document is not intended to antiviral activity testing on porous surfaces and materials.
This document does not refer to methods for testing the toxicological and ecotoxicological properties of
the surfaces.

Purpose

Human activities give rise to a large quantity of aerosols or micro-droplets. Viral particles can use them
as carriers, leading to direct or indirect contamination. When these aerosols or micro-droplets land on
the surfaces of objects, they might be transmitted to other objects through direct contact, or they could
form secondary suspensions, causing contamination anew. Thus, the application of surfaces with
antiviral properties to inactivate the virus particles that settle on them holds great significance for
curbing the spread of viruses.
Consequently, antiviral materials, especially non-porous hard surfaces like coatings and plastics, have
been widely utilized in diverse fields that are closely intertwined with people's daily lives and health.
Countries around the world and enterprises are engaged in research on virus-related materials and
applying the findings to production. It's known that China's antimicrobial industry has a market value of
300 billion yuan. Meanwhile, countries such as Japan, the United States, South Korea, France,
Australia, India, and Singapore have also made numerous research achievements and developed a
variety of products in this area. The trade activities in this field will unavoidably generate a host of
testing requirements.
At present, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has devised a series of test method
standards for assessing antiviral performance. For example, there are test methods for determining the
antiviral activities of textiles, for evaluating the antiviral activities of plastics and other non-porous
surface materials, and for gauging the antiviral performance of photocatalytic materials. China, Japan,
Europe, and the United States also have their own evaluation methods.
After in-depth investigation and study of these standards, it has been found that they are all laboratorybased methods. Their fundamental principle entails dropping a specific volume (usually 0.2 - 0.4 mL) of
liquid onto the material surface and then placing it under conditions of 25°C and over 90% humidity for
2 to 24 hours. The antiviral performance of the material is quantified by comparing the reduction of the
virus in the experimental groups with that in the control groups.
In reality, relying solely on laboratory experiments fails to directly mirror the antiviral performance of
materials in real-life situations. In most cases, the challenge we encounter is as follows: for instance,
coughing generates tiny aerosol particles or droplets that quickly settle on object surfaces and then dry
out under ambient temperature and humidity conditions. Even after drying, the viruses within these
droplets can survive on the surface for a certain period, posing a risk of virus transmission. At this
juncture, the use of materials with antiviral capabilities can effectively tackle this issue. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a test method that closely simulates the real-world conditions of actual use.

However, such methods are currently in short supply.
In light of this, it is of utmost necessity and significance to establish a testing method for evaluating the
antiviral performance of non-porous material surfaces under the conditions of airborne contamination.
This proposal aims to promote the development of a relevant procedure to fill this gap and enhance our ability to combat virus spread more effectively.