North West hygiene group Byotrol says it has developed a new test that can determines whether cleaning products have long-lasting efficacy against viruses like Covid-19.
The Darebury-based, AIM-listed firm said it is now standing behind product efficacy claims supporting infection control products that offer 24-hour protection against viruses and bacteria in real-life conditions, where surfaces are frequently touched.
The company believes the new test could help minimise the spread of the virus when used in conjunction with cleaning and sanitising at shops, schools and offices when they reopen.
The firm has developed the new test in response to an increasing number of products claiming long-lasting efficacy against coronavirus, based on laboratory conditions which ignore the constant abrasion of surfaces in real-life environments.
In an update to the markets this morning, Trevor Francis, chief technology officer of Byotrol plc said: "Long-term surface protection against viruses is the holy grail that businesses in the hygiene sector are chasing currently.
"We have responded to a clear market need for clarity on which surface disinfectants continue to deactivate viruses in real-life environments and which don't. It's a huge win for consumers and the government as we return to normality beyond the pandemic."
It works by simulating 'real-life' conditions by creating frequent abrasions on surfaces after products have been applied, to replicate frequent touching of surfaces throughout the day.
The surfaces are then tested to see whether the product is still present and killing viruses. The test is limited to 24 hours, to ensure that the result is attributed to the efficacy of the product, not the length of time the virus has been left to dry out on a surface, which could result in a false positive.
It was performed internally in Byotrol's virology lab with the results reviewed and validated by Professor James Stewart, chair of molecular virology at the University of Liverpool.
He said: "A validation of the effectiveness of surface disinfectants against viruses using this test is an important step forward for the industry and consumers alike."
