Eurofins supports the chemical, disinfectants and antiseptics industries in the global fight against Swine Flu (H1N1)
14 October 2009
Eurofins is pleased to announce that it has now completed the validation process for the testing of virucidal efficacy of disinfectants and other biocidal products specifically for use in the worldwide fight against the H1N1 virus and has started to carry out the first tests. A successful test would therefore allow Eurofins’ customers to be able to label the product as having “Efficacy against H1N1”. The test has further applications for other viruses, such as Hepatitis, Polio, Novoviruses and HIV.
The Eurofins Group carried out the development of this test at its GLP*-accredited Biolab site in Milan, Italy. The test applies the current European Standard “EN 14476 - Chemical Disinfectants and Antiseptics – Virucidal Quantitative Suspension Test.” The relevant test parameters involves three concentrations of the product, with 3 test points for exposure at a temperature of 20 °C and further mandatory controls as outlined in EN 14476 (virus control, cytotoxicity control, formaldehyde control [as a reference substance] and susceptibility control of the cells). As required by the standard, these are all tested under simulated “dirty conditions“ or “clean conditions”. The virucidal activity of the product test solution is evaluated at each exposure time. A test substance is considered virucidal when it causes a reduction of viral assay of at least 4log10 compared to a control virus. This type of testing has further application for the validation of viral inactivation procedures, specifically for Hepatitis, Polio, Novoviruses and HIV. It can also be adapted to test virucidal activity on either hard surfaces or on skin, which has a direct impact on the development by customers of detergents and handwashes.
Eurofins Pharma Services is one of the very few European players in the Global BioPharma laboratory services market. As part of its desire to provide an ever-broader range within its portfolio of high-quality testing capabilities the Group has invested heavily in an increasing number of GLP-accredited laboratories around the world. Through this combination of expertise and geographical reach Eurofins now ranks amongst the world’s leading laboratory service providers.
*GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) is an OECD-defined system of management and controls in the operation of laboratories to ensure the consistency and reliability of data.
For further information please contact:
Alessandro Radici
20090 Vimodrone (MI) - Italia
Via Bruno Buozzi, 2
Phone: + 39-022507151
Fax : + 39-0225071599
E-mail : biolab@eurofins.com
Website : www.biolab.it
Dr. Florian Heupel
Phone: +352 261 85311
E-mail: info@eurofins.com
More on the H1N1 virus
Influenza A(H1N1) virus is a subtype of influenzavirus A and the most common cause of influenza (flu) in humans. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a large fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused roughly half of all human flu infections in 2006. Other strains of H1N1 are endemic in pigs (swine influenza) and in birds (avian influenza).
In June 2009, WHO declared that flu due to a new strain of swine-origin H1N1 was responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic. It was originally referred to as "swine flu" because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. However, further study has shown that this virus is made up of genetic elements from four different flu viruses: North American swine influenza, North American avian influenza, human influenza, and swine influenza virus typically found in Asia and Europe.
Notes for the editor:
Eurofins – a global leader in bio-analysis
Eurofins Scientific is a life sciences company operating internationally to provide a comprehensive range of analytical testing services to clients from a wide range of industries including the pharmaceutical, food and environmental sectors.
With about 8,000 staff in more than 150 laboratories across 30 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 25,000 reliable analytical methods for evaluating the authenticity, origin, safety, identity, composition and purity of biological substances and products. The Group is committed to provide its customers with high quality services, accurate results in time and, if requested, expert advice by its highly qualified staff.
The Eurofins Group is one of the global market leaders in this field of applied life sciences. It intends to pursue its dynamic growth strategy and expand both its technology portfolio and its geographic reach. Through R&D, in-licensing and acquisitions, the Group draws on the latest developments in the field of biotechnology to offer its clients unique analytical solutions and the most comprehensive range of testing methods.
As one of the most innovative and quality oriented international players in its industry, Eurofins is ideally positioned to support its clients’ increasingly stringent quality and safety standards and the demands of regulatory authorities around the world.
The shares of Eurofins Scientific are listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris (ISIN FR0000038259) and Frankfurt (WKN 910251) Stock Exchanges (Reuters EUFI.PA, Bloomberg ERF:FP, EUFI.F).