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Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing (AET)
Preservatives are antimicrobial additives that are incorporated into product formulations to help maintain the quality of a product by inhibiting and reducing microbial contamination. The Antimicrobial Effectiveness Test (AET) is performed to gauge the performance of those preservatives.
This testing is a critical part of product development and quality assurance, ensuring that formulations remain safe, stable, and effective throughout their intended shelf life. AET not only supports compliance with international regulatory standards but also helps manufacturers verify that their preservative systems can withstand real-world conditions of storage and use.
By confirming the robustness of antimicrobial protection, AET safeguards consumer health and reinforces confidence in product reliability.
Procedure
Antimicrobial effectiveness testing is performed by inoculating the product with a known quantity of specified microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeasts, and molds. The quantity of microorganisms found in the control sample is then compared to the sample over specified intervals over a 28-day period. The number of microorganisms that grow in a sample are counted and compared to establish limits to determine if the product meets the USP <51> standard for microbial contamination. The common five USP AET test organisms are C. Albicans, S. Aureus, E. Coli, P. aeruginosa, and A. brasiliensis
Application
- Pharmaceuticals
- Food and Beverage
- Cosmetics
Reference
The test is performed in accordance with USP 43: 51 Antimicrobial effectiveness testing