EPA MB-26-03
EPA MB-26-03 anchors the neutralization check that shows residual active chemistry is stopped before survivor enumeration.
AlignedStandards
Residual Wear AntimicrobialEPA MB-26-03ASTM E2967
Standards cluster for evaluating residual antimicrobial activity after drying, abrasion, aging, and repeat microbial challenge.
Use this cluster when residual activity claims need traceable records of neutralization, recovery, wear conditioning, controls, and survivor reduction.
Standard roster
Individual standards in this cluster
EPA MB-26-03 and ASTM E2967 form the citation set; ARE Labs translates them into residual efficacy study design, neutralization checks, wear conditioning, QA records, and report outputs.
ASTM E2967
ASTM E2967 is officially withdrawn with no replacement.
AlignedPurpose & when to use
Residual antimicrobial efficacy studies ask whether treated surfaces, coatings, residues, textiles, or articles retain measurable activity after drying, use, abrasion, aging, or repeat microbial challenge. EPA MB-26-03 addresses neutralization controls; ASTM E2967 provides legacy Wiperator context. This Standards cluster helps teams decide how each source fits a residual study and where its limits apply:
- EPA residual sanitizer programs use MB-26-03 when neutralization and recovery controls must show active chemistry does not bias viable counts.
- ASTM E2967 may support legacy Wiperator towelette comparisons when a client protocol still cites the withdrawn method.
- EPA antimicrobial-product claim work uses this cluster when wear, drying, aging, and re-challenge timing must be documented together.
- Material programs use ASTM or EPA context when treated and untreated surfaces need comparable recovery, controls, and durability trends.
For studies of persistent antimicrobial activity after use-relevant stress, ARE Labs defines the scope before protocol approval. This includes the surface, organism, active chemistry, wear condition, neutralizer, recovery endpoint, and report package.
Applicable to
Built around residual surface claims
The cluster applies when a residual sanitizer, coating, treated article, fabric, or device-facing surface must be challenged after drying, handling, abrasion, aging, or repeat contact.
Standards in this group
What each citation controls
This page is a cluster, not a claim that one citation fully governs every residual wear program. EPA MB-26-03 is an official neutralization SOP used to support recovery validity in quantitative hard-surface antimicrobial work. ASTM E2967 is a withdrawn Wiperator towelette method retained only when a legacy protocol or comparison frame specifically cites it.
EPA
AlignedEPA MB-26-03
Neutralization of Microbicidal Activity using the Quantitative Method for Evaluating Bactericidal and Mycobactericidal Activity of Microbicides Used on Hard, Non-Porous Surfaces
EPA MB-26-03 anchors the neutralization check that shows residual active chemistry is stopped before survivor enumeration. ARE Labs uses it to design neutralizer suitability, recovery controls, treated and untreated comparisons, and report language for hard, non-porous residual antimicrobial studies where the SOP applies.
EPA official method page verified 2026-05-17; page lists Method ID MB-26-03 and date 2020-11-24.
ASTM
AlignedASTM E2967
Standard Test Method for Assessing the Ability of Pre-wetted Towelettes to Remove and Transfer Bacterial Contamination on Hard, Non-Porous Environmental Surfaces Using the Wiperator
ASTM E2967 is officially withdrawn with no replacement. ARE Labs treats it as legacy context for Wiperator-based towelette removal or transfer comparisons when a client program cites it; residual wear protocols should document why this withdrawn method remains relevant before use.
ASTM official store page verified 2026-05-17; page lists ASTM E2967-15 withdrawn in 2024 with no replacement.
Laboratory accreditation and method alignment
ARE Labs is ISO/IEC 17025-accredited for its current testing scope. EPA MB-26-03 supports neutralization checks, while withdrawn ASTM E2967 is limited to specifically justified legacy protocols. These references are aligned methods, not additional accredited scopes. Reports identify wear conditions, recovery controls, deviations, and any non-accredited results.
- EPA MB-26-03AlignedNeutralization SOP applied where protocol fit is confirmed.
- ASTM E2967AlignedWithdrawn Wiperator method used only for legacy citations.
- ISO 17025AccreditedLaboratory accreditation; coverage follows the current testing scope.
Operational chain
How ARE Labs turns the standards into a study
The citations do not define every residual wear scenario by themselves. ARE Labs converts EPA and ASTM context into a protocol that fits the product, material, organism, active chemistry, wear sequence, recovery endpoint, and documentation objective.
01
Scope
Define the residual claim
We map the EPA or ASTM citation to the treated surface, organism, contact time, drying interval, wear condition, and comparison groups.
Protocol matrix02
Controls
Prove neutralization and recovery
EPA MB-26-03 framing drives neutralizer suitability, recovery controls, active-quench checks, and survivor enumeration before efficacy is interpreted.
Control record03
Conditioning
Apply wear or aging stress
EPA claim support and ASTM legacy comparisons document abrasion media, wipe sequence, aging interval, environmental conditions, and re-challenge timing.
Conditioning log04
Adaptation
Handle method-fit limits
When ASTM E2967 is cited despite withdrawn status, ARE Labs records why the legacy Wiperator context fits the product question.
Rationale note05
Reporting
Connect survivors to durability
Reports tie EPA recovery controls, ASTM limitations, viable counts, log or percent reduction, deviations, and wear-stage trends to the study objective.
Reviewed reportData quality, QA/QC & documentation
To interpret residual antimicrobial results, teams need a control record showing how survivors were recovered and counted. ARE Labs documents sample identity, wear settings, neutralization checks, environmental records, raw counts, calculations, deviations, and final QA review in relation to the EPA and ASTM citations.
Connect sample to citation
EPA and ASTM records link sample ID, surface preparation, application method, drying time, wear condition, and organism challenge to the selected study frame.
Verify recovery before interpretation
EPA MB-26-03 neutralization evidence shows residual active chemistry was controlled before survivor counts, log reduction, or percent reduction are reported.
Preserve wear-stage details
ASTM legacy comparisons and EPA claim support retain abrasion cycles, wiping load, aging interval, chamber conditions, and re-challenge timing.
Retain raw and reduced counts
EPA and ASTM study files include plate counts, dilution factors, calculations, control acceptance notes, deviations, and durability trend summaries.
Separate alignment from approval
ISO 17025 review language distinguishes ARE Labs quality controls from EPA registration decisions, ASTM certification, or withdrawn-method endorsement.
Why ARE Labs
ARE Labs connects technical topics to practical study design, method selection, controlled aerosol work, and reportable evidence without turning technical pages into sales pages.
Reviewed byJamie Balarashti - Weston Schaper
QualityDocumented study records
900+Studies Performed
17+Years in operation
300+Clients supported
Common questions
These questions explain the roles and limits of EPA MB-26-03, ASTM E2967, and fit-for-purpose protocols in residual antimicrobial testing programs. ARE Labs resolves these scoping decisions before protocol drafting, sample conditioning, and microbial recovery begin. That planning also covers interpretation, QA review, final reporting, and regulator-facing evidence.
Q. Is EPA MB-26-03 a residual wear method?
A. No. EPA MB-26-03 is a neutralization SOP. ARE Labs uses it to support recovery validity in residual antimicrobial studies when the protocol needs that control evidence.
Q. Can ASTM E2967 still be used?
A. Only with care. ASTM lists E2967 as withdrawn with no replacement, so ARE Labs uses it only when a legacy protocol or comparison specifically requires it.
Q. What does aligned mean here?
A. Aligned means ARE Labs follows the cited method or guidance where it fits, as specified in the protocol. It does not mean EPA approval, ASTM certification, or citation-specific accreditation.
Q. What if my product does not fit either citation?
A. ARE Labs can develop a fit-for-purpose residual protocol that documents the selected wear condition, recovery controls, deviations, and limits of interpretation.
Q. What data does the report include?
A. Reports can include sample maps, wear conditions, neutralization checks, raw counts, reductions, control recovery, deviations, trend summaries, and a reviewed technical interpretation.
Related services & devices
Related services & devices
Service
Residual Wear Antimicrobial Efficacy
Primary service route for drying, abrasion, aging, repeat challenge, recovery, and durability reporting.Read more ->ServiceCarrier-Based Surface Efficacy
Pairs residual programs with hard-surface carrier challenge and viable recovery comparisons.Read more ->ServiceTime-Kill Kinetics
Adds immediate kill kinetics when residual activity must be compared with baseline antimicrobial rate.Read more ->ServiceBiofilm Surface Efficacy
Extends surface efficacy questions into attached-organism models and coupon recovery.Read more ->ServiceStability & Accelerated Aging
Supports aged pull points when residual performance depends on storage or environmental exposure.Read more ->DevicesTreated Hard Surfaces
Non-porous surfaces and antimicrobial articles used for residual sanitizer or coating claims.Read more ->DevicesAntimicrobial Fabrics and Textiles
Soft treated materials where recovery, wear, and repeat challenge require material-specific controls.Read more ->DevicesMedical Device Surface Treatment
Device coatings and treated components where residual activity must be separated from material effects.Read more ->DevicesPump Spray Products
Spray-applied antimicrobials where surface loading, drying, and residual performance may converge.Read more ->DevicesFogging Systems
Area fogging devices where deposition and treated-surface persistence may need linked evidence.Read more ->Related clusters
Related standards clusters
Residual antimicrobial work often sits beside surface efficacy, biofilm, cleaning compatibility, and deposition questions. These clusters help teams move from persistent activity into adjacent standards decisions.
Standards