Final answer:
Sanitizer test kits assess the effectiveness of disinfectants on surfaces and in solutions by using tests like the Use-Dilution and In-Use Tests, measuring microbial growth or absence after exposure to the disinfectant. They also measure chemical properties like free chlorine and pH in water treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
What Does a Sanitizer Test Kit Measure?
Sanitizer test kits are designed to measure the effectiveness of disinfectants on surfaces or in solutions. The Use-Dilution Test is a common method used in clinical settings to assess the disinfection effectiveness of chemical agents on inanimate surfaces. This involves dipping a stainless steel cylinder into a culture of the target microorganism, drying it, and then immersing it in various concentrations of disinfectant. After incubation, the cylinder is examined for bacterial survival based on turbidity in the medium. The In-Use Test evaluates whether disinfectant solutions currently in use at clinical settings are contaminated with microbes, by inoculating agar plates with a sample from the disinfectant and monitoring for microbial growth.
Another example provided describes a scenario where the presence of ethanol in a breath sample is determined by its oxidation in a reaction involving potassium dichromate and changes in color indicate the concentration of ethanol.
For water treatment, sanitizer test kits can measure parameters like free chlorine residual, pH, and the presence of compounds such as monochloramine by specific chemical reactions and titrations that result in color changes or other measurable endpoints. Protocols established by the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists International (AOAC) are used by manufacturers to validate the efficacy of their disinfectants, ensuring the repeatability and reliability of test kit results.