23 July 2021 - - US-based testing facilities operator Microbac Laboratories has received live strains of the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) of SARS-CoV-2 to test the efficacy of household disinfectants and cleaning products against the virus, the company said.

Microbac's efficacy testing provides vital third-party validation for manufacturers, consumers, and healthcare workers as the threat of another surge grows.

Microbac's virology lab in Sterling, Virginia was one of the first laboratories certified by the CDC to work with live strains of SARS-CoV-2, including the Alpha, Beta and Gamma variants.

With the Delta strain now safely inside Microbac's BSL-3 level, high-security lab, Microbac virologists can for the first time test it against surface disinfectants, hand sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, soaps, and other household cleaners as well as surface and air disinfecting devices.

The test provides evidence of each product's ability to kill harmful pathogens and viruses, like the one causing COVID-19 -- a vital step in assuring consumer confidence and understanding new public health threats.

The announcement comes as the highly contagious Delta variant has been detected in 111 countries worldwide, and global vaccination rates linger at just 13.1%.

In the US, the variant accounts for 83% of new COVID-19 cases, amplifying the demand for products verified to kill the virus.

In addition to efficacy testing, Microbac also provides environmental surface testing of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants to detect the presence (or absence) of the virus on environmental surfaces, like door handles, PIN pads, and other high-touch areas.

This testing can validate an organization's cleaning and disinfectant strategies and provide peace of mind, particularly as businesses bring employees back into the physical workplace.

Microbac has more than 25 years of experience in virucidal efficacy testing. In addition to SARS-CoV-2, the lab tests against other human coronaviruses, including SARS, MERS, and strain 229E.

Microbac Laboratories operates a network of privately held testing facilities in the United States, providing analytical offerings and testing insights across the environmental, food, and life science markets.