The use of an automated assay to assess phage survival after a biocidal treatment.

The coliphage K1-5 has been used in an automated assay to monitor the viricidal activity of various disinfectants. This indirect assay based on the spectrophotometric reading of the lysis of the host cell (Escherichia coli D837) produced encouraging results and was faster than the overlay counting method (previously studied) which relies on plaque formation. However, differences in sensitivity towards some disinfectants were observed between the two methods.