1.1 This test method is intended to describe a procedure for testing the effectiveness of a disinfection process for reprocessing reusable medical devices when it is tested with a challenge of vegetative cells including mycobacteria. Disinfection normally deals with testing activity against vegetative cells of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Since this test method is process oriented, the user may wish to examine a variety of test organisms. 1.2 This test method is designed to provide a reproducible procedure to verify the effectiveness of a previously validated disinfectant or disinfection procedure for reusable medical instruments and devices. 1.3 This test method is not meant to define the effectiveness of or validation of the particular disinfection process used or its kinetics, but rather, it is devised to confirm the effectiveness of the disinfection process by simulating use situations with a particular test process using medical devices and instruments. Either manual or machine reprocessing can be tested.