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SARAYA COVID-19 Joint Research with Osaka University


Joint research agreement with Osaka University Research Institute for Microbial Diseases. Start of efficacy evaluation test using the new coronavirus pathogen according to European standard test methods.

We are pleased to announce that SARAYA has signed a joint research agreement with the Osaka University Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (Masato Igawa Laboratory) to start an efficacy evaluation test using the new coronavirus pathogen (SARS-CoV-2) in our products and sterilized components.

Background 

SARAYA develops evidence-focused hygiene-related products for medical, public, food-related facilities and general households, providing hygiene information such as infectious diseases and food poisoning prevention measures.

Particularly, for conducting microbiological evaluations, we have established a specialized unit to handle more than 500 strains of viruses and bacteria, adopting international standard test methods from early on to obtain world-class evidence data. 

In the field of preventative measures of the worldwide new coronavirus infection, we provide many infectious disease prevention products developed based on the evaluation results of similar viruses and other various viruses.

However, as of now, it is only the result of evaluation using alternative viruses. In order to collect an even higher level of evidence and verify its effectiveness, it was necessary to use the “real” new coronavirus pathogen in the close-to-actual-use environment not only in medical facilities but also in food processing facilities, industries, public spaces and households.

Conducting verification tests at BSL-3 facilities

Pathogens are classified into four levels according to their risk level and must be handled in laboratories with standards up to their biosafety risk level (BSL). The handling level of the new coronavirus pathogen is BSL-3, which our research facility is not currently equipped to handle.

However, this joint research agreement with the Osaka University Institute for Microbial Diseases (Igawa Masato Laboratory) and with the cooperation of Professor Tatsuo Shioda, makes it possible to perform evaluation tests in their infectious disease laboratory, which is a BSL-3 facility.

In these tests, we adopted EN14476, a European standard as well as an international standard test method, which verifies effectiveness against viruses under conditions that imitate the actual environment of a load substance.

We hope to contribute to the prevention of infections and the expansion of the number of people infected by building, proposing and disseminating new measures against coronavirus infection based on the high-level evidence we obtain.

The results of this test will be updated through the official website and press releases.

Outline of efficacy evaluation test using new coronavirus pathogen

  • Location: Osaka University Institute for Microbial Diseases, Infectious Diseases Laboratory (3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture)
  • Period: May 2020 to September 2020
  • Contents: Effectiveness evaluation of products using the new coronavirus pathogen (SARS-CoV-2) based on EN14476
  • Applicable products: hygiene products, household / commercial cleaning agents, various sanitizing components, etc.