while it is just a small snapshot of the entire picture of the infection prevention measures needed , it is , nonetheless , an amazingly complex specialist area with its own dynamic . behind the facade of an ostensibly transparent service such as disinfection , as carried out in human medicine and other public institutions , lie several decades of research , carefully formulated infection control policies , intelligent marketing strategies and the experiences gleaned by users . at the core of such activities is always public health protection , prevention of infections by means of microbiologically tested products , while taking into account their effects on humans and the environment . however , the cost pressures arising from tight budgets in the healthcare sector mean that the need for routine disinfection measures is questioned time and again . at the same time , increasingly more exacting demands are being addressed to the spectrum of action , human toxicological properties and environmental compatibility . this in turn means that it is all the more important for the manufacturers and distributors of disinfectants to be able to furnish proof of the quality of their products , while using quality seals to demonstrate this to the user . in germany , the disinfectants commission of the association for applied hygiene ( vah ) ensures that the user is given a catalog of procedures that meet the stipulated quality requirements . in this respect , the commission bases its endeavors on the tried and tested standard methods of the german society of hygiene and microbiology ( dghm ) as well as on european standards . acting in concert with representatives of the disinfectants industry and in agreement with the robert koch institute , rules of procedure were drafted for the commission which was set up in 2004 . these take account of the different requirements dictated by the various fields of application , reflecting the quality assurance system in a transparent manner .   in addition to the tried and tested conformity assessment procedure , particular emphasis is placed on retesting the products already available on the market . enormous efforts are being made at national and international level to enhance the power of these tests . in multi - center trials the inter- and intralaboratory fluctuations in the test results are ascertained , while lending new impetus to the search for suitable standard substances ; culture conditions and detection procedures are standardized and the test procedures and potential influence factors analyzed in detail . the aim here is to devise test procedures that will yield a reproducible and reliable result independently of the test location . this result must then be incorporated into an evaluation procedure , reflecting the requirements applicable in everyday practice . attention must be paid to , inter alia , the prevailing microbial spectrum in quality and quantity , the prevailing organic and inorganic load , material and surface properties and the procedures employed . often , these elaborate analyses and methodical approaches can not be dispensed with if one wants to attain the quality seals prescribed . the test procedures are brought into line with the current state of scientific knowledge successively but consistently , with the aim of improving health protection . these adaptations call for conscientiousness , tenacity and patience and continuous dialog between research , industry and practice . they also call upon companies that wish to embrace quality assurance measures to invest time and financial resources and show commitment . thanks to these joint efforts , we have been better able to meet the demands made by intelligent and selective prophylactic disinfection . at this juncture i would like to thank all those persons who are helping to structure this quality assurance system at many levels . molitor , who during my tenure of office as managing director of the disinfectants commission in the dghm and now in the vah , for the support he has given this commission . his farsightedness , tenacity and assertiveness have set standards that have made an important contribution to the high quality of prophylactic disinfection in germany and throughout europe . microbiologist , head of department for disinfectant testing at the institute for hygiene and public health at bonn university , secretary of the disinfectant committee of the vah ( association for applied hygiene ) jrgen gebel studied biology at the rheinische friedrich - wilhelm university , bonn and got his diploma in microbiology 1992 . in 1998 he received his degree at the hygiene institute on the subject of :  standardisation of microbiological dosimetry in the area of drinking water with uv - rays  and stayed at the hygiene institute as microbiologist and head of the department for disinfectant testing . he became secretary and head of the office of the disinfectant committee of the german society for hygiene and microbiology ( dghm ) 1996 and later on of the disinfectant committee in the association for applied hygiene ( vah ) . since 1998 he is member of the task force cen tc 216 wg1 and their leader since 2004 . jrgen gebel is assistant chairman of the taskforce chemical disinfectants and antiseptics in human medicine and joint functions in the standard committee ( named ) in din since 1999 . microbiologist , head of department for disinfectant testing at the institute for hygiene and public health at bonn university , secretary of the disinfectant committee of the vah ( association for applied hygiene ) jrgen gebel studied biology at the rheinische friedrich - wilhelm university , bonn and got his diploma in microbiology 1992 . in 1998 he received his degree at the hygiene institute on the subject of :  standardisation of microbiological dosimetry in the area of drinking water with uv - rays  and stayed at the hygiene institute as microbiologist and head of the department for disinfectant testing . he became secretary and head of the office of the disinfectant committee of the german society for hygiene and microbiology ( dghm ) 1996 and later on of the disinfectant committee in the association for applied hygiene ( vah ) . since 1998 he is member of the task force cen tc 216 wg1 and their leader since 2004 . jrgen gebel is assistant chairman of the taskforce chemical disinfectants and antiseptics in human medicine and joint functions in the standard committee ( named ) in din since 1999 .