Abstract: A growth medium for a biological indicator is provided. The growth medium can include a base growth medium as well as an additive. The additive can include a carbon source unit, such as, but not limited to, glucose, and a volatile organic compound unit. Alternatively, the additive can include a carbohydrate source. The present invention is also directed to a self-contained biological indicator (SCBI) that includes a container, spores disposed on a carrier, a growth medium, and an additive. The additive can include a carbon source unit or a molecule containing a part that can form a VOC when reduced or oxidized, such as, but not limited to glucose, and a volatile organic compound unit. Alternatively, the additive can include a carbohydrate source. It has been found that the addition of such additives to the growth medium facilitates the efficient and accurate detection of a failed sterilization process.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to self-disinfecting, stand-alone coating material for surfaces prone to microbial contamination. The coating material is selected from a midblock-sulfonated pentablock copolymer (s-PBC) and a midblock-sulfonated triblock copolymer. The block copolymer has a configuration A-B-A or A-D-B-D-A, with two unsubstituted styrene end blocks A, an interior styrenic polymer block B carrying sulfonyl groups with a degree of sulfonation of at least 15 mol %, and interior blocks D if present being a polymerized 1,3-butadiene or isoprene which is subsequently hydrogenated. In embodiments, the medium containing the microbes in contact with the coating material has a bulk pH of <2.0 for at least 99.9999% of the microbes to be killed within 5 minutes. The coating material can be reactivated by periodic exposure to acidic solutions to bring the bulk pH of the medium containing the microbes to be <2.0.