What Qualitylabs BT GmbH does

Qualitylabs BT GmbH is a privately held, ISO 17025 accredited microbiological testing laboratory founded in 2005 and headquartered in Nürnberg, Germany. The company provides antimicrobial and anti-adhesive efficacy testing services for surfaces and materials to enterprise customers across five primary verticals: medical devices, paints and lacquers, polymers and plastics, textiles, and cosmetics/consumer products. Its core intellectual property is the proprietary CERTIKA methodology — comprising a Proliferation Assay and an Adhesion Assay — which the company describes as the world's only validated and accredited tests for determining antibacterial and anti-adhesive surface properties, with the underlying science published in Nature Medicine (2000). The laboratory is staffed by approximately seven employees including Managing Director Tanja Meerbrei and Technical Director Johanna Dittmann, both originating from a University Hospital Erlangen research lineage, and operates from a single Nürnberg facility relocated in 2022.

The company's service portfolio combines the proprietary CERTIKA assays with international standard tests (ISO 22196, ISO 20743, JIS Z 2801, JIS L 1902, ASTM E 2180, ASTM E 2149, ISO 846, ISO 16869, AATCC 100), screening tools (QualiScreen), cosmetics and preservative efficacy tests (Ph Eur 5.1.3, IBRG/ASTM D 4783/D 2574), in-use simulation tests, virus/phage surrogates, biofilm investigation using CDC biofilm reactors, and voltammetry for silver ion release. Testing reports issued under DAkkS accreditation are accepted by notified bodies such as TÜV for antimicrobial medical device registration in Europe, which is the primary regulatory pathway the company serves. Qualitylabs is a member of the International Biodeterioration Research Group (IBRG) and exhibits at MEDICA/COMPAMED.

The business model is B2B professional services with quote-based pricing tied to test method, sample type, and specimen count, and contracts are typically multi-year per the pricing notes. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales: direct email outreach ([email protected]), inbound via the multilingual website, and trade-show lead capture. The company is bootstrapped — no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or external investors — with named enterprise customers including B. Braun Melsungen, Heraeus Medical, Fraunhofer ISC, Trevira, Leggett & Platt, Benjamin Moore, and LR Health & Beauty across the German (DACH) and broader international markets.

Name

Qualitylabs BT GmbH

Legal name

QualityLabs BT GmbH

Website

https://qualitylabs-bt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Qualitylabs BT GmbH is a Nürnberg-based ISO 17025 accredited microbiological laboratory providing proprietary CERTIKA and international-standard antimicrobial and anti-adhesive surface testing services to enterprise customers in medical devices, paints, polymers, textiles, and cosmetics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Antimicrobial Laboratory Testing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbiology & Sterility Assurance (Bioburden/Endotoxin/Sterility) (HLAGADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental Monitoring & Cleanroom Testing (GMP) (HLAGADAL)

Keywords

• Antimicrobial testing services
• Microbiological laboratory testing
• Surface efficacy testing
• Medical device testing
• ISO 17025 accredited testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Nürnberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Testing Services: The company generates revenue through providing antimicrobial testing services for various materials and products. Services include certified testing reports, efficacy verification certificates, and custom in-use tests developed in close consultation with customers. Testing fees are typically quoted based on sample types, test methods required, and number of specimens.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Qualitylabs BT GmbH operates a microbiological testing laboratory that provides antimicrobial and anti-adhesive efficacy testing services for material surfaces and products. The company's proprietary Certika Proliferation and Adhesion Assays (ISO 17025 accredited by DAkkS) are the only globally validated and accredited methods for determining antibacterial and anti-adhesive surface properties, supported by screening tools (QualiScreen), standardized tests (ISO 22196, JIS Z 2801, ISO 20743, ASTM E 2180/E 2149), and specialized services including cosmetics testing, preservative efficacy testing, virus/phage testing, in-use simulation tests, and silver ion release determination.

Product overview

Qualitylabs BT GmbH is a microbiological testing laboratory offering a comprehensive portfolio of antimicrobial and anti-adhesive testing services. The core offerings include the proprietary CERTIKA test methods (Proliferation Assay and Adhesion Assay), which are ISO 17025 accredited by DAkkS and represent the world's only validated and accredited tests for determining antibacterial and anti-adhesive surface properties. Supporting these core accredited services are screening tools (QualiScreen), standard international test methods (ISO 22196, ISO 20743, JIS Z 2801, ASTM E 2180, ASTM E 2149), and specialized services including cosmetics testing, preservative testing, virus/phage testing, in-use simulation tests, and silver ion release determination. The laboratory serves multiple industries including medical devices, paints/lacquers, polymers/plastics, textiles, and consumer products, providing testing for product development, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certika Proliferation Assay ISO 17025 accredited (DAkkS) test method for determining antimicrobial properties of material surfaces by measuring the ability of surfaces to prevent multiplication of microorganisms. Uses 96-well microplates with 8-fold determination for high statistical reliability. Results can be submitted to notified bodies for antimicrobial medical device registration in Europe.
• Certika Adhesion Assay ISO 17025 accredited semi-quantitative method for determining bacterial adhesion on surfaces. Measures how many more microorganisms adhere to test samples compared to reference samples; anti-adhesive properties are indicated when reduced adhesion is observed. Methodology published in Nature Medicine (Volume 6, Number 8, 1053-1056, 2000).
• QualiScreen Screening Test Rapid screening test for antimicrobial properties of material surfaces using 96-well microplates with up to 20 different samples in 4-fold determination. Based on Certika test methodology and provides high statistical security with restrictive evaluation. Used for rapid screening during application engineering and formulation optimization.
• ISO 22196 Testing Measurement of antibacterial activity on plastic surfaces, derived from the Japanese JIS Z 2801 standard and internationally normed in 2007. Used for polymer and plastic antimicrobial efficacy testing.
• JIS Z 2801 Testing Japanese Industrial Standard test for antimicrobial products developed for plastics, established in 2000. Used for plastics and surface antimicrobial evaluation.
• ISO 20743 Testing Determination of antibacterial properties of textile products using specific test bacteria. Used for antimicrobial textile efficacy testing and regulatory compliance.
• ASTM E 2180 Testing Standard test method for determining activity of incorporated antimicrobial agents in polymers or hydrophobic materials. Antibacterial efficacy threshold: ≥99.9% (3 log reduction).
• ASTM E 2149 Testing Standard test method for determining antimicrobial activity of immobilized antimicrobial agents under dynamic contact conditions, designed for non-leaching products.
• Agar Diffusion Test (Agardiffusionstest / Hemmhoftest) Agar diffusion tests such as DIN EN ISO 20645 and Kirby-Bauer, used for testing antibiotic-containing wound dressings against resistant or sensitive pathogens.
• Chinese Standard Tests (Chinesische Normtests) Chinese standard tests for determining antimicrobial properties including GB/T 21510-2008 and FZT 73023-2006, supporting market access in China.
• In-Use Simulation Tests Realistic application simulation tests including pre-incubation in relevant media (human blood, plasma, artificial sweat, urine), filter column tests, contact tests, aerosol chamber simulations, and recontamination tests.
• Cosmetics Testing Services Microbiological testing services for cosmetic products including bioburden testing, stability testing, kill kinetics testing, preservation testing, contact kinetics, in-use/claim-based testing, quality assurance, and pH measurement per ISO 11930.
• Preservative Efficacy Testing Preservative efficacy testing using IBRG, ASTM D 4783, and ASTM D 2574 methods for evaluating preservation performance in paints, coolants, plastics, and textiles.
• Virus/Phage Testing Antiviral surface efficacy testing using bacteriophages as surrogates for viruses, with test methods adapted from ISO 22196 and ISO 21702.
• Silver Ion Release Determination Silver ion release determination testing conducted in partnership with an external laboratory using electrochemical analysis. Used for compatibility testing of additives with silver agents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Antibacterial efficacy threshold: ≥99.9% (3 log reduction) per ISO 22196 and ASTM E 2180 standards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Biodeterioration Research Group (IBRG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Qualitylabs BT GmbH is a member of IBRG, which consists primarily of microbiologists from biocidal product distributors and manufacturers, as well as test laboratories from private and academic sectors. IBRG develops methods to evaluate the performance of preservatives in products such as paints or metalworking fluids. Some of these methods have been implemented as national and international standards, including IBRG PDG16-007.3, ASTM D 4783-01, and ASTM D 2574-16.
• CIBA Specialty ChemicalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2006Historical partnership (2006-2009) where CIBA Specialty Chemicals (Expert Services) marketed the Certika proliferation test under the brand name 'Numetrika' (c) CIBA/BASF). This was the company's primary distribution partner during early years.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NAMSA: Specialist medical device testing and regulatory consulting CRO. Comparable to QualityLabs' medical device testing vertical, including antimicrobial and biological safety testing used in support of EU and US medical device submissions.
• Nelson Labs: Specialist microbiology and sterility testing lab serving medical device and pharmaceutical clients. Closely comparable to QualityLabs' microbiology, sterility assurance and antimicrobial testing offering for medical device manufacturers.
• Hohenstein Institute: German textile testing and research institute offering accredited antimicrobial textile testing (ISO 20743, JIS L 1902, AATCC). Directly comparable to QualityLabs' textile testing service line, especially for European apparel and home textile customers.
• HygCen Austria: Austrian accredited hygiene and microbiology testing laboratory offering antimicrobial efficacy and preservative testing for medical devices, cosmetics and disinfectants. Direct niche peer for Qualitylabs' cosmetics preservation, disinfection efficacy and medical device microbiology work in the DACH region.
• wfk Cleaning Technology Institute: German applied research and testing institute focused on cleaning, hygiene and antimicrobial effectiveness testing. Overlaps with QualityLabs' testing of disinfectants, antimicrobial surfaces and consumer hygiene products.

Emerging players

• Bio-Gate AG: German antimicrobial technology company developing silver-based surface treatments and a listed partner of QualityLabs. Comparable as a technology-side counterpart in the antimicrobial materials value chain, with QualityLabs serving as a key independent testing partner for Bio-Gate's customers.

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: World's largest contract testing group with broad microbiology, medical device and materials testing services. Comparable to QualityLabs as a competing provider of accredited antimicrobial and materials testing, though Eurofins operates at vastly greater scale and across all of QualityLabs' verticals.
• Intertek: Major TIC provider with materials, polymer, textile and consumer product testing capabilities including antimicrobial assays. Comparable to QualityLabs as a competing accredited laboratory for antimicrobial and surface efficacy testing across overlapping end markets.
• SGS: Global testing, inspection and certification company offering microbiological, materials and consumer product testing. Comparable as a broad incumbent in accredited laboratory testing that competes for the same enterprise antimicrobial and materials testing spend.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection and certification group active in consumer products, cosmetics, paints/coatings and materials. Overlaps with QualityLabs' service portfolio for accredited antimicrobial and microbiological testing of materials and cosmetics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qualitylabsbt-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Qualitylabs BT GmbH