List reasons y results of atest-tube of a disinfectant may not accurately reflect its performance in practical

Answer 1

Deno,
Such a disinfectant in the real world environment will come in contact with other things that may affect it's performance. For instance it may be subject to extreme heat, cold, moisture, airborne chemical agents or gasseous materials. Have a wonderful day.
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Answer 2

Bacteria interact with the environment differently in culture versus the environment. For example, the bacteria may create a biofilm (layers of cells and excreted substances) on an environmental surface which cannot be easily penetrated by disinfectants.

In laboratory culture, bacteria are typically in the "planktonic", or free-living state. This can offer more physical exposure to disinfecting agents.

Another problem may be the physical characteristics of an environmental surface. If it is porous, then the application of disinfectant may not be as complete as in the test tube model.

Answer 3

Also, in practical use you also might have uneven distribution of the disinfectant thereby affecting its potency.