The paper critically reviews the Blue stain test method described in EN 152 including possible test variables. Whereas EN 152 has been successfully used for solvent borne wood preservatives, it appears that the methodology is not suited for modern water borne products, where the majority fail. The paper will show that there exist different quality claims not concordant with EN 599-1 within different European countries. This contradicts the requirement for unification in Europe, especially with the implementation of the Biocidal Products Directive. It is further shown, that water based products and other product systems not passing the EN 152-1 can be successfully used and evaluated according to EN 927-3 and other practical exposure trials. The main conclusion of this review is that EN 152 is not reflecting the practical performance of water borne wood preservatives. The standard should be used only to assess the blue stain barrier in wood and not fungal surface growth. It is proposed that EN 927 testing replaces EN152 concerning surface growth assessment

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