Proposed ASTM Standard links textiles, antimicrobial agents.
Press Release Summary:
Proposed standard WK31901, Guide for Standard Test Methods and Practices for Evaluating Antibacterial Activity on Textiles, will aggregate information concerning textiles types treated with antimicrobial agents and ways each can be tested for performance response to antimicrobial activity. According to ASTM's Robert Monticello, guide will offer flexibility to develop specific test standard based on exact antimicrobial agent used and exact performance expectations of treated article.
Original Press Release:
Proposed New ASTM Standard to Present Information on Textile Response to Antimicrobial Agents
There are all kinds of textiles treated with antimicrobial agents, and a variety of ways in which each can be tested for their performance response to antimicrobial activity. A proposed new ASTM International standard, WK31901, Guide for Standard Test Methods and Practices for Evaluating Antibacterial Activity on Textiles, will help tie all of this information together.
“Many of the antimicrobial agents used to treat textiles are very different with regard to how they work and how they should be tested,” says ASTM member Robert Monticello, senior scientific consultant, International Antimicrobial Council. “This proposed guide will allow microbiologists the flexibility to develop a specific test standard based on the exact antimicrobial agent used and the exact performance expectations of that treated article.”
As an example, Monticello notes that an antimicrobial agent that does not leach the active ingredient into the surrounding area should not be tested using a method designed to measure that specific attribute.
“Exaggerated conditions used to promote bacterial growth that may have been acceptable in the past are not necessarily acceptable with today’s active ingredients and end uses,” says Monticello. “Investigators need the flexibility in these methods to replicate the end use conditions for each specific product.”
According to Monticello, the proposed guide will alleviate confusion by instructing test facilities on the modifications that are common in the industry for each method.
Primary users of ASTM WK31901 will be microbiological testing laboratories, antimicrobial suppliers, textile brands and retailers.
ASTM WK31901 is being developed by Subcommittee E35.15 on Antimicrobial Agents, part of ASTM Committee E35 on Pesticides, Antimicrobials, and Alternative Control Agents. All interested parties are encouraged to join E35 in its standards development activities.
ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN.
For more news in this sector, visit www.astm.org/sn-consumer or follow us on Twitter @ASTMProductsRec.
ASTM Committee E35 Next Meeting: April 27-30, 2015 April committee week, Anaheim, Calif.
Technical Contact:
Robert A. Monticello, Ph.D.
International Antimicrobial Council
Midland, Mich.
tel +1.989.615.0031
ramphd@amcouncil.org
ASTM Staff Contact:
Jennifer Rodgers
tel +1.610.832.9694
jrodgers@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact:
Barbara Schindler
tel +1.610.832.9603
bschindl@astm.org
