ISO 20645:2004

Textile fabrics — Determination of antibacterial activity — Agar diffusion plate test

 

Introduction

The application of an antimicrobial finish to a textile can prevent bacterial growth and might reduce the effects of microbial pathway products, biodeterioration and microbiogenous odours.

This method determines the activity of such treatments qualitatively when different products are compared. Semi-quantitative information on the effect of treatments can be obtained when different concentrations of the same product are compared.

 

1   Scope

This document specifies a method for the determination of the effect of antibacterial treatments applied to woven, knitted and other flat textiles.

This method is applicable to testing hygienic finishes of hydrophilic, air-permeable materials or antibacterial products incorporated in the fibre. A minimum diffusion of the antibacterial treatment into the test agar is necessary with this procedure.

NOTE Other materials may be tested using this method, provided that it is adapted accordingly.

This method is not suitable for testing textiles treated with antibacterial treatments that react with the agar.

 

2   Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following term and definition applies.

antibacterial effect

inhibition of bacterial growth in favourable growing conditions