The ISO 22610 standard measures the resistance of medical textiles such as surgical gowns and drapes to bacterial penetration, even in wet and rubbing conditions. The test is performed by placing bacteria-contaminated HDPU film on the fabric specimen. Bacteria penetrability tester helps to measure the bacteria count that passes from the fabric to the agar.
Introduction to ISO 22610
What ISO 22610 Covers?
The ISO 22610 standard is specially designed for medical textiles to evaluate the fabric’s resistance against bacterial penetration, under wet and rubbed conditions.
We can use this test on medical textiles, including surgical suits, drapes, and gowns. In this test, we use a contaminated bacterial-laden laden and then place it on the specimen. The specimen and the laden are covered, and then the specimen undergoes mechanical rubbing.
You can see that in hospitals, fabrics can come in contact with fluids, and then the persons that sit on it cause rubbing, and in this way, the bacteria transfer through the materials.
To simulate this situation in the lab, standard recommends placing a bacteria-contaminated layer on the fabric specimen and then rubbing it in a controlled way.
In this way, we can assure that the medical clothing is still able to give protection against bacterial penetration under wet rubbing.
Importance of ISO 22610 in the Healthcare and Medical Textile Industry
The healthcare centers and hospitals have a higher risk of bacterial penetration during surgery and operations. Because the medical clothing, like gowns or drapes, may be exposed to different types of body fluids, like blood, during working operations and movements.
The ISO 22610 standard determines the bacterial penetration in wet conditions. It helps to measure the risk through a quantitative study, in which we can know how many numbers of bacteria can penetrate the medical clothing under wet and rubbing conditions.
Those medical textiles that pass this test provide a safety feature to medical staff against bacterial infection. The strong microbial barrier property of medicated textile makes it a safer product for both patients and medical staff.
The compliance with wet bacterial penetration testing for medical textiles such as gowns or drapes ensures protectiveness in wet, dynamic, and friction conditions.
ISO 22610 Test Method
ISO 22610 Test MethodISO 22610 Test Principle
The ISO 22610 test for the determination of bacterial penetration under wet and rubbing conditions simulates the real-world circumstances. In this test, a bacterial-contaminated film of high-density polyurethane is placed on the fabric specimen.
The HDPU film is injected with Bacillus atrophaeus bacteria at ~5.0 × 10³ to 1.5 × 10⁴ spores/mL. After that, this film is placed on the fabric specimen and has direct contact with the fabric.
The whole specimen set, including HDPU film and fabric specimens, is covered with a thin, up to 10 μm, high-density polyethylene film. The specimen and films are locked through two conical steel rings.
ISO 22610 Test PrincipleThere is used an abrasion-resistant finger is used to apply pressure up to 3 N ± 0.02 N. The specimen is rubbed over an agar plate for up to 15 minutes.
This friction will cause the bacteria from the donor layer to transfer to the fabric specimen, and then it will transfer to the agar. It will simulate the condition of bacterial penetration to the skin, in case of weak medical textile material.
Test Requirements and Conditions
The test specimen is cut with a size of 25 cm × 25 cm and conditioned for 8 hours before testing. The polyurethane film is injected with bacteria and then given a residence time for equal distribution. Then, the film is dried at 56 °C for 30 minutes to fix the bacteria.
The test starts, the rubbing wheel speed is 5 – 6 rpm, and up to 800 gm weight is applied. After the wet rubbing, the agar plates are incubated. Now we will count the CFUs, which are known as colony-forming units. It will tell us about the bacteria penetration index.
Required Standards and Test Compatibility
International Standards Related to ISO 22610
The ISO 22610 is a benchmark for determining the bacterial penetration under wet and rubbing conditions. There are also other similar standards, which are used to ensure the quality of protective clothing, such as ASTM-F903 and ISO16603.
ASTM F903 standard measures the fabric’s resistance against liquid penetration when hydrostatic pressure is applied to it. The ISO16603 determines the textile’s resistance to synthetic blood penetration, under pneumatic pressure.
The ISO 22610 standard only measures the bacterial penetration under wet environment and mechanical friction conditions. These standards are similar to each other and have minor differences according to certain conditions.
ISO16603 standard measures the barrier ability of fabric under dry and liquid conditions. The ASTM-F903 determines the textile’s resistance to liquids under pressure, while ISO 22610 especially focuses on the bacterial penetration in wet and dynamic conditions.
The combination of all these standards helps us to grade the medical textile, such as gowns, drapes, and medical uniforms to meet the microbial protection performance.
When ISO 22610 Should be Used?
The ISO 22610 standard focuses on the bacterial penetration in medical textiles under wet and friction conditions.
For example, surgical gowns protect the doctors and nurses from bacterial infection during surgical operations. Because there is a high risk of contact with blood and other body fluids during the operation and movement.
The hospitals, heart care centers, and medical testing labs require protective medical clothing. These sectors require medical textile products that comply with the ISO 22610 standard. The products that meet this standard resist bacterial penetration even in wet and rub conditions.
Conclusion
The ISO 22610 standard determines the bacterial penetration in wet conditions. It helps to measure the risk through a quantitative study, in which we can know how many numbers of bacteria can penetrate the medical clothing under wet and rubbing conditions through the Bacteria Penetrability Tester.
The ISO 22610 standard focuses on the bacterial penetration in medical textiles under wet and friction conditions.
For example, surgical gowns protect the doctors and nurses from bacterial infection during surgical operations. Because there is a high risk of contact with blood and other body fluids during the operation and movement.
FAQs
What is the main purpose of ISO 22610 testing?
The ISO 22610 standard is specially designed for medical textiles to evaluate the fabric’s resistance against bacterial penetration, under wet and rubbed conditions.
Which materials are tested with ISO 22610?
Commonly, surgical gowns, drapes, medical PPE textiles, and other hospital barrier fabrics are tested through this standard.
These all standards are used to ensure the quality of protective textiles, but ISO especially focuses on bacterial penetration under wet and rub conditions.