EN ISO 20743 Determination of Antibacterial Activity of Textile Products

The standard "EN ISO 20743 Textiles - Determination of antibacterial activity of textile products", which is based on a European standard and later published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), describes the quantitative test methods used to determine the antibacterial activity of all antibacterial textile products, including nonwoven fabrics.

This standard applies to all textile products, including fabrics, wadding, yarns and clothing materials, bedding, home furnishings and miscellaneous goods, regardless of the type of antibacterial agent used (organic, inorganic, natural or artificial) or the method of application (built-in, finishing or inoculation).

This standard covers three inoculation methods for determining antibacterial activity:

• Absorption method: In this method, the test bacterial suspension is directly inoculated into the samples.
• Transfer method: In this method, test bacteria are placed on an agar plate and transferred to the samples.
• Printing method: In this method, test bacteria are placed on a filter and printed on the samples.

The user can select the most appropriate inoculation method based on the intended application, the environment in which the textile will be used, and the surface properties of the textile. This standard also defines the colony plate count method and the adenosine triphosphate luminescence method for measuring bacterial counts.

For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply:

• The control fabric is the fabric used to verify the growth conditions of the test bacteria and validate the test. The same fabric as the test fabric, but 100 percent cotton, without antibacterial treatment or fluorescent brighteners or other finishing agents, may be used.
• An antibacterial agent is a product designed to prevent or mitigate the growth of bacteria, reduce the number of bacteria, or kill bacteria.
• Antibacterial polish is the treatment designed to prevent or mitigate the growth of bacteria, reduce the number of bacteria, or kill bacteria.
• Antibacterial activity is the activity of an antibacterial polish used to prevent or mitigate the growth of bacteria, reduce the number of bacteria, or kill bacteria.
• The plate count method is a method in which the number of bacteria present after incubation is calculated by counting colonies using a tenfold dilution method. The results are expressed as CFU (colony forming units).
• The luminescence method measures the amount of adenosine triphosphate in bacterial cells. Note 1 to introduction: Results are expressed as "moles of ATP."
• Neutralizers are chemical substances used to inactivate, neutralize or quench the antibacterial properties of antibacterial agents.

In short, this standard is used to evaluate the performance of fabrics and other textiles specifically treated with antibacterial agents. This standard provides a quantitative assessment of antibacterial performance, typically reported as the reduction rate or logarithmic reduction of bacterial colonies compared to untreated samples.

This standard is important for manufacturers and researchers to validate antimicrobial efficacy claims in products such as medical textiles, sportswear, bedding and hygiene-related fabrics.

The ISO 20743 standard is necessary for the following important reasons, particularly in the context of health, safety and product quality in the textile industry:

• Consumer safety and public health: Antibacterial textiles are commonly used in healthcare settings, sportswear, and hygiene products. This standard ensures that these textiles actually reduce bacterial growth, reducing the risk of infection, odor, and contamination.
• Reliable and consistent testing: Without a standardized method, different manufacturers may use different testing procedures, making results inconsistent or unreliable. The ISO 20743 standard ensures uniformity so results can be compared across laboratories, countries, and products.
• Regulatory Compliance: In many countries, antimicrobial claims must be scientifically substantiated. This standard provides a recognized method for demonstrating compliance with regulatory or market requirements.
• Supports innovation and quality assurance: Manufacturers developing new antibacterial technologies can use this standard to demonstrate the effectiveness of their innovations. It aids in quality control during production by providing a benchmark for antibacterial performance.
• Consumer confidence: Finally, products tested under this standard can demonstrate substantiated claims, increasing trust and transparency in marketing and helping consumers make informed decisions when choosing antimicrobial textiles.

In short, the ISO 20743 standard protects both consumers and manufacturers by ensuring the safe, effective and accurate labeling of antibacterial textile products.

Our organization, which has been supporting businesses across all sectors for years through a wide range of testing, measurement, analysis, and evaluation activities, has a strong team of employees who closely follow global developments in science and technology and are constantly improving themselves. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the EN ISO 20743 Textiles - Determination of the antibacterial activity of textile products standard.