FTTS-FA-002　Antibacterial Textiles for Medical Use

Antibacterial Textiles suppress and even kill harmful bacteria that tend to grow on fabrics. To achieve the level of antibacterial textile for medical use, the antibacterial textiles have to pass severe qualification tests, and the antibacterial activity can be effective on various bacteria. Antibacterial Textiles for medical use should be either bacteriocidal or bacteriostatic. These textiles are used in hospitals to prevent or decrease the spread of infections. All medical institutions need these textiles for general use in hospital bedding, sheets, pillowcases, quarantine curtains, and in operating rooms for robes, hats, aprons, covers, lining cloths, gauze, bandages, masks, shelter wear, air filters and more.

As to current antibacterial technology in Taiwan, the effectiveness of antibacterial textile for medical use generally achieve bacteria reduction rate to over 99% (The best grade for such textiles is 99.9% (test method applied is AATCC 100)). Performance on the Bacteriostasis Activity Value is not less than 2.0. Bacteria used for testing are Staphylococcus aureus and the test method applied is JIS L1902.

Scope

This criterion is applicable for the evaluation and testing of antibacterial activity of textile for medical use. The quantitative evaluation of antibacterial activity is judged by the percentage bacteria reduction.

Performance specification

3.1 Criteria

Textile must achieve antibacterial activity expressed by percentage reduction of bacteria (%) to grade 2 or above on two specified test organisms, after being washed for 100 cycles by an approved lab, or no washing required for disposible product so to meet the requirement set for FTTS-FA-002.

3.2 Washing requirement

Type

Washing cycles

I

Antibacterial Activity after 100 washing

II

Antibacterial activity without washing  (for disposible products)

3.3 Classification of antibacterial activity

Percent reduction of bacteria (%)

Grade

Classification

Reduction rate≧99.9

3

Excellent

99 ≦ reduction rate＜99.9

2

Good

0＜reduction rate ＜99

1

Fair

3.4 Toxicity test

The applicant must provide animal test reports with dermal irritation test (PII primary irritation index <2) or allergenic test (negative / positive 0%), and acute oral toxicity test report (LD50 in mice >1000 mg/kg, no mortality nor abnormal symptom) for the antibacterial finishing reagent used for the treated textile. This can also be provided by test report copy from a third party or guarantee leter from antibacterial finishing reagent supplier.