Description of the Test
Evaluation of the capability of a vacuum cleaner to remove allergen-containing test dust from a carpet.
Products that can be tested
Vacuum Cleaners
Scope
This test method provides a laboratory test for determining the allergen removal effectiveness of vacuum cleaners when tested under specific conditions. The method determines the allergen removal effectiveness of the vacuum cleaner using allergen test dust on carpet with direct Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) analysis.
- The carpet and pick up test apparatus is fixed in the large chamber at 23 ± 2°C, Relative Humidity 50 ± 5%).
- Prior to the vacuuming procedure, the vacuum cleaner is allowed to run with an unimpeded airflow for a burn-in time.
- A known test length in the direction of the carpet pile, and a known test width is measured as relevant to the cleaning head.
- A known stroke length is used thus ensuring a uniform speed over the test area.
- A predetermined cleaning cycle is used over the test area and at a known stroke speed.
- Before putting allergen-conditioned test dust (ATD) on the new test carpet for pick-up tests, the background allergen level is determined.
- ATD is evenly distributed over the test area and embedded into the test carpet.
- A proprietary dust collector filter system is attached to a laboratory reference vacuum hose and used for source sampling to assess allergen levels in the carpet.
- The filter is removed from the collector post-sampling of each test area and allergen levels are assessed.
- A number of vacuuming interventions take place with allergen assessments being conducted in the bag or receptacle as well as source sampling to assess allergen removal from the test carpet.
- The contents of each dust bag are harvested, weighed and subjected to immunoassay for allergens as well as the dust collector filter system.
Samples Required
3 vacuum cleaners with 9 bags and 9 filters
Turnaround Time
4 weeks