Microbial Strikethrough; Biomedical Textile Testing
Biomedical textile testing includes microbial strikethrough assessments to determine a fabric’s ability to prevent penetration by bacterial, fungal, and viral microorganisms.
Scope of Biomedical Textile Testing
Products that can be tested for Biomedical Textile Testing such as Microbial Strikethrough
Textiles
Description of Test

Biomedical Textile Testing as part of antimicrobial textile testing at iAIR Healthgroup
- The test sample is placed into the upper section of an impaction apparatus connected to a pump. A collecting vessel containing a diluting buffer is attached to the inner section of the unit.
- The samples of interest are clamped to the upper section of the apparatus and a 100 µl inoculum of the microbe of interest is distributed in small droplets across the surface of the test material.
- The pump is switched on to allow for airflow to be applied through the test material. Any microbes that may pass through are impacted into a sterile collection buffer.
- Following a period of airflow at a specified rate and time the pump is stopped and the collecting buffer is removed.
- The collecting buffer is serially diluted and plated on an appropriate agar for the enumeration of colony forming units. To apply this test to viruses, TCID50 counts are performed to determine the level of viral penetration.
Third Party Validation
On passing this test, the product can be labelled as tested by airmid healthgroup in support of any claim relating to the test and data received.
Turnaround Time
4 weeks from receipt of samples
External Resources for Biomedical Textile Testing
Home Fashion Products Association
Biomedical Textile Testing Resources
- Overview
- Allergen Barrier Test
- Simulated Use Test
- Allergen Removal
- Heat Escape Method
- AATCC 194-2013
- Breathability
- Air Permeability
- Water Resistance
- ISO 27447:2019 – antibacterial activity of semi conducting photocatalytic materials
- ISO 20743:2021
- BS EN 14683:2019
- AATCC 100
- Microbial Strikethrough
- Feather & Down Analysis
- FAQ on ISO 18184:2019 anti viral testing for textiles
- ISO 13629-2:2014
- ISO 21326:2019
- ASTM G21
