Designation:E2471−05(Reapproved2016)StandardTestMethodforUsingSeeded-AgarfortheScreeningAssessmentofAntimicrobialActivityInCarpets1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE2471;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.INTRODUCTIONToday’smoderncommercialcarpets(especiallymodularcarpettile)oftenincorporateantimicrobialagentseitherinoronthefacefibersorincorporatedintotheprimarybacking(attachmentpointofcarpetfibertothebackingstructure).TheAmericanAssociationofTextileChemistsandColorists(AATCC)Method174permitsbothqualitativeandquantitativeantibacterialassessmentandantifungalassessment(qualitativeonly)ofantimicrobialtreatmentsinoroncarpet.However,themethodisnotsuitedforrapidscreeningofantimicrobialslowinwatersolubilityorthathaveslowdiffusionrateswhenincorporatedintothecarpet’sprimarybackinglayer.Thetestmethoddescribedhereprovidesarapidscreenofantimicrobialactivityinoroncarpetsandallowsforthesimultaneousassessmentofmultiplecomponentsofthecarpet(notjustthefibers).1.Scope1.1Thistestmethodisdesignedtoevaluate(qualitatively)thepresenceofantimicrobialactivityinoroncarpets.Usethistestmethodtoqualitativelyevaluatebothantibacterialandantifungalactivity.1.2Usehalfstrength(nutrientandagar)trypticsoyagarastheinoculumvehicleforbacteriaandhalfstrengthpotatodextroseagarastheinoculumvehicleformoldconidia.Useofhalfstrengthagarsmayreduceundueneutralizationofanantimicrobialduetoexcessiveorganicload.1.3Thistestmethodsimultaneouslyevaluates(bothvisualandstereo-microscopic)antimicrobialactivitybothatthefiberlayerandattheprimarybackinglayerofcarpet.1.4Usethistestmethodtoassessthedurabilityoftheantimicrobialtreatmentsonnewcarpets,andonthoserepeat-edlyshampooedorexposedtoin-useconditions.1.5Knowledgeofmicrobiologicaltechniquesisrequiredforthepracticeofthistestmethod.1.6Thiss...
