Designation:E2722−14StandardTestMethodforUsingSeeded-AgarfortheScreeningAssessmentofAntimicrobialActivityinFabricandAirFilterMedia1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE2722;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.INTRODUCTIONFabrics(woven,non-woven)andfiltersoftenincorporateatopicalorpolymerincorporatedantimicrobialagenttoprotectthemfrommoldandbacteria.TheAmericanAssociationofTextileColoristsandChemists(AATCC)MethodAATCC147–2004andAATCC100–2004permitqualitativeandquantitative(respectively)assessmentoffabricforantibacterialactivity.AATCC30–2004isanestablishedantifungalmethod,qualitativeonly,ofantimicrobialtreatmentsinoronfabric.However,thesemethodsarenotwellsuitedforrapidscreeningofantimicrobialslowinwatersolubilityorthathaveslowdiffusionrateswhenincorporatedintoafabricback-coatinglayer.Thestandardmethoddescribedhereprovidesarapidscreenofantimicrobialactivityinoronfabricandfiltermediaanddoesnotdependonazoneofinhibitiontodemonstrateasurfaceprotectiveeffect.1.Scope1.1Thistestmethodisdesignedtoevaluatequalitativelythepresenceofantibacterialandantifungalactivityinoronfabricsorairfiltermedia.1.2Usehalf-strength(nutrientandagar)trypticsoyagarastheinoculumvehicleforbacteriaandhalf-strengthpotatodextroseagarastheinoculumvehicleformoldconidia.Useofhalf-strengthagarsmayreduceundueneutralizationofanantimicrobialduetoexcessiveorganicload.1.3Thistestmethodpermitsevaluation,bothvisuallyandstereomicroscopically,oftheantimicrobialactivityoffabricorfiltermedia.1.4Usethistestmethodtoassessthedurabilityoftheantimicrobialtreatmentsonnewfabricorfiltermedia,andonthoserepeatedlylaunderedorexposedtoin-useconditions.1.5Thistestmethodmaynotbesuitedforcovalentlybonded(thatis,silane-modifiedquaternaryammoniumcom-pounds)oractiveswithlimitedmigrationorsolubility.1.6Kno...
