ASTM_E_2722_-_14.pdf

Designation:E272214Standard Test Method forUsing Seeded-Agar for the Screening Assessment ofAntimicrobial Activity in Fabric and Air Filter Media1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2722;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONFabrics(woven,non-woven)and filters often incorporate a topical or polymer incorporatedantimicrobial agent to protect them from mold and bacteria.The American Association of TextileColorists and Chemists(AATCC)Method AATCC 1472004 and AATCC 1002004 permitqualitative and quantitative(respectively)assessment of fabric for antibacterial activity.AATCC302004 is an established antifungal method,qualitative only,of antimicrobial treatments in or onfabric.However,these methods are not well suited for rapid screening of antimicrobials low in watersolubility or that have slow diffusion rates when incorporated into a fabric back-coating layer.Thestandard method described here provides a rapid screen of antimicrobial activity in or on fabric andfilter media and does not depend on a zone of inhibition to demonstrate a surface protective effect.1.Scope1.1 This test method is designed to evaluate qualitatively thepresence of antibacterial and antifungal activity in or on fabricsor air filter media.1.2 Use half-strength(nutrient and agar)tryptic soy agar asthe inoculum vehicle for bacteria and half-strength potatodextrose agar as the inoculum vehicle for mold conidia.Use ofhalf-strength agars may reduce undue neutralization of anantimicrobial due to excessive organic load.1.3 This test method permits evaluation,both visually andstereomicroscopically,of the antimicrobial activity of fabric orfilter media.1.4 Use this test method to assess the durability of theantimicrobial treatments on new fabric or filter media,and onthose repeatedly laundered or exposed to in-use conditions.1.5 This test method may not be suited for covalentlybonded(that is,silane-modified quaternary ammonium com-pounds)or actives with limited migration or solubility.1.6 Knowledge of microbiological techniques is requiredfor the practice of this test method.1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E1054 Test Methods for Evaluation of Inactivators of Anti-microbial AgentsE2756 Terminology Relating to Antimicrobial and AntiviralAgents2.2 AATCC Documents:3AATCC 302004 Antifungal Activity,Assessment on Tex-tile Materials:Mildew and Rot Resistance of TextileMaterialsAATCC 1002004 Antibacterial Finishes on Textile Materi-als:Assessment ofAATCC 1472004 Antibacterial Activity Assessment ofTextile Materials:Parallel Streak Method3.Terminology3.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method refer toTerminology E2756.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E35 onPesticides,Antimicrobials,and Alternative Control Agents and is the directresponsibility of Subcommittee E35.15 on Antimicrobial Agents.Current edition approved Aug.1,2014.Published September 2014.Originallyapproved in 2009.last previous edition approved in 2009 as E272209.DOI:10.1520/E272214.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists(AATCC),P.O.Box 12215,Research Triangle Park,NC 27709,http:/www.aatcc.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 back-coating,na film(typically synthetic latex)applied to the back side of certain textiles to provide dimen-sional stability.3.2.2 inoculum vehicle,ncarrier solution used to transportbacterial cells or mold conidia to the test substrate.3.2.3 seeded agar,nmolten(liquid)microbiological agarcontaining either bacterial cells or mold conidia(spores)usedto challenge a test substrate.3.2.4 swatch,na small sample of fabric of a defined size.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 Using flame-sterilized scissors,cut fabric or mediasamples into 9 cm2swatches.Arrange the swatches in sterilepetri dishes.Cool molten agars to 45 6 2C and inoculate withthe challenge bacteria or mold conidia.Following wrist-actionmixing,immerse swatches into the seeded-molten agar,allowexcess agar to d