ASTM_F_1670_-_F_1670M_-_17.pdf

Designation:F1670/F1670M17Standard Test Method forResistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing toPenetration by Synthetic Blood1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1670/F1670M;the number immediately following the designation indicates the yearof original adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A superscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONWorkers,primarily those in the healthcare profession,involved in treating and caring for individualsinjured or sick,can be exposed to biological liquids capable of transmitting disease.These diseases,which may be caused by a variety of microorganisms,can pose significant risks to life and health.Thisis especially true of blood-borne hepatitis(hepatitis B virus(HBV)and hepatitis C virus(HCV)andacquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS)(human immunodeficiency viruses(HIV).Sinceengineering controls can not eliminate all possible exposures,attention is placed on reducing thepotential of direct skin contact through the use of protective clothing that resists penetration(29 CFRPart 1910.1030).This test method was developed to help assess the effectiveness of materials used inprotective clothing for protecting the wearer against contact with body fluids that potentially containblood-borne pathogens.Using synthetic blood,this test method is intended to identify protectiveclothing material candidates for further testing according to a more rigorous procedure involving asurrogate for blood-borne pathogens.1.Scope1.1 This test method is used to evaluate the resistance ofmaterials used in protective clothing to penetration by syntheticblood under conditions of continuous liquid contact.Protectiveclothing pass/fail determinations are based on visual detectionof synthetic blood penetration.1.1.1 This test method is not always effective in testingprotective clothing materials having thick,inner liners whichreadily absorb the synthetic blood.1.2 This test method is a means for selecting protectiveclothing materials for subsequent testing with a more sophis-ticated barrier test as described in Test Method F1671.1.3 This test method does not apply to all forms or condi-tions of blood-borne pathogen exposure.Users of the testmethod must review modes for work/clothing exposure andassess the appropriateness of this test method for their specificapplication.1.4 This test method addresses only the performance ofmaterials or certain material constructions(for example,seams)used in protective clothing.This test method does notaddress the design,overall construction and components,orinterfaces of garments,or other factors which may affect theoverall protection offered by the protective clothing.1.5 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound unitsare to be regarded separately as standard.The values stated ineach system may not be exact equivalents;therefore,eachsystem shall be used independently of the other.Combiningvalues from the two systems may result in nonconformancewith the standard.1.6 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.1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-ization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards,Guides and Recom-mendations issued by the World Trade Organization TechnicalBarriers to Trade(TBT)Committee.1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F23 on PersonalProtective Clothing and Equipment and is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeF23.40 on Biological.Current edition approved July 1,2017.Published July 2017.Originally approvedin 1995.Last previous edition approved in 2014 as F1670/F1670M 08(2014)1.DOI:10.1520/F1670_F1670M-17.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United StatesThis international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards,Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade(TBT)Committee.1 2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D1331 Test Methods for Surface and Interfacial Tension ofSolutions of Paints,Solvents,Solutions of Surface-ActiveAgents,and Related MaterialsD1777 Test Method for Thickness of Textile MaterialsD3776 Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area(Weight)ofFabricE105 Practice for Probability Sampling of MaterialsE171 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible BarrierPackagingF903 Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used inProtective Clothing to Penetrati