The global pandemic has taught us too many things, including the improvement in your level of living. Hence people have become aware of health and healthcare products. The ultimate goal of the people is to stay safe and healthy. The global pandemic has led to an increase in people’s awareness of the processing technology of textile products that provide the highest and best performance. This test is known as ISO 18184. This technology has been highly developed recently. We are also aware that health and hygiene protective products are highly promoted in the current markets.
Let us know more about the ISO 18184
The ISO 18184 is the anti-viral test for the textiles which measures the virus and the microbes’ activity on the textiles and the porous materials. This test is specially designed to test the ability of the given textiles and similar materials to kill the virus. This product is new and includes the technical aspects of textile technology. The testing method thus has been developed by the individual producers so that they can evaluate the performance of the product. Therefore this resulted in finding the unified international standard test method for everyone including the producers, consumers, and the stakeholders of the market.
Antiviral textiles are the textiles that will reduce the number of virus particles that are infectious that come in contact with the surface of the textile.
Which viruses can be tested?
The various types of viruses that can be tested are as follows:
- Various strains of Influenza
- Various coronavirus strains.
- SARS COV-2
- Feline calicivirus,
- Other various viruses can also be tested on request.
Which are the products that can be tested in ISO 18184?
The different types of products that can be tested under ISO 18184 are as follows:
- Woven fabrics
- Knitted fabrics
- Fibres
- Yarns
- Braids and many more.
Which are the types of tests that are performed under ISO 18184?
The quantification of all virus infections titre is performed by tests like plaque assay or TCID50 method.
Let us describe the tests:
The viruses are injected in the specimen. Next, after the specific contact time of two hours – twenty four hours the remaining infectious virus is calculated and the reduction rate is also calculated. In comparison between the antiviral product test, the specimen and the reference specimen, the quantity of virus infections titre is performed by the plaque assay method or TCID50 method which is same as the most probable number of the serial dilution measurement.. After the tests are cleared, the tested product can be labelled by armid to ISO18184, thus it will support any claim which will be related to the test and data received.
The ISO 18184 and the Common Antimicrobial Additives:
The standard mechanism required for the antiviral activity requires additives that can be modified chemically or dynamically modify the various aspects of the virus. The strategies of the drugs rely on very high specific binding of the virus to the receptor where the receptor is the drug used to bind the receptor blocking the mode of action.
For some of the treated products, the conventional approach is used to chemically attack the general aspect of the virus. For example, for coronavirus which contains the lipid envelope, its antiviral products will stay strong to the membrane and disrupt it by allowing it to lose its characteristics like size and shape, in return its ability to infect others. the standard strains of antimicrobials for the activity used in textiles are as follows:
• Quaternary ammonium compounds,
• Essential oils
• Quaternary-silane molecules (quat-silane),
They are similar to the detergents as well as the surfactants but they are mixed with the added chemicals to allow their durable use.
Secondly, the method used of anti-viral activity which is used for the different chemical approach, which oxidises the material on all the surfaces which are exposed to the virus. After they are oxidised the viral components will not be able to function biologically and thus they will become inactive. The chemicals like bleach and hypochlorite are used are used to decrease the virus strengths. This method is used very less as there is lack of durability but it is used as the most effective method for cleaning mechanism.
How are the results useful to customers?
There are some customers who will request the durability test as the product of the ISO 18184 to confirm the anti-microbial quality of the product against all the viruses which are now exposed in the environment. Using both the durability as well as the antimicrobial testing through various tests can support and perform testing which in return will reduce the time and costs with developing and distribution of the quality products.
It is very crucial to be cautious for the durability and determining the its anti-microbial performance.
The complete level of safety and satisfaction:
ISO 18184 tests are specially designed to test the ability of the textiles and similar materials that will kill the virus that comes in its contact with the environment. The standard exposure of the virus ranges from two hours to twenty four hours. The different viruses have different sensitivity for the different materials. Hence control material is also included which will determine the effects of the antiviral on the treated textiles. The various viruses can be tested in these trying times. This will ensure your safety towards various harmful viruses.
Take your turn to be safe and secure:
The antiviral treatment offers a powerful tool to protect you from harmful viruses and bacteria. It may also protect you from coronavirus. ISO 18184 ensures performance and guarantees levels of protection from harmful virus. It will ensure the high quality of hygiene thus it is very useful for healthcare and other related services. When the porous nature of the textiles traps the virus and the bacteria which will lower the risk of the virus being transferred. But they can multiply themselves by staying in the fabric causing health hazards. Thus ISO 18184 will ensure the perfect virus and bacteria control and thus control health hazards.
Also, Read – QUANTITATIVE METHOD TO DETERMINE DEGREE OF BACTERIAL LEVELS – AATCC 100 ANTIBACTERIAL FINISHES ON FABRICS