Test criteria
The tests are carried out in accordance with recognised standards for which accreditation has been obtained from the DAkkS using the test germs specified therein.
Test germs
Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli
- Further test germs on request
Testing standards
The test sample is tested by Hohenstein Laboratories in accordance with the American test standard ASTM E 2149 "Standard Test Method for Determining the Antimicrobial Activity of Antimicrobial Agents Under Dynamic Contact Conditions", for which accreditation has been granted by the DAkkS. The quality label confirms that the test specimen has an antibacterial activity against the bacterial test strain Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and further Gram-positive test bacteria (usually Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538), which is not required by the standard. The antibacterial activity of the test sample must show at least a germ reduction of 2 lg steps (= 99 %) for both test strains compared to a control material. The quality label is based on test reports with detailed results.
The test sample is tested by Hohenstein Laboratories in accordance with the standard DIN EN ISO 20743 "Textiles - Determination of antibacterial activity of textile products", for which accreditation from the DAkkS is available. The quality label is used to confirm that the test sample has antibacterial activity against the bacterial test strains Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 4352. The antibacterial activity of the test sample must show at least a germ reduction of 2 lg steps (= 99 %) for both test strains compared to a control material. The quality label is based on a test report with detailed results.
The test sample is tested by Hohenstein Laboratories in accordance with the ISO 22196 standard "Measurement of antibacterial activity on plastics and other non-porous surfaces", for which accreditation from the DAkkS is available. The quality label is used to confirm that the test sample has antibacterial activity against the bacterial test strains Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Escherichia coli ATCC 8739. The antibacterial activity of the test sample must show at least a germ reduction of 2 lg steps (= 99 %) for both test strains compared to a control material. The quality label is based on a test report with detailed results.
A prerequisite for the award of the label is passing the test for antibacterial efficacy according to DIN EN ISO 20743, followed by a practice-oriented test examining the influence of the antibacterial textile on human skin microflora. The test is based on a standardised artificial model of human skin, in which germ colonisation, topography and skin properties (milieu) of a healthy skin are simulated. The model uses bacterial species of the endogenous microflora of human epidermis: Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 14990 and Micrococcus luteus ATCC 4698. The effect of the test material on these test strains is quantitatively analysed in a wear simulation on the artificial skin over a contact period of 18 hours and evaluated compared to a control material without antimicrobial activity. If no significant reduction of test strains occurs within this wearing/exposure period (reduction of germs <1 lg step compared to the control material), the textile is considered "safe" with regard to effects on the human skin flora. The quality label is based on a test report with detailed results.
In addition, further tests are offered according to international standards