ISO 21326
Test methods for determining the efficiency of products against house dust mite
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ISO 21326: 2019 – Determining the efficacy of treated textiles against dust mites
The ISO 21326 standard provides a standardized test methodology for assessing the efficiency of textile products treated against house dust mites. House dust mites are of significant concern as they are commonly found in household environments such as floors, carpets, and bedding and are known to trigger asthma and other allergic reactions.
ISO 21326 standardizes the evaluation process of testing the repellency of textile products towards dust mites and ensures consistent and reliable results. This helps manufacturers to accurately determine the performance of their products, ensuring consumer satisfaction and product efficacy.
Products tested
ISO 21326 provides four different test methods to evaluate the efficacy of treated textiles against house dust mites. Each method has specific product requirements and is tailored to different types of textile products.
Method A: Repelling method by using a petri dish
Products to be tested include carpet, bedding surface fabric, bed sheeting, bed covering, and blanket.
Method B: Repelling method by using glass tube (Methods A and B)
Products to be tested include wadding, wool or synthetic fiber, and feathers/down.
Method C: Proliferation method (Method A – petri dish method & Method B – glass tube)
Method A applies to carpet, bedding surface fabric, bed sheeting, bed covering, and blankets. Method B applies to wadding.
Method D: Penetration method
This method applies to the outer fabric of a futon, bed sheeting, and bed covering. (Note that this method cannot be used for testing non-woven fabrics and fiber products with high stretch properties such as jersey fabrics.)
ISO 21326 Test Requirements
House dust mites – The test utilizes house dust mites commonly found on floors, carpets, and bedding.
Culture medium – The culture medium is a diet specifically formulated for breeding house dust mites. It ensures optimal conditions for their growth and proliferation.
Mite medium – It is a combination of the diet and live house dust mites which is prepared according to the specified procedures in the standard.
ISO 21326 Test Method
Repelling method by using Petri-dish
This method evaluates the repellency of textile products by measuring the number of mites repelled by the treated fabric.
- A small petri dish containing the fabric sample and culture medium is placed in the center of a large petri dish.
- The mite medium containing approximately 10,000 mites is spread in the large Petri dish.
- The mites are allowed to migrate to the small dish over a predetermined time (typically 24 hours).
- The number of live mites that have entered the small petri dish is counted after the predetermined duration.
- The repellence efficacy is calculated and compared to the number of live mites in a control test.
Repelling method by using glass tube (Method A and Method B)
This method assesses the repellency of textile products by observing the movement of mites through a glass tube.
- The fabric sample is placed in one end of the glass tube followed by the stuffing, culture medium and adhesive tape at the end. A mite medium with 10,000 mites is placed on the opposite end of the test tube.
- The mites are allowed to migrate through the glass tube over a predetermined period.
- After the predetermined duration, the number of live mites that can pass through the stuffing, the culture medium and adhesive tape and intrude the mite medium are counted.
- The efficiency of repellency is determined by comparing the numbers of live mites with a control test.
The glass tube method A is employed for wadding samples whereas the glass tube Method B is used for down and feather samples. In method B, a stainless steel mesh disc is used to fix the position of the test specimen within the glass tube.
Proliferation method by using Petri-dish Method A and using vial Method B
This method evaluates the suppression of mite reproduction on treated textiles.
The petri dish method A is for the carpet samples, etc. while vial method B is employed for wadding samples.
- A mite medium containing 50 to 80 live mites per 0.1 g is introduced onto the textile sample in a petri dish or vial.
- After the predetermined duration, the total number of live mites is determined by taking a sum of live mites present on the petri dish or vial, the textile sample, and the mite medium.
- The suppression effect of house dust mite reproduction is assessed by comparing the numbers of live mites to a control test.
Penetration method
This method measures the ability of textile products to prevent mites from passing through the treated fabric.
- The textile sample is placed at the open end of the test tube and tightly enveloped in plastic wrap. Mite medium with 10, 000 mites is placed at the bottom of the same glass tube, on filter paper and tightly sealed.
- After the predetermined duration, the number of mites on the fabric sample that pass through the plastic wrap is counted.
- The efficiency for prevention is determined by comparing the number of house dust mites passed through the fabric sample to the reference.
Performance criteria
Rate of repellency
It is the ratio of the number of live mites in the treated material to the number of live mites in the untreated material. It represents the efficacy of repellency of treated materials.
Rate of suppression of house dust mite reproduction
It is the ratio of the number of live mites in treated material to those of live mites in untreated material by the proliferation method. It represents the degree of population control of treated materials.
Importance of the test
Anti-dust mite textiles are particularly designed to prevent the presence of house dust mites and reduce allergic reactions associated with them. These textiles serve as physical barriers to the entry of dust mites and thus, effectively deter their infestations.
Testing these products is crucial to ensure they are effective against dust mite strains, thus helping reduce exposure to allergens. The ISO 21326 standard plays an important role in this process by providing various test methods to evaluate the efficacy of textile products against dust mites.
Additionally, meeting compliance with ISO 21326 ensures that products meet strict regulatory requirements and provide protection against dust mites thereby enhancing consumer trust and safety.
Benefits of ISO 21326 Test
- Boosts consumer confidence – Builds trust and credibility thus making your products more appealing to customers.
- Meets regulatory requirements – Ensures your products comply with international standards thereby making it easier to access global markets.
- Enhances marketability – Helps differentiate your brand thus showing your commitment to quality and safety.
- Supports continuous improvement – Offers insights for product development and enhancement.
- Validates health claims – Helps confirm that your products are safe and effective for consumers with allergies or asthma.
- Streamlines supply chain processes – Ensures consistent product quality and simplifies quality assurance procedures.
At MIS, we specialize in providing entomology testing services for the insecticide and pesticide industries, ensuring high-quality product development. Our state-of-the-art labs are equipped with modern technologies for conducting efficacy studies following standard guidelines.
Our team of experts, with extensive knowledge and experience, conducts comprehensive textile testing against dust mites and other relevant bioassays to validate product efficacy claims. Additionally, our testing capabilities include thorough tick-repellent tests and bed bug-repellent tests.
For more information on ISO 21326 services, consult our expert team today.
FAQs
ISO 21326 test is a standardized method used to assess the efficacy/resistance of textile materials that undergo physical or chemical treatment for controlling mite infestation.
ISO 21326 test applies to physically or chemically treated textile material that claims to deter house dust mite infestations. The textile products to be tested may include – carpets, bedding surface fabrics, bed sheetings, bed coverings (wadding), blankets, etc.
It takes 6 – 8 weeks to complete the test.
The standard defines methods such as the repelling method with Petri dishes or glass tubes, the proliferation method using Petri dishes or vials, and the penetration method to evaluate the effectiveness of treated textiles against dust mites.
This method involves placing a small Petri dish with the test specimen and culture medium in a larger petri dish with mite medium containing 10,000 mites. After a set time, the number of live mites in the small dish is counted. Repellency efficiency is determined by comparing the live mites in the test specimen to a reference fabric.
This method involves placing a mite medium with 50 to 80 live mites per 0.1 g on the test specimen in a Petri dish or vial. After a set time, the live mites on the specimen, in the dish or vial, and the medium are counted and summed. The suppression effect is calculated by comparing the number of live mites in the test specimen to a reference sample.
Method A of the glass tube repelling method is used for testing wadding samples, whereas Method B is for testing down and feather samples. In Method B, a stainless steel mesh disc is used to fix the position of the specimen in the glass tube.
The penetration method involves placing the test specimen at the upper end of a glass tube wrapped in plastic wrap, with mite medium containing 10,000 mites at the bottom on a sealed paper filter. After a set time, the mites passing through the specimen are counted.
Benefits include: ensures the effectiveness of textiles in repelling or preventing the proliferation of house dust mites, helps manufacturers improve product efficacy to meet consumer expectations for mite-resistant textiles, and reduces allergen exposure from house dust mites in treated textiles.
House dust mites, commonly found on floor surfaces, carpets, and bedding are used in this test.
Testing helps in reducing allergen exposure from dust mites by evaluating the effectiveness of treated textiles in repelling mites, suppressing their reproduction, and preventing their penetration through fabrics. This ensures that treated textiles are capable of minimizing the presence of mites, thereby reducing allergen levels.
Metrics such as the rate of repellency and the rate of suppression of mite reproduction are calculated to determine the efficacy of the treatment.
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