Wet Microbial Penetration Tester

The wet microbial penetration tester is mainly used to evaluate the barrier ability of medical protective equipment (such as surgical gowns, isolation suits, etc.), sanitary materials, etc. to microorganisms in a wet environment.

Working principle:

Inoculate microorganisms onto a specific carrier, put it in a wet environment, and let the microorganisms try to penetrate the sample under certain pressure and humidity conditions. After a specified time, the microbial culture count is performed on the other side of the sample to determine the barrier effect of the material on wet microorganisms.

Application field：

Medical field:

In the production of medical protective equipment, it is a key testing equipment to measure the protective performance of the product, which can ensure that medical staff reduce the risk of microbial infection when contacting patients or handling medical waste.

Scientific research:

Help researchers develop new high-performance protective materials, improve material formulations and processes by accurately testing the wet microbial penetration performance of the material.

ISO 22610:2006: "Surgical drapes, gowns and clean air suits, used as medical devices for patients, clinical staff and equipment – Test method for resistance to wet bacterial penetration." This is the most widely recognized international standard for assessing wet bacterial penetration through rubbing.

EN 14126:2003: "Protective clothing — Performance requirements for protective clothing against infective agents." This European standard specifies general requirements and test methods for protective clothing against infective agents, including several methods for penetration by contaminated liquids (including one based on ISO 22610).

ASTM F1671/F1671M-13 (2023): "Standard Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Blood-Borne Pathogens Using Phi-X174 Bacteriophage Penetration as a Test System." This ASTM standard is crucial for evaluating resistance to viral penetration in a wet environment, particularly relevant for blood-borne pathogens.

AAMI PB70:2012: "Liquid barrier performance and classification of protective apparel and drapes intended for use in health care facilities." This standard classifies medical apparel and drapes based on their liquid barrier performance, often referencing other specific ASTM test methods for penetration.

Product Advantages:

Critical Safety Assessment: Directly evaluates the material's ability to prevent microbial transmission in wet conditions, a paramount safety concern in healthcare.

Standard Compliance: Enables testing in accordance with key international and national standards (ISO 22610. EN 14126. ASTM F1671. AAMI PB70), ensuring regulatory acceptance.

Realistic Simulation: Designed to simulate actual contact and pressure conditions that materials experience in clinical environments.

Objective Quantification: Provides quantifiable results (e.g., CFU/PFU counts) that allow for clear comparison and classification of material barrier performance.

Versatility: Can be adapted to test a range of protective materials and can be used with different microbial challenges (bacteria or viruses) as per standard requirements.

Supports R&D and QC: Essential for both developing innovative, high-performance protective fabrics and for maintaining stringent quality control in production.