Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPE)

To ensure and meet your needs we provide rigorous evaluation and expansive testing capabilities to deliver assurance that, even under the most stressful or hazardous conditions, your products will provide sustained protection. Types of PPE testing includes Face shield testing, Alcohol/isopropyl Testing, Disinfectant testing, Medicinal gown testing, Gloves testing etc

Face Shield Testing

Face shields are personal protective equipment devices that are used by many people for protection of the facial area and associated mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) from splashes, sprays, Bacterial spray and spatter of body fluids. Face shields are generally not used alone, but in conjunction with other protective equipment and are therefore classified as adjunctive personal protective equipment. Generally, a face shield is situated at the crown of the head and is constructed with plastic to cover the user’s eyes and face. Face Shields Intended for a Medical Purpose must not contain any materials that will cause flammability, or the product meets Class I or Class II flammability requirement per 16 CFR 1610

The main tests for face shield are follows.

• Penetration of Synthetic Blood Testing (ASTM F1862)
• Flammability Testing (16 CFR 1610)
• Quality of material and surface (EN 167:2001)
• Robustness (EN 168: 2001)
• Resistance to Ageing (EN 168;2001)
• Resistance to Ultraviolet radiation (EN 168;2001)
• Resistance to corrosion (EN 168;2001)
• Resistance to Ignition (EN 168;2001)
• Protection against high speed particles (EN 168;2001)
• Protection against droplet or splashed of liquid (EN 168;2001)
• Protection against molten metals or hot solids (EN 168;2001)
• Protection against large dust particles (EN 168;2001)
  • EN ISO 13688 Protective clothing — General requirements
  • EN 14126-B Protective clothing – Performance requirements and tests methods for
  • protective clothing against infective agents
  • EN 13034 PROTECTION AGAINST LIQUID CHEMICALS or Protective clothing against
  • liquid chemicals – performance requirements for clothing with liquid-tight (Type 3) or
  • spray-tight (Type 4) connections, including items providing protection to parts of the
  • body only (Types PB [3] and PB [4])
  • EN 14605 PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AGAINST LIQUID CHEMICALS – TYPE 3 OR 4
  • EN 343 for water and breathability or equivalent

Alcohol/Isopropyl Testing

ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL (IPA) is widely accepted as a good liquid for keeping cleanroom surfaces in pristine condition. At room temperature, methyl alcohol has three times the vapor pressure than that of IPA. This means methyl alcohol will evaporate at a much more rapid pace, making it difficult to keep wipers damp enough to efficiently remove surface particles. In addition, the higher vapor pressure of methyl alcohol means more of the alcohol will be in the vapor state, which means increased exposure to stringent alcohol fumes for cleanroom operators.

The main test done with Alcohol and IPA is as follows.

Purity DIN 55685

Water ASTM D1364

Appearance Clear & Free from Suspended Matter ASTM D4176

Colour ASTM D1209

Initial diluted odour SMS 547

Density ASTM D4052

Refractive Index ASTM D1218

Acidity as Acetic acid ASTM D1613

Non-Volatile Matter ASTM D1353

Distillation ASTM D1078

Benzene LPM 5230

Water Miscibility ASTM D1722

Disinfectant Testing

Disinfectant tests have the same final purpose, namely measuring the antimicrobial activity of a chemical substance or preparation, a large number of testing methods has been described. They are subdivided into suspension tests, carrier and surface disinfection tests and other practice-mimicking tests. The suspension tests comprise qualitative and quantitative suspension tests, and, as derived tests, the determination of the phenol coefficient and capacity tests. There is an essential difference between a carrier test and a surface disinfectant test: in the former case the carrier is submerged in the disinfectant solution during the whole exposure time, whereas in the latter case the disinfectant is applied on the carrier for the application time and thereafter the carrier is drying during the exposure. following are the tests.

AOAC Use Dilution Tests Modified for Spray Products Disinfectant Testing

AOAC Use Dilution Test, Disinfectant Testing

AOAC Chlorine (Available) in Disinfectants Germicidal Equivalent, Disinfectants Testing

AOAC Fungicidal Activity Tests, Disinfection Testing

AOAC Sporadically efficacy test, Disinfectant Testing

AOAC Germicidal Spray Products Test Disinfectant Testing

AOAC Germicidal and Detergent Sanitizing Action of Disinfectants Test

AOAC Tuberculocidal Activity Test

AOAC Disinfectants (Water) for Swimming Pools Disinfectant Testing

Contact lenses disinfectant test

Disinfectant Kill Time Test

EPA Pre-Saturated Novelettes Test Disinfection Testing

EPA Quantitative Suspension Method for Tuberculocidal Disinfection Testing

EPA submission, DIS/TSS Disinfectant Testing

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Disinfectant Testing

Minimum Lethal Concentration (MLC) Disinfectant Testing

Disinfectants Testing

Bactericidal Efficacy Testing

Tuberculocidal Efficacy Testing

Fungicidal Efficacy Testing

Special Product Testing & Development:

Activity of Antimicrobials in Polymeric or Hydrophobic Materials by ASTM E2180

Antimicrobial activity of immobilized antimicrobial agents by ASTM E2149

Resistance of Synthetic Polymeric Materials to Fungi by ASTM G21

Resistance of Plastics to Bacteria by ASTM G22

Mildew (fungus) resistance of paper and paperboard by ASTM D2020

Performance of Antimicrobials in or on Polymeric Solids against Streptoverticillium reticulum (pink stain) by ASTM E1428

Fungi resistance of insulation materials and facings by ASTM C1338

Growth of mold on the surface of interior coatings in an environmental chamber by ASTM D3273

Resistance of emulsion paint in the container to attack by ASTM D2574

Enumeration of viable bacteria and fungi in liquid fuel by ASTM D6974

Antimicrobial activity and efficacy in products by JISZ 2801

Action of microorganisms to plastics by ISO 846

Resistance to fungal growth and performance in devices by MIL-SPEC 508.5

Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity Using a Time-Kill Procedure by ASTM E2315

Assessment of Antibacterial Finishes in Textiles by AATCC 100

Antibacterial Activity Assessment of Textile Materials: Parallel Streak Method by AATCC 147

Antimicrobial Activity Assessment on Carpet by AATCC 174

Antifungal Activity Assessment on Textile Materials by AATCC 30

Mildew and Rot Resistance of Textile Materials by AATCC 30

Veridical Efficacy

Veridical Efficacy Tests

Modified Prostrated Novelette Disinfection & Sanitization Tests

Quantitative Kill-Time Test (film of viruses dried onto test surface)

Quantitative Kill-Time Test (viruses in liquid suspension)

Medical Gown Testing

Innovations in textile performance properties have resulted in the need for medical textiles suppliers to demonstrate functional properties such as antimicrobial, waterproof, and soil release, as well as safety attributes like flammability, through testing and verification. As a result, Middle East Testing Services LLC (METS Lab) has identified capabilities throughout our laboratory network to support medical textile suppliers for Medical gown testing. Below are the parameters tested for the Gown.

• Impact penetration (AATCC 42), for AAMI PB70 levels 1, 2 and 3
• Hydrostatic resistance (AATCC 127), for AAMI PB70 levels 2 and 3
• Viral penetration resistance (ASTM D1671) for AAMI PB70 level 4
• Tensile strength (ASTM D5034)
• Tear resistance for woven (ASTM D5587)
• Tear resistance for non-woven (ASTM

Below is the standard referred for the medical gown testing

 

• AATCC 42
• AATCC 127
• ASTM F1671
• ASTM D5034
• ASTM D5587
• ASTM D5733
• EN 13795
• ISO 374-5
• ASTM F2407

Glove Testing

As the Covid 19 pandemic situation arises in the, world Middle East Testing Services LLC (METS Labs) feels strongly that people need to know that they Middle East Testing Services LLC (METS Labs) offers a comprehensive set of tests for Gloves Testing. These glove testing are essential to ensuring performance properties are validated to support marketing label claims

Below are the tests done in the glove testing

• Evaluate Dimension
• Tensile Strength
• Elongation
• Puncture
• Residual Powder
• Leakage
• Simulated Use
• Heat Aging Degradation
• Viral Barriers
• Allergens
• Sterility

Standard Applicable in glove Testing

• ASTM D5151
• ASTM D3579
• ASTM D6124
• ASTM F1342
• NFPA 1999
• ASTM F1671
• ASTM D5250
• EN 374-3
• EN 420
• EN 1186-3
• ASTM D 5250
• ASTM D 3578
• EN 455
• ASTM D 6977

Below are the details regarding the testing standard

ASTM D5250
Standard specification for Poly (vinyl chloride) Gloves for medical application

ASTM D6319
Standard specification for Nitrile Examination Gloves for medical application.

ASTM D3578
Standard Specification for Rubber Examination Gloves

ASTM D6124
Standard test method for Residual Powder on Medical Gloves.

ASTM D7160
Standard Practice for Determination of Expiration Dating for Medical Gloves.

ASTM D7161
Standard practice for Determination of Real Time Expiration Dating of Mature Medical Gloves Stored Under Typical warehouse conditions.