Consumer products with “Antimicrobial” functions in the market have gradually become a highlight concerned by consumers. With the addition of antimicrobial agents, these products prevent bacteria, moulds and germs from accumulating or reproducing on the surface of our commodity by killing them and inhibiting their growth, preventing mildew and protecting people’s health in daily life.
Knowledge about bacteria and moulds:
What are bacteria?
Bacteria are single-celled organisms invisible to the naked eye. They are classified into coccus, bacillus and spirillum by shape, and into gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacterium by cell wall.
On one hand, as the pathogens of many diseases, bacteria spread diseases between human beings by various means, such as physical contact, respiratory tracts, digestive tracts and insect bites. Their strong infectiousness poses harm to human health.
On the other hand, humans often make use of bacteria. For example, the making of cheese, yogurt, some antibiotics and the disposal of waste water are all related to bacteria.
What are moulds?
Moulds are fungus that grow in the form of multicellular filaments. They are ubiquitous in our life that thrive in warm and humid environments.
The mould family is very huge and closely related to people’s life. For example, the Mucor produces protease, amylase, can be used to make fermented beancurd and fermented soya beans, and thus is a famous seasoning master; with a very high amylase activity, Rhizopus is used to perform saccharification in industrial production; Penicillium produces penicillin, the first antibiotic discovered and applied by humans; Aspergillus produces a diversity of enzyme preparations and antibiotic, they are widely used in industry.
On the other hand, mould spores are common components of the dust at homes and workplaces. Moulds cause food to go rotten and affect the smell and look of products. They may lead to allergic reactions and respiratory diseases, causing harm to human health.
We can learn from the above that bacteria and moulds are two major members of the microbe family. They are everywhere in nature and complement the survival of human beings. While benefiting us, they challenge our sustainable development with various problems of product quality, health and hygiene caused by bacteria and moulds, thus attracting our attention.
Intertek Antimicrobial Testing Services
So, what factors are associated with the antimicrobial capacity of products? Do the antimicrobial products made by different manufacturers conform with the requirements of upstream buyers and related markets? To respond to this, Intertek in the new year has rolled out the following anti-bacterial and anti-mould testing services as an upgrade to its antimicrobial test capacity of consumer products. You are welcome to contact us to learn more detail.
| Test Method | Test Item | Applicable Material |
| AATCC100 | Anti-Bacterial test (Quantitative) | Textile fabric |
| AATCC147 | Anti-Bacterial test (Qualitative) | Textile fabric |
| ASTM E 2149 | Anti-Bacterial test (Quantitative) | Fabric, Paper, Powder, Granular or other Solid (surface treatment) |
| ASTM E 2180 | Anti-Bacterial test (Quantitative) | Polymeric or Hydrophobic Materials |
| ISO 22196 | Anti-Bacterial test (Quantitative) | Plastics and other nonporous surfaces |
| AATCC30(Ⅲ) | Mould Resistance test | Textile fabric |
| ASTM D 4576 | Mould Resistance test | Leather |
| ASTM G 21 | Mould Resistance test | Plastic/Synthetic Polymeric Material |
Empowering your products, Intertek safeguards your effort to win the market.
Business contact:
South China:
+86-755-2602 0099
+86-20-3210 2492
Northeast China:
+86-21-5339 6252
+86-22-8371 4973
About Intertek
Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.
