AATCC 174 Carpet Antimicrobial Activity Evaluation

The AATCC 174 standard has been developed by the American Textile Chemists and Colorists Association (AATCC) to explain a test method applied to test the antimicrobial activity of new carpet materials. The full name of this standard is as follows: AATCC 174 Antimicrobial activity assessment of carpets.

Three procedures are offered in the test method in question:

• Test I: Qualitative assessment of antibacterial activity
• Test II: Quantitative evaluation of antibacterial activity
• Test III: Qualitative antifungal evaluation

Test I is very similar to the test method presented in the AATCC 147 standard or the inhibition site test method. Here, however, the test sample is placed in a single bacterial line rather than multiple lines or grass.

Test II is similar to the test method with a set vaccine volume presented in the AATCC 100 standard.

Test III is similar to the third test method presented in the AATCC 30 standard, with a carpet facing plate and the other facing down.

The strengths of AATCC 174 test methods can be listed as follows: This method evaluates the antibacterial and antifungal activity of carpets. Test I is faster and more economical for antimicrobial activity than other lab tests. Test II is quantitative and results tend to be reproducible. In Test III, the test substance comes into contact with many spores.

Weaknesses of AATCC 174 test methods can be listed as follows: This method does not specify the transition criteria. In other words, whether the carpet is antimicrobial or not is decided by the sponsor company. Test I has some natural variations and microbial inhibition sites do not always have clear or regular limits.

Today, detailed tests of antibacterial, antifungal and anti-algae surfaces and coatings are carried out in developed laboratories.

Antimicrobial activity assessment test services of AATCC 174 Carpets are also provided by our organization within the framework of laboratory testing services.