Anti-Fungal Test

The anti-fungal property of textile products is critical during logistics and storage. Fungus, mold or mildew can easily grow on damp and moist clothes, especially during the monsoon season, and diminish the integrity of the product and present a hazard to health.

Certain fungi, including Aspergillus niger, can grow on textile products without causing measurable breaking strength loss within a laboratory experimental time frame.

Anti-fungal is the ability to prevent fungus from growing to avoid fungal infections. It is determined by the efficiency of microbial control of mold based on qualitative methods. It can be evaluated through the option of testing with or without 3% glucose in the agar. The glucose in the agar simulated exposure of the sample to soiling conditions as might be encountered during use.

Anti-fungal feature of clothing and footwear can prevent the growth of fungi on products during the shipment process, which can cause damage. It can also help avoid the fungal and mold issue that cause skin allergy / unwanted skin conditions. The lifespan of product can be extended with better durability after laundering / storage in humid environment.

Anti-fungal property can be tested by below procedures:

1. Prepare an agar with glucose as the test media. Distribute evenly a specified volume of inoculum over the surface of the agar.
2. Pre-wet the specimen but do not rub, squeeze, or agitate in water. Absorbent specimens should be damp but not saturated.
3. Place the specimen on the agar surface over the inoculum.
4. Incubate all specimens at a specified temperature for specified days.
5. Observe the growth of the fungal.
6. Report the growth in rating:
   - No growth (rating 0)
   - Growth less than 10% (rating 1)
   - Light growth 10-30% (rating 2)
   - Medium growth 30-60% (rating 3)
   - Heavy growth 60% to complete coverage (rating 4)

The applicable methods for anti-fungal testing include:

• AATCC 30 III

• AATCC G21