Overview
ISO 13629-1:2025 - Textiles - Determination of antifungal activity of textile products - Part 1: Luminescence method, specifies a quantitative test method that measures antifungal activity of textile products by detecting luminescence from an enzymatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) reaction. The method applies to a wide range of textile items including fibres, yarns, fabrics, clothing, bedclothes, home furnishings and miscellaneous textile goods. This second edition (2025) updates the 2012 edition and refines reagent and procedural details for laboratory testing.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Principle: Quantification of viable fungal biomass via ATP-driven luminescence; signal intensity correlates to fungal presence.
- Test scope: Applicable to many textile forms and finishes to assess antifungal performance.
- Sample preparation methods: Defines both an absorption method and a transfer method for inoculating test specimens.
- Reagents and media: Specifications for luminescent reagents, ATP standards, extraction and ATP-eliminating reagents, culture media (e.g., Sabouraud and potato dextrose media) and sterile surfactant solutions.
- Fungal handling: Reference fungi, preservation, spore suspension preparation (filtering, centrifugation, concentration adjustment) and use are specified.
- Calibration and measurement: Procedures to prepare an ATP calibration curve, incubation conditions, and luminescence measurement steps using appropriate instrumentation.
- Calculations and judgment: Methods for calculating antifungal activity values, validating test effectiveness (control specimens), and reporting results.
- Safety and quality: Warnings, apparatus requirements, and test report content are outlined to ensure reproducible, accredited testing.
- Notable updates: This edition includes corrections and procedural clarifications (for example, adjustments to enzymatic reagent content and added procedural steps).
Applications and who uses it
- Product development & R&D: Textile manufacturers and formulators use ISO 13629-1:2025 to screen antifungal finishes and treatments.
- Quality assurance & compliance: QA labs and independent test laboratories apply the method to verify antifungal claims and batch consistency.
- Regulatory & procurement: Procurement teams, certification bodies and regulators use standardized results for material selection and conformity assessment.
- Healthcare, hospitality, and home textiles: Stakeholders assessing textiles for reduced fungal growth (mildew, mold) benefit from standardized, rapid ATP-based testing.
Related standards
- ISO 20743 (antibacterial activity of textiles) - referenced in the development context.
- ISO 105‑F02 - referenced normative document for control specimens and adjacent fabrics.
- Other parts of the ISO 13629 series (for additional antifungal test methods) where applicable.
Keywords: ISO 13629-1:2025, antifungal activity, textiles, ATP luminescence method, luminescent reagents, spore suspension, antifungal testing, textile standards.