Overview
ISO 18184:2025 - Textiles - Determination of antiviral activity of textile products (3rd edition) specifies standardized, quantitative laboratory methods for measuring the antiviral activity of textile products. It applies to woven, knitted and non‑woven fabrics, cotton, fibres, yarns, braids, feathers and related textile materials. This edition updates the antiviral‑activity calculation, adds a dedicated SARS‑CoV‑2 test method (Annex B) and expands guidance on media and virus/host cell examples.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and biosafety: Defines the scope and warns that infectious viruses are used; appropriate biosafety and legal obligations apply.
- Principle and test flow: Procedures cover specimen preparation, virus deposition, defined contacting time, wash‑out of virus, serial dilution and measurement of remaining infective virus.
- Infectivity titre determination: Two principal quantification methods are specified - plaque assay and TCID (tissue culture infectious dose). Annexes provide detailed plaque and TCID procedures and alternatives (e.g., SPF embryonated hen’s eggs).
- Virus and host‑cell guidance: Examples and recommended virus/host cell systems are listed (Annex A, F) and Annex B provides a SARS‑CoV‑2 method.
- Apparatus, sterilization and reagents: Requirements for equipment, sterilization and media composition (Annex E includes DMEM) are provided.
- Data analysis and reporting: Methods for calculating infectivity titres (including Behrens and Karber for TCID) and the calculation of antiviral activity value are specified; interlaboratory results and performance guidance are given (Annexes H, I–K).
- Test documentation: Mandatory reporting items and criteria for judging antiviral efficacy are described.
Practical applications - who uses ISO 18184:2025
- Textile manufacturers and R&D teams validating antiviral finishes, coatings or inherent antiviral fibres.
- Independent testing laboratories performing standardized antiviral assays for product claims and regulatory compliance.
- Brand owners and retailers needing objective performance data for marketing and procurement decisions.
- Regulators and certification bodies assessing manufacturer claims for health‑protective textile products.
- Healthcare and institutional procurement teams evaluating antiviral textiles for use in clinical or high‑risk environments.
Related standards and context
- Prepared by ISO/TC 38 (Textiles) and aligned with ISO/IEC Directives for standards development.
- Implementers should also consult national biosafety regulations and applicable textile testing standards when applying ISO 18184:2025.
Keywords: ISO 18184:2025, antiviral textile testing, antiviral activity of textiles, plaque assay, TCID, SARS‑CoV‑2 textile test, textile testing standard.
