A new standardised test for disinfecting textiles in healthcare

The study’s aim is to definitively measure how many pathogens are killed by laundry washing processes - something that is critical in sustainable healthcare.

The test protocols were developed following a joint, four-year research project led by Professor Katie Laird at De Montfort University, UK.

A sample is made of inoculated fabric within a membrane that allows water and chemicals through but stops bacteria from escaping. This eases comparison between methods, specifically how effectively they kill bacteria present on textiles.

‘The idea for this project came about when manufacturers began introducing chemicals for cold washing,’ says Simon Fry, Textile Services Association board member. ‘While it's a great idea in terms of energy saving, it can introduce risks in terms of less effective disinfection, which is compounded if the traditional tests being used weren't giving accurate results.’

It is hoped that the test methodology will be incorporated within best practice standards, although no date for this has been given.

Laird's team will continue their research into improving hygiene in laundry, focusing on spores that are not killed thermally and biofilms that form inside laundry equipment.