The growing number and severity of healthcare association infections has increased interest in standardization efforts for antimicrobial gloves. In order to explore this area, ASTM International Committee D11 on Rubber has created a new task group on antimicrobial medical gloves. Glove suppliers, manufacturers and distributors, as well as contract test labs, government agency representatives and infection control practitioners are invited to participate in the task group, which is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D11.40 on Consumer Rubber Products.

According to Wava Truscott, Kimberly-Clark Healthcare, and leader of the new task group, topics to be addressed for development of standard test methods include the following:

-Defining critical test parameters;
-Identifying appropriate test microorganisms;
-Methods of challenge application;
-Neutralization;
-Calculating time to inactivation;
-Ensuring incorporation of organic substances to represent blood, tissue, etc.;
-Considering varying points of view from users, agencies, manufacturers, test labs,
etc.; and
-Expiration dating: before opening and after opening box.

Users of standards developed by the new task group will include glove manufacturers and distributors, researchers, marketers, regulators, Food and Drug Administration reviewers, purchasing agents and test laboratories. Standards developed by the task group will allow for side-by-side comparisons of gloves for manufacturers, users, purchasers and the FDA.

ASTM International standards are available from Customer Service (phone: 610-832-9585; https://www.astm.org/contact) or at www.astm.org. For technical Information, contact Wava Truscott, Kimberly-Clark Corp., Roswell, Ga. (phone: 770-587-8805; wava.truscott@kcc.com.)  Committee D11 meets Dec. 8-11 during the December committee week in Miami Beach, Fla. For ASTM meeting or membership information, contact Joe Koury, ASTM International (phone: 610-832-9804; jkoury@astm.org).
 

Release #8113/Dec08