Test method
AATCC 100 antibacterial textile testing
AATCC 100 is the quantitative standard for antibacterial finishes on textiles: it measures how much a treated fabric reduces live bacteria over a contact period, compared against an untreated control. Buyers ask for it when a textile product makes an antibacterial claim.
- Result
- Percentage reductionA quantitative number, not a pass/fail zone
- Organisms
- Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniaeBy default
- Asked for by
- US brands, typicallyJapanese buyers: JIS L 1902. European buyers often accept ISO 20645
- Pairs with
- ASTM E3162If the claim has to survive washing
- Turnaround
- 14–30 daysDate confirmed before you ship
The test in four steps
Drawn as a schematic, not photographed at our bench. The drawings show the sequence; the conditions are the standard's.
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Treated and control
Treated fabric and, where possible, the same fabric untreated as a control.
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Inoculate
The swatches are inoculated with the test organisms.
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Incubate in contact
The organisms are incubated in contact with the fabric over a contact period.
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Count and compare
The organisms are counted. The result is a percentage reduction against the untreated control.
Solid green outline: treated. Dashed gray outline: untreated control. Green dots: the organisms.
What the test involves
Fabric swatches are inoculated with the test organisms — by default Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae — incubated in contact with the material, then counted. The result is a percentage reduction versus the untreated control. A quantitative number, not a pass/fail zone.
If the claim has to survive washing, the specimens are laundered to ASTM E3162 first and this test is then run on the laundered fabric. Most durability claims are made that way, and the pair comes back as one report.
We run AATCC 100 in our BSL-2 laboratory in Bandung, certified annually by the International Antimicrobial Council (USA) and participating in AATCC's PTP4 antibacterial proficiency program.
What you receive
- An independent test report in IAC or AATCC format
- Results per organism, against the untreated control
- A certificate your customers, auditors, and procurement teams can verify
Common questions
When do I need AATCC 100 rather than ISO 20645 or JIS L 1902?
Mostly it depends on your buyer. US brands typically ask for AATCC 100, Japanese buyers for JIS L 1902, European buyers often accept ISO 20645. We'll match the method to the claim and the market before testing starts.
What samples do I send?
Treated fabric and, where possible, the same fabric untreated as a control. We'll confirm sizes and quantities when you book.
Does the result still hold after the garment is washed?
Not unless you test for it. AATCC 100 on an unwashed specimen says what the fabric does when it leaves the mill. To claim that the finish survives washing, the specimens are laundered to ASTM E3162 for the number of cycles your claim needs and this test is run afterwards — same method, laundered fabric, and the report states both.
Is the result a certification?
You receive an independent test report from a certified laboratory. Whether it satisfies a specific label or program depends on the claim — tell us the claim and we'll tell you what it needs.
How long does it take?
14–30 days, depending on the method and the current queue in the lab. We confirm the date when we accept the sample, before you ship anything.
Related methods
Not sure which one your buyer wants? Send us the specification and we will read it with you before any sample ships.
Book an AATCC 100 test
Tell us the product and the claim. We'll confirm the method, the samples we need, and what the report will contain.