For over 14 years the IHB has specialized in testing the antibacterial effect of textiles for compliance with various international standards. The Hygiene Department is now able to test the antimicrobial effectiveness not only of flexible materials (textiles and fibers) but also of liquids and solids, from varnish, paint and plaster coatings to plasticized and metallic surfaces.

According to reports from the World Health Organisation, viruses have been gaining ground for over 30 years. In order to break the chain of infection, in certain public places products are given an antiviral treatment, for example roller towels in the toilets at public facilities, or articles used in hospitals. Although viruses do not have their own metabolism and cannot reproduce outside of the host cells, many scientific studies have shown that viruses can be transmitted via clothing and utensils.

The aim of antiviral treatments is to make the virus particles inactive, so that they no longer pose a risk of infection.

The technical principles on which researchers base their work are international standards such as DIN EN ISO 20743 (modified to apply to testing antiviral textiles) and ISO 22196 (modified to apply to testing textile surfaces and products in everyday use). The virus chosen to use in testing for the effectiveness of treated textiles and surfaces was the harmless virus MS2, an apathogenic bacteriophage. Because of its particle structure and its environmental stability and disinfectability, this surrogate virus is similar to clinically relevant non-enveloped viruses. It is therefore suitable for using as a test virus.

As well as antiviral treatments, everyday items are increasingly being given antimicrobial treatments to give long-term protection. The idea is that harmful bacteria and fungi should be killed where they pose a danger, either to prevent pathogens being transmitted, or to prevent the formation of unpleasant smells or permanent stains. In the past, the Hohenstein researchers had successfully treated the surfaces of sanitary products to increase resistance to legionella and of dental products to resist caries-causing bacteria. Now that there is also a system for assessing antiviral effectiveness, the IHB should be regarded as the ideal expert partner for the development and testing of hygiene-related products.