ISO 16603
ISO 16603 describes determination of the resistance of protective clothing materials to blood and body fluids using synthetic blood as the test liquid.
Test principle: a material specimen is clamped in a test cell and exposed to synthetic blood on one side. Hydrostatic pressure is increased in steps and the pressure at which liquid becomes visible on the reverse side is recorded.
Classification: six performance levels from Class 1 to Class 6, corresponding to increasing test pressures from 0 kPa to 20 kPa. Higher classes indicate greater barrier performance.
Interplay with ISO 16604: ISO 16603 works purely visually with synthetic blood and demonstrates no viral barrier. Its result determines the pressure at which testing with bacteriophage under ISO 16604 is to be carried out.
Context: both methods form part of the test framework of EN 14126 for protective clothing against infective agents.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly does ISO 16603 test?
The resistance of a protective clothing material to penetration by synthetic blood under hydrostatic pressure. Assessment is visual: the pressure at which liquid appears on the reverse side of the material.
How does ISO 16603 differ from ISO 16604?
ISO 16603 tests visually with synthetic blood and demonstrates no viral barrier. ISO 16604 uses the bacteriophage Phi-X174 as a surrogate and thereby evidences the barrier against blood-borne pathogens.
Which classes does ISO 16603 define?
Six classes assigned to increasing test pressures from 0 kPa to 20 kPa. Class 6 corresponds to the highest pressure tested and therefore the strongest barrier performance.