What is ISO 16603?
A laboratory test technique for assessing the penetration resistance of garment materials to blood and bodily fluids is described in ISO 16603:2004. Using the ISO 13994 test apparatus, this test technique uses synthetic blood in constant contact with the material specimen under a set of parameters.
This test procedure isn't always reliable when it comes to testing protective gear with thick inner liners that easily absorb synthetic blood.
Where do biological substances occur, what are they, and what diseases can they trigger?
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Sector |
Biological substances |
Possible diseases |
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Agriculture |
Moulds |
Allergies |
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Bacteria (actinomycetes) |
Farmer’s lung (EAA) |
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Microorganisms (e.g. Erwinia herbicola) |
Organic dust toxic syndrome (humidifier fever) |
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Bacteria (e.g. Listeria monocytogenes) Pathogens (e.g. Coxiella burnetii) Fungi (e.g. Dermatophytes) |
Zoonotic diseases (sickness transmitted from animals to humans), e.g. Q fever, listeriosis or skin mycoses |
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Handling of veterinary waste (e.g. waste separation/recycling facilities, composting facilities) |
Moulds (e.g. Aspergillus fumigatus) |
Allergies Aspergillosis, aspergilloma |
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Bacteria (Actimomycetes) |
Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) |
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Gram-negative bacteria |
Organic dust toxic syndrome (humidifier fever) |
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Enteric viruses, enteric bacteria |
Infections (e.g. gastroenteritis) |
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Wastewater treatment plants, sewer system work |
HAV virus |
Hepatitis A |
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Salmonella |
Salmonellosis |
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Echo, rota virus |
Enterovirosis (virus infection) |
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Bacteria (e.g. Leptospirosis) |
Leptospira interrogans |
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Hospitals, healthcare, laboratories, police, emergency services |
Ebola, Lassa |
Fevers |
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HIV virus |
AIDS |
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Bordetella pertussis |
Whooping cough |
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis |
Tuberculosis |
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HBV virus |
Hepatisis B |
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Food industry |
Moulds/yeast |
Allergies, skin irritations |
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Bacteria |
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Endotoxins |
Organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS) |
Screening pressure test: Resistance to penetration by blood and body fluids using synthetic blood – ISO 16603
The synthetic blood used for this test is a mixture of cellulose, colouring, buffer solution and stabilising agents. This is referred to as a "screening-test" and is used to predict the pressure at which the subsequent test, using bacteriophage contaminated media, can be expected to penetrate through the material.
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Class |
Exposure pressure [kPa] |
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6 |
20 |
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5 |
14 |
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4 |
7 |
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3 |
3,5 |
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2 |
1,75 |
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1 |
0 |