scope:

NEN-EN 16616 specifies a test method and the minimum requirements for the microbicidal activity of a defined disinfection process for the treatment of contaminated textile. This procedure is carried out by using a washing machine as defined in 5.3.2.18 and refers to the disinfection step without prewash. This procedure is not limited to certain types of textile. The suppliers instructions shall be sufficient to allow the method in the standard to be carried out fully (e.g. dosing disinfectant in whatever washing phase e.g. rinsing, disinfecting at 40 °C). This European Standard applies to areas and situations where disinfection is indicated. Such indications occur in patient care, for example: - in hospitals, in community medical facilities and in dental institutions; - in schools, kindergartens and nursing homes; - institutions where patients are accommodated, which could suffer from transmissible diseases; - other applications where hygienic treatment of textile is necessary (e.g. food processing, hotels, workwear e.g. from the pharmaceutical industry, laboratories, foodstuffs area or similar institutions). The method described is intended to determine the activity of a product or product combination under the conditions in which they are used. This is a phase 2, step 2 laboratory test that simulates the conditions of application of the product.