As a medical device, textiles used in operating theatres have to be conform with the requirements of the European Medical Devices Regulation 2017/745.
They are tested according to EN 13795 -- Surgical drapes, gowns and clean air suits, used as medical devices for patients, clinical staff and equipment.

Centexbel is fully equipped to analyse these PPE and is a worldwide acknowledged expert in the evaluation of protective clothing against these infectious diseases.

Resistance to bacterial growth

To assess the health and safety risks linked with the skin contact with medical devices, Centexbel examines their toxic effect on the skin (cytotoxicity, irritation, sensitivity,…) according to ISO 10993-5 “Biological evaluation of medical devices – part 5 - cytotoxicity : in vitro methods”

Flow cytometry is a laser- or impedance-based, biophysical technology employed in cell counting, cell sorting, bio-marker detection and protein engineering, by suspending cells in a stream of fluid and passing them by an electronic detection apparatus. It allows simultaneous multi-parametric analysis of the physical and chemical characteristics of up to thousands of particles per second.

Methods based on the PCR technique (polymerase chain reaction) can differentiate between wool, cashmere, yak wool and their blends and detect GMO cotton.