Medical Water Laboratory Testing: Immersion
Water testing evaluates how plastics, coatings, fabrics, and other materials absorb moisture or resist penetration when exposed to water, saline, or bodily fluids. The tests typically involve immersion, spraying, or hydrostatic pressure while measuring changes in weight, dimensions, appearance, and barrier performance. For medical manufacturers, strong water resistance and controlled absorption are essential to maintain dimensional stability, barrier integrity, and long-term functionality in tubing, seals, gowns, drapes, and device components.
In clinical settings, materials constantly encounter water, irrigation fluids, disinfectants, and bodily fluids. Excessive absorption can cause swelling, warping, or loss of mechanical properties, while poor resistance can lead to fluid strike-through or coating failure. Applus+ Reliable Analysis already maintains accredited capabilities for water absorption, immersion, repellency, and resistance testing across a wide range of materials, providing a solid foundation for medical product evaluations.
These assessments support key performance standards for surgical gowns, sterile barriers, catheters, and reusable components. Manufacturers use water-related data to select and qualify materials that deliver consistent performance, reduce infection risks, and meet regulatory expectations for safety and durability. Applus+ Reliable Analysis delivers precise, reproducible results using equipment already operating daily under our ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.
Common Water Medical Testing Standards
ASTM D570 for Water Absorption of Plastics
ASTM D570 measures the water absorption of plastics by immersing conditioned specimens in water for a specified time and temperature, then determining the percentage increase in mass. The method can include 24-hour immersion, long-term immersion, or boiling conditions to simulate different service environments. Medical manufacturers use this test to evaluate dimensional stability and performance of plastics in tubing, seals, housings, and components that come into contact with water, saline, irrigation fluids, or bodily fluids during use or sterilization.
ISO 62 Plastics Determination of Water Absorption
ISO 62 specifies procedures for determining the water absorption of plastics through immersion in water under controlled conditions, with measurements of mass change after specified periods. The standard covers both short-term and long-term exposure to provide a comprehensive view of moisture uptake behavior. It is essential for medical-grade polymers used in catheters, connectors, flexible components, and device housings where resistance to swelling or dimensional change is required for consistent performance and biocompatibility.
ASTM D751 Coated Fabrics
ASTM D751 includes multiple procedures for assessing water resistance of coated fabrics, such as hydrostatic pressure, spray, and immersion tests. These methods evaluate how well the coating and base fabric prevent water penetration under various conditions. It is widely applied to medical vinyl leather, coated barrier materials, exam table covers, transfer sheets, and positioning aids where reliable water resistance supports cleanability and protection in healthcare environments.
AAMI PB70 / ASTM F2407 Water Resistance Requirements for Surgical Gowns and Drapes
AAMI PB70, supported by ASTM F2407, defines performance levels for surgical gowns and drapes and includes water resistance as a critical barrier property. The standards combine hydrostatic pressure, spray, and impact tests to classify materials according to their ability to resist fluid penetration. This combined approach helps ensure gowns and drapes provide appropriate protection against blood, irrigation fluids, and other liquids encountered during surgical procedures.
Professional Experts in Testing Water Resistance
Reliable Analysis stands ready to support your medical material water absorption, resistance, and barrier testing needs. Our ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratory already maintains the necessary immersion chambers, hydrostatic equipment, and evaluation capabilities, allowing us to efficiently add these medical standards with only minor validation and training.
Whether you are developing new tubing and catheters, validating gowns and drapes, or qualifying coated components, our team provides accurate and reliable data backed by decades of materials testing expertise. We invite you to Contact us to discuss how our expanded medical testing capabilities can support your next project or regulatory submission.
Additional Applus+ Reliable Analysis’ Commercial Medical Testing Capabilities
Whether it be material EMC, environmental, fabrication, or durability testing, Applus+ Reliable Analysis has a full lab of test equipment, which permits us to provide short lead times on scheduling. Our team strives to give our customers more time and energy on product development rather than testing.
Below is a list of common medical testing types that Reliable Analysis offers. Don’t see what you are looking for? Contact us, and we will determine the best course of action.
