EN 14079:2003

Non-active medical devices - Performance requirements and test methods for absorbent cotton gauze and absorbent cotton and viscose gauze

This standard describes the requirements and test methods for absorbent cotton gauze and absorbent cotton and viscose gauzes. The standard does not consider gauzes impregnated with a pharmaceutical substance.

Nichtaktive Medizinprodukte - Leistungsanforderungen und Prüfverfarhen für Verbandmull aus Baumwolle und Verbandmull aus Baumwolle und Viskose

Dispositifs médicaux non actifs - Exigences de performance et méthodes d'essais pour la gaze de coton absorbante et la gaze de coton et viscose absorbante

La présente Norme européenne décrit les exigences et les méthodes d'essai applicables à la gaze de coton absorbante et à la gaze de coton et viscose absorbante. Elle ne prend pas en considération les gazes imprégnées de substances pharmaceutiques.

Neaktivni medicinski pripomočki - Zahtevane lastnosti in preskusne metode za vpojno bombažno gazo in viskozno gazo

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 22-Apr-2003
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Oct-2003
• ICS: 11.120.20 - Wound dressings and compresses
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 205 - Non-active medical devices
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 205/WG 9 - Test methods for materials for use in compresses
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 28-Jan-2023
• Completion Date: 14-Apr-2025
• Directive: 93/42/EEC - Council Directive 93/42/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning medical devices
• Mandate: M/295 - Standardization mandate to CEN/CENELEC concerning the development of European standards relating to medical devices
• Ref Project: SIST EN 14079:2003 - Non-active medical devices - Performance requirements and test methods for absorbent cotton gauze and absorbent cotton and viscose gauze

Relations

• Revised: prEN 14079-2 - Non-active medical devices - Properties for compresses and wound packing products for medical use - Part 2: Test methods for absorbent cotton gauze and absorbent cotton and viscose gauze
• Effective Date: 19-Jan-2023
• Revised: prEN 14079-1 - Non-active medical devices - Properties for compresses and wound packing products for medical use - Part 1: Test methods and requirements for absorbent cotton gauze and absorbent cotton and viscose gauzes used in the manufacturing of compresses and wound packing products
• Effective Date: 22-Dec-2008

Overview - EN 14079:2003 (absorbent cotton gauze, CEN)

EN 14079:2003 is a CEN (European Committee for Standardization) standard that specifies performance requirements and test methods for non‑active medical devices: absorbent cotton gauze, absorbent cotton ribbon gauze, and absorbent cotton-and‑viscose ribbon gauze. It covers textile, physical and chemical acceptance criteria and corresponding laboratory test methods. The standard explicitly excludes gauzes impregnated with pharmaceutical substances. EN 14079 is based on European Pharmacopoeia monographs and supports essential requirements of the EU Medical Device Directive (93/42/EEC).

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard defines requirements and test procedures across textile, mechanical and chemical characteristics. Major topics include:

• Fibre identification (clause 4.1 / 5.2): microscopy and reagent IDENT tests to distinguish cotton and viscose fibres.
• Acidity/alkalinity (4.2 / 5.3): limits and test method to ensure no pink reaction.
• Foreign fibres & fluorescence (4.3–4.4 / 5.4–5.5): visual and fluorescence checks for contaminants.
• Thread count and construction (4.5 / 5.6): required warp/weft threads per 100 mm for gauze types (tables in the standard).
• Mass per square metre and minimum breaking load (4.6–4.7 / 5.7–5.8): gram‑per‑m² and tensile strength limits by gauze type.
• Sinking time (4.8 / 5.9): capillary wetting performance - max 10 s.
• Chemical purity tests (4.9–4.13 / 5.10–5.14): limits for ether‑soluble and water‑soluble substances, surface‑active substances (foam height), starch/dextrin, extractable colouring matter.
• Moisture and inorganic residue (loss on drying 4.14 / 5.15; sulphated ash 4.15 / 5.16): maximum allowable values by material type.
• Test reporting and normative annexes: procedures for preparation of test solutions and reference reagents (Annex A and B).

Applications and who uses EN 14079

• Medical device manufacturers - product specification, incoming inspection and quality control for absorbent gauzes.
• Contract testing laboratories - implement the standard test methods for conformity assessment.
• Regulatory affairs and compliance teams - demonstrate compliance with EU essential requirements (MDD 93/42/EEC).
• Procurement and hospital supply - use as a benchmark when specifying or evaluating non‑active wound dressings and gauze products.
• R&D and textile engineers - design and validate gauze constructions to meet thread count, absorbency and strength criteria.

Related standards and notes

• EN 14079 references the European Pharmacopoeia monographs as its technical basis and includes an informative Annex ZA addressing the link to EU Directive 93/42/EEC.
• Annexes A and B of EN 14079 are normative (reagents and preparation of test solution S).

Keywords: EN 14079:2003, absorbent cotton gauze, absorbent cotton and viscose gauze, CEN standard, test methods, performance requirements, non-active medical devices.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2003
1HDNWLYQLPHGLFLQVNLSULSRPRþNL=DKWHYDQHODVWQRVWLLQSUHVNXVQHPHWRGH]D
YSRMQRERPEDåQRJD]RLQYLVNR]QRJD]R
Non-active medical devices - Performance requirements and test methods for absorbent
cotton gauze and absorbent cotton and viscose gauze
Nichtaktive Medizinprodukte - Leistungsanforderungen und Prüfverfarhen für
Verbandmull aus Baumwolle und Verbandmull aus Baumwolle und Viskose
Dispositifs médicaux non actifs - Exigences de performance et méthodes d'essais pour
la gaze de coton absorbante et la gaze de coton et viscose absorbante
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 14079:2003
ICS:
11.120.20 Sanitetni materiali, obveze in Wound dressings and
komprese compresses
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 14079
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
April 2003
ICS 11.120.20
English version
Non-active medical devices - Performance requirements and
test methods for absorbent cotton gauze and absorbent cotton
and viscose gauze
Dispositifs médicaux non actifs - Exigences de Nichtaktive Medizinprodukte - Leistungsanforderungen und
performance et méthodes d'essais pour la gaze de coton Prüfverfarhen für Verbandmull aus Baumwolle und
absorbante et la gaze de coton et viscose absorbante Verbandmull aus Baumwolle und Viskose
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 21 February 2003.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Management Centre has the same status as the official
versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United
Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2003 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 14079:2003 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents page
Foreword.3
Introduction .4
1 Scope .5
2 Normative references .5
3 Terms and definitions.5
4 Requirements .5
4.1 Fibre Identification.5
4.2 Acidity and alkalinity .5
4.3 Foreign fibres .6
4.4 Fluorescence.6
4.5 Thread count .6
4.6 Mass per square metre.7
4.7 Minimum breaking load.7
4.8 Sinking time.7
4.9 Ether-soluble substances .7
4.10 Surface active substances.7
4.11 Water-soluble substances .7
4.12 Starch and dextrin .7
4.13 Extractable colouring matter .7
4.14 Loss on drying .7
4.15 Sulphated ash.8
5 Test methods.8
5.1 General.8
5.2 Fibre identification.8
5.3 Test method for acidity or alkalinity .9
5.4 Test method for foreign fibres.10
5.5 Test method for fluorescence.10
5.6 Test method for thread count.10
5.7 Test method for mass per square metre .10
5.8 Test method for minimum breaking load .10
5.9 Test method for sinking time.11
5.10 Test method for ether soluble substances .11
5.11 Test method for surface active substances.11
5.12 Test method for water-soluble substances.11
5.13 Test method for starch and dextrin.11
5.14 Test methods for extractable colouring matter .12
5.15 Test method for loss on drying .12
5.16 Test method for sulphated ash.12
6 Test report .12
Annex A (normative) Reagents to determine the degree of coloration of liquids.13
A.1 Primary solutions.13
A.2 Standard solutions .14
A.3 Reference solutions.14
Annex B (normative) Preparation of test solution S.17
Annex ZA (informative) Clauses of this European Standard addressing essential requirements or other
provisions of EU Directives. .18
Foreword
This document (EN 14079:2003) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN /TC 205, "Non-active medical
devices" the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or
by endorsement, at the latest by October 2003, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest
by October 2003.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the European
Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).
For relationship with EU Directive(s), see informative annex ZA, which is an integral part of this document.
This standard is based on the European Pharmacopoeia monographs. As charged by CEN/TC 205 it is a mere
reformatting of the monographs. It includes requirements and test methods as far as they are in line with the
essential requirements as defined in Annex I of the Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC. This standard does not
describe the full state of the art and therefore will be revised immediately after finalization.
Annexes A and B are normative.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Introduction
Absorbent cotton gauze, absorbent cotton ribbon gauze and absorbent cotton and viscose ribbon gauze were
described in the European Pharmacopoeia. Due to the introduction of the Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC,
those monographs have been removed from the European Pharmacopoeia.
1 Scope
This standard describes the requirements and test methods for absorbent cotton gauze and absorbent cotton and
viscose gauzes. The standard does not consider gauzes impregnated with a pharmaceutical substance.
2 Normative references
This standard contains no normative references
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this European Standard the following terms and definitions apply:
3.1
absorbent cotton gauze
cotton cloth of plain weave, bleached to a good white and purified, being white and practically odourless, containing
not more than slight traces of leaf, pericap seed-coat or other impurities and reasonably free from weaving defects
3.2
absorbent cotton ribbon gauze
woven cloth supplied in continuous ribbons of various widths with fast selvedges, made from cotton threads that
are purified, bleached and made absorbent either before or after weaving, being white and practically odourless,
containing not more than slight traces of leaf, pericap seed-coat or other impurities and reasonably free from
weaving defects
3.3
absorbent cotton and viscose ribbon gauze
woven cloth supplied in continuous ribbons of various widths with fast selvedges, having in the warp cotton threads
and in the weft viscose threads or combined cotton and viscose threads, made from threads that are purified,
bleached and made absorbent either before or after weaving, being white and practically odourless, containing not
more than slight traces of leaf, pericarp seed-coat or other impurities and reasonably free from weaving defects
4 Requirements
4.1 Fibre Identification
4.1.1 Absorbent cotton gauze and absorbent cotton ribbon gauze
When tested according to 5.2.1 the cotton fibres shall conform to the IDENT tests A, B and C.
4.1.2 Absorbent cotton and viscose ribbon gauze
When tested according to 5.2.2 the cotton fibres shall conform to the IDENT tests A and C and the viscose fibres
shall conform to IDENT test B.
If it is necessary to differentiate between lustrous or matt viscose, the IDENT test D shall be used.
4.2 Acidity and alkalinity
When tested according to 5.3 neither solution shall be pink.
4.3 Foreign fibres
When tested according to 5.4 the cotton and viscose fibres shall conform to 5.4, only occasionally a few isolated
foreign fibres being allowed.
4.4 Fluorescence
When tested according to 5.5 the cotton and viscose gauzes shall conform to 5.5.
4.5 Thread count
When tested according to 5.6 the thread counts per 100 mm shall be as given in Table 1 and Table 2.
Table 1 — Textile and physical requirements for absorbent cotton gauze
Type (number Threads in Minimum Threads in weft Minimum Minimum
of threads per warp per 100 breaking load per 100 mm breaking mass in g/m
cm ) mm in Newton per load in
50 mm warp Newton per
way 50 mm weft
way
12 73 ± 4 - 45 ± 4 - 13,0
13 light 73 ± 4 - 57 ± 4 - 14,0
13 heavy 70 ± 4 35 60 ± 4 20 17,0
17 100 ± 5 50 70 ± 4 30 23,0
18 100 ± 5 50 80 ± 5 30 24,0
20 120 ± 6 60 80 ± 5 35 27,0
22 120 ± 6 60 100 ± 5 40 30,0
24 a 120 ± 6 60 120 ± 6 50 32,0
24 b 140 ± 6 70 100 ± 6 40 32,0
Table 2 — Textile and physical requirements for absorbent cotton ribbon gauze and absorbent cotton and
viscose ribbon gauze
Type (number of Threads in warp Minimum breaking Threads in weft per Minimum mass
2 2
threads per cm ) per 100 mm load in Newton per 100 mm in g/m
50 mm warp way
a
22 a 120 ± 3 60 100 ± 5 33,5
a
22 b 120 ± 3 60 100 ± 5 44,0
a
24 a 120 ± 3 60 120 ± 6 36,0
The limits are increased to ± 4 for ribbon gauze 25 mm or 50 mm wide and to ± 8 for ribbon gauze
a
12,5 mm wide.
4.6 Mass per square metre
When tested according to 5.7 the mass per square metre in grams shall be as given in Table 1 and Table 2.
4.7 Minimum breaking load
When tested according to 5.8 the minimum breaking load in Newton per 50 mm shall be as given in Table 1 and
Table 2.
4.8 Sinking time
When tested according to 5.9 the sinking time shall not exceed 10 s.
4.9 Ether-soluble substances
When tested according to 5.10 the amount of ether-soluble substances shall not be more than 0,50 % .
4.10 Surface active substances
When tested according to 5.11 the froth height above the surface of the liquid after 300 s shall not exceed 2 mm.
4.11 Water-soluble substances
When tested according to 5.12 the amount of water-soluble substances shall not be more than 0,50 % .
4.12 Starch and dextrin
When tested according to 5.13 the solution shall not show any blue, violet, reddish or brownish colour.
4.13 Extractable colouring matter
When tested according to 5.14 the liquid obtained shall not be more intensely coloured than reference solution Y ,
GY or a reference solution prepared as follows: to 3,0 ml of blue primary solution add 7,0 ml of hydrochloric acid
(1 % m/V HCl) and dilute 0,5 ml of this solution to 10,0 ml with hydrochloric acid (1 % m/V HCl).
NOTE See annex A for reference solutions.
4.14 Loss on drying
When tested according 5.15 the loss of mass shall not be more than 8,0 %.
4.15 Sulphated ash
When tested according to 5.16 the amount of sulphated ash shall be as given in Table 3.
Table 3 — Sulphated ash for different materials
Material Sulphated ash
Absorbent cotton gauze shall not exceed 0,40 %
Absorbent cotton gauze Type 13 light shall not exceed 0,75 %
Absorbent cotton and matt viscose ribbon gauze shall not exceed 1,20 %
Absorbent cotton and lustrous viscose ribbon gauze shall not exceed 0,45 %
5 Test methods
5.1 General
All tests shall be performed with the material in its final form i.e. sterile or non-sterile.
All reagents used shall be of analytical grade.
NOTE The preparation of test solution S is given in annex B.
5.2 Fibre identification
5.2.1 Absorbent cotton gauze and absorbent cotton ribbon gauze
5.2.1.1 Reagents
a) Zinc chloride solution, iodinated: Dissolve 20 g ± 0,5 g of zinc chloride and 6,5 g ± 0,1 g of potassium iodide
in 10,5 ml ± 0,1 ml of water. Add 0,5 g ± 0,05 g of iodine and shake for 15 min. Filter if necessary. Store
protected from light.
b) Zinc chloride-formic acid solution: Dissolve 20 g ± 0,5 g of zinc chloride in 80 g ± 1 g of an 85 % m/V
solution of anhydrous formic acid.
5.2.1.2 Tests
Untwist a few threads in the warp and in the weft to free a few of the fibres to be examined and carry out IDENT
tests A, B and C.
IDENT A: When examined under a microscope, the cotton fibre shall be flat, ribbon-like, 10 μm to 40 μm wide, with
thickened ends and an
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