Germany based, The Hohenstein Institute now offers allergen-resistance testing of mattress and bed covers using real dust mite excrement as an accredited service.
In the test, all components of the encasing or what is called the textile surface, the edge seams and the zip fastener, are covered with dust mite excrement and the movements of someone sleeping on it for eight hours are simulated.
Hohenstein informs, "The volume of allergens from the dust mite excrement that passes through the textile, seams or zip of the encasing is measured."
This allows exact information to be obtained for the first time about whether the critical level of two micrograms of allergen – what is called the sensitisation threshold – is exceeded during the night, thereby posing a risk for allergy-sufferers.
For the manufacturers of mattress covers, testing the seam, textile and zip separately has the advantage of allowing the weak points in a product to be identified so that they can be rectified.
Jeffrey Miller, Member of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, says, "We were happy to have our allergen-barrier encasings studied by the Hohenstein Institute."
"The studies performed on our allergen barrier encasings by the Hohenstein Institute confirmed the impermeability of the encasing fabric and seams to the dust mite allergen," he added
The Hohenstein scientists in the department of Hygiene, Environment & Medicine endorse materials that have been tested for allergen-resistance with the "House dust and mite barrier" quality label.
The label can be awarded to encasings which have been proven to keep the dust mite allergen 'Der P1' away from a sleeping person so effectively that the sensitisation threshold is not reached during any phase of their sleep.
This provides allergy-sufferers with a reliable aid to decision-making when they are selecting a medically-tested mattress or bed cover.
"Businesses in the hospitality industry, such as technically advanced hotels can now benefit from this testing," Hohenstein says.
The Hohenstein quality label can now be used for the benefit of customers to highlight bedding that is suitable for allergy-sufferers in that it has passed a realistic test and really minimises the risk of an allergic reaction in sufferers from dust mite allergy.
The Hohenstein Institute can now award the "House dust and dust mite barrier" quality label to encasings that have been tested for their allergen-resistance.
The Hohenstein Institute is one of the few laboratories in the world that is able to carry out tests with living dust mites and their allergy-inducing excrement.
