KENYA STANDARD                  DKS 2796 :2017  
……………..  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Disposable Nursing  Pad – Specification  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  KEBS 2017      First Edition 2017 
 
  
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION  
 
 
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
 
InterConsumer Products Ltd   
Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute   
Kenya Medical Association  
Kenya Medical Supplies Authority  
Kimberly Clark  
KIM FAY East Africa Ltd  
Ministry of Health – Public health  
Ministry of Health – Nursing    
Nairobi Enterprises  Limited  
National Environmental Management Authority  
Radbone Clark  
The Nairobi Hospital  
University of Nairobi – School of Medicine  
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
 
In order keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya standards shall be regularly reviewed. Suggestion for 
improvements to published standards addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, 
are welcome.  
 
 
© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 2016 
 
Copyright. Users are reminded that by virtue of section of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130 of the Laws of Kenya, copyright subsis ts in all 
Kenya Standards and except as provided under section 7 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bureau of Standar ds 
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any without prior permission in writing from th e Managing 
Director.  
  
© KEBS 2017 — All rights reserved  1  
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Draft Standard               
 
 
 
 
 
Disposable Nursing Pad – Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KENYA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (KEBS)  
 
Head Office :  P.O. Box 54974, Nairobi -00200, Tel.: (+254  020) 605490, 602350, Fax: (+254 020)  604031  
E-Mail: info@kebs.org,  Web:http://www.kebs.org  
 
Coast Region     Lake Region          Rift Valley Region  
P.O. Box 99376, Mombasa -80100   P.O. Box 2949, Kisumu -40100        P.O. Box 2138, Nakuru -20100  
Tel.: (+254  041) 229563, 230939/40  Tel.: (+254 057) 23549, 22396        Tel.: (+254 051) 210553, 210555  
Fax: (+ 254 041 ) 229448    Fax: (+254 057) 21814   
 Foreword  
 
 
This Kenya standard has been prepared by the Technical Committee on Towels, Medical and 
Hygienic Textile Products under the guidance of the Standards Project Committee, and it is in 
accordance with the procedures of the Kenya Bureau of Standards.  
 
During  the period  of pregnancy  and lactation , breast milk may leak . Breast pads  
help  to absorb  milk  and prevent soiling of clothes . This  standard specifies requirements for 
nursing pads . 
 
In preparation of this Kenya Standard reference was made to  
 
AATCC 90 -1982, Standard test method for measuring antimicrobial of textile materials”  
AATCC (1700a) Standard test method for measuring for determini ng the roughness, (1700a  
ASTM -D 737 - 1996 “Standard test method for determining the air permeability of tex tile materials”   
AATCC, D -79-1968 Standard test method for measuring water absor ption of textile materials 
ASTM -D 1777 - 1996, “Standard test method for measuring thickness of textile materials  
 
 
Acknowledgment is hereby made for the assistance received fr om these sources.  
 
 
 
 
  
   
© KEBS 2017 — All rights reserved  3 KENYA STANDARD                 
 
 
1.0 SCOPE  
This Kenyan St andard specifies minimum requirements for disposable  nursing pads  for external 
use. 
 
2.0 Normative References  
 
The following standards were used as normative references.  
 
KS 08 -32, Conditions for the testing of textiles  
KS ISO 3071:2005 Determination of pH of aqueous extract of textiles  
KS ISO 9073 -6:2000 Absorption  
KS 2659:2016 Packaging of textile Products -Code of practice (First Edition)  
KS ISO 21149:2006 -Microbiology -- Enumeration and detection of aerobic mesophilic bacteria  
KS ISO 22717:2015 - Microbiology - Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.  
KS ISO 22718:2015 - Microbiology - Detection of Staphylococcus aureus.  
KS ISO 18416:2015 - Microbiology - Detection of Candida albicans.  
KS ISO 21150:2015 - Microbiology - Detection of Escherichia coli.  
 
3.0 Definitions  
 
For the purpose of this standard, the following definitions shall apply:  
3.1 Non-woven  
A fabric -like material made from long fibers, bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or 
solvent treatment. The term is used in the textile manufacturing industry to denote fabrics, such 
as felt, which are neither woven nor knitted.  
3.2 Absorbent filler : the material at the core of the nursing pad  that absorbs fluids .  
3.3 Rewet : The  mass of test solution which returns to surface under specific pressure after a 
certain amount of that being absorbed by the specimen.  
3.4 Breast Pads:  synonym for nursing pads.  
  
 4.0 REQUIRMENTS  
 
4.1 Materials  
The materials used for making the disposable nursing pad  shall n ot harm the skin.  
4.1.1 Absorbent filler   
4.1.1.1  The filler  material, such as cellulose pulp, cellulose wadding,  tissue, cotton,  soft virgin fluff 
ideally should avoid skin reactions  
4.1.1.2 Shall be of material that helps absorption, and shall have no harmful effect.   
4.1.1.3  Shall be clean, free from harmful foreign materials, lumps, splits, holes and protruding 
points when visually examined.   
4.1.2 Top Sheet  (the l ayer which is in  contact with the skin)     
4.1.2.2 Shall be of  material that  cover s the absorbent filler completely .  
4.1.2.3 Shall have fine ventilative property that keeps the skin dry and comfortable.   
4.1.2.4 Shall be of material that  prevents  direct contact of the absorbent filler to the skin or clothes 
under normal handling.   
4.1.2.5 Shall be of non-woven material that is able to prevent backflow to the skin.   
 
5.0 MANUFACTURE,  
5.1 The absorbent filler material shall be arranged and neatly cut in the required size of the nursing 
pad and form  a uniform thickness throughout, without any wrinkle or distortion.  
5.1.1 The absorbent filler material shall be placed in the covering in such a  way that it does not 
cause lump formation as a result of sudden pressure.  
5.1.2 the absorbent filler material shall be arranged in a manner that will draw in and trap all 
moisture rapidly and efficie ntly. 
5.1.3 The covering fabric  of the nursing  pad shall cover the filler completely.  
5.1.4 The nursing pad shall have a securing mechanism to  ensure the pad  stays in place  on the 
bra. 
 
6.2 WORKMANSHIP AND FINISH  
6.2.1 The disposable nursing  pad shall not chafe.  
6.2.2 The disposable nursing pad shall  be free from all sorts of foreign matter .  
6.2.3  The disposable nursing pad  shall have no unpleasant odour either in dry state immediately 
after sampling  from the packages or after wetting the sample with distilled water.  
 
  
© KEBS 2017 — All rights reserved  5 7.0 PERFORMANCE REQUIR EMENTS  
The Disposable nursing pad shall comply with the performan ce requirements given in Table 1  
when tested in accordance with the methods specified therein.  
 Table 1  
Characteristic  Unit  Requirement  Test Method  
Rewet  (max)  g 5.2 Annex B 
Liquid  Absorptive 
capacity (min)  g 74   Annex A  
pH  4.0-7.5 KS ISO 3071:2005  
Quantity  No of 
pieces  As declared  Sensory  
Florescence of filler 
material   None   KS EAS 96:2008  
Air Permeability    KS ISO 9073 -15 
:2007  
Securing mechanism   Present  Sensory  
7.1 Microbiological limits  
The Disposable nursing pad shall comply with the microbiological limits given in Table 2  when 
tested in accordance with the methods specified therein.  
Table 2  
 Characteristic  Unit  Requirement  Test Method  
Total Viable Count  cfu/g  100 KS ISO 21149:2006  
Pseudomonas 
aeruginosa   Not detectable per gram of sample  KS ISO 22717:2015  
Staphylococcus 
aureus   Not detectable per gram of sample  KS ISO 22718:2015  
 
Candida albicans   Not detectable per gram of sample  KS ISO 18416:2015  
E.coli   Not detectable per gram of sample  KS ISO 21150:2015  
 
   
 8.0 PACKAGING  
8.1 Shall be done in accordance with  KS 2659:2016  - Packaging of textile products - Code of   
practice.  
8.2 Primary Package  
8.2.1 Disposable nursing  pads shall be supplied in packages made of suitable materials, which 
are sealed so as to  protect them from moisture, soiling and contamination during storage and 
transportation.  
 
9.0 LABELLING  
Labelling o n the primary package shall be legible,  in English  and or Kiswahili  imprinted in 
indelible ink and have the  following information  
 
9.1 the manufacturer’s name and/or registered trade mark;    
9.2 Date  of manufacture  and expiry date .  
9.3 Country  of origin stated clearly.  
9.4 Name of  the product   
9.5 production batch number .  
9.6 Quality m ark on the primary packaging at point of sale.  
9.7 Instructions for Use.  
9.8 Instructions for Storage and disposal  
9.9 No. of disposable nursing pads in a pack  
  
© KEBS 2017 — All rights reserved  7 ANNEX A  
(Normative)  
 
A.1 Recommended Test Method for Rewet  
 
A.2 Apparatus  
 
A.2.1  Qualitative chemical analysis filter paper  
A.2.2 Cylind rical weight of pressure 38g/cm2 and an area of 110cm2 
A.2.3 Measuring cylinder 100ml  
A.2.4 Stopwatch 0.01s accuracy  
A.2.5 T est solution (0.9% NaCl solution)  
 
A.3 Test Procedure  
A.3.1 Weigh a stack of dry filter paper and record as weight W1. The stack should have a dry 
weight  of 10.0 grams.  
A.3.2 Measure out 30ml volume of test solution (0.9% NaCl solution) for the product  being tested, 
centering the dosing tube o ver the centre  of each product:  
A.3.3 Deliver the solution into tube by fully opening the stopcock on the funnel or starting the 
metering  pump.  
A.3.4 After all of the fluid has passed into the product, start the timer and wait 10 minutes.  
A.3.5 After the 10-minute waiting period, stop the timer and place the stack of filter paper in the 
center  of the wetted target area and place a weight on top of the dry filter paper.  
A.3.6  Re-start the timer and wait one minute. Remove the weight and the wetted out paper s. 
A.3.7 Reweigh the filter paper stack and record as weight W2.  
A.3.8  Repeat the steps, recording each result separately.  
 
 Rewet, measured in grams,  
=W2 – W1. 
 
   
 ANNEX B  
(Normative)  
 
B.1 Liquid Absorptive Capacity Test  
 
B.2 Principle   
The Liquid absorptive capacity method provides a measure of the amount of liquid held within a 
test piece after specified times of immersion and drainage . 
 
B.3 Apparatus  
 
B.3.1 Wire gauze test piece support, - of atleast 120mm X 120mm  
B.3.2 Clips, to hold the test piece on the gauze  
B.3.3 Suitable weighing container  
B.3.4 Balance, capable of determining mass to accuracy of ±0.01g  
B.3.5 Stop watch  
B.3.6 Specified liquid, water  
 
B.4 Procedure  
 
B.4.1 Weigh the test piece to an accuracy of 0.01g, using the balance  
B.4.2 Place the test piece on the stainless steel gauze and fasten it  
B.4.3 Place the gauze with the attached test piece approximately 20 mm below the liquid surface  
and start the stopwatch. Introduce the gauze obliquely in order to avoid trapping air bubb les 
B.4.4 After (60 ±1)s remove the gauze test piece support and test piece  
B.4.5 Hang freely and vertically to drain for (120 ±3)s  
B.4.6 Take the test piece off the gauze without squeezing the liquid from it, place the test piece 
in the weighing container  and weigh  
B.4.7 Repeat b) to f) for the other four test pieces  
 
B.5 Expression  of results  
 
Calculate:  
-liquid absorptive capacity (LAC) in grams of each piece from the following;  
 
LAC=M n - Mk 
Where  
Mk is the mass, in grams, of the dry test piece  
Mn is the  mass, in grams, of the test piece and absorbed liquid at the end of the test