DEAS  96-2: 201 9 
ICS 59.080.30  
 
© EAC 2019                                                                                                                               First Edition 2019   
 EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
Sanitary towels  — Specification  — Part 2: Reusable  
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  DEAS 96-2: 2019 
ii © EAC 2019  – All rights reserved  
 Copyright notice  
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© East African Community 2018  — All rights reserved  
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Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement.  
Violators may be prosecuted . DEAS 96-2: 201 9 
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  v 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Description  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  2 
5 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
5.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  2 
5.2 Materials  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  2 
5.2.1  Top sheet (the layer which contacts skin)  ................................ ................................ ..........................  2 
5.2.2  Protective barrier  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 2 
5.2.3  Fastening mechanism  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
5.3 Perform ance requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  3 
5.3.1  Absorbency and ability to withstand pressure after absorption  ................................ ......................  3 
5.3.2 pH ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  3 
5.3.3 Drying time  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  3 
5.3.4  Workmanship  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  3 
5.3.5  Odour  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  3 
5.3.6  Durability  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  3 
5.4 User and care instructions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  4 
5.5 Microbiological requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  4 
6  Packaging and Marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  4 
6.1  Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  4 
6.2  Marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  4 
7 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  5 
7.1 Lot ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  5 
7.2 Scale of sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 5 
7.3 Number of tests  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 5 
Annex  A (normative)  Method for determination of absorbency capacity  ................................ ...................  6 
A.1 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  6 
A.2 Reagents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  6 
A.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  6 
A.4 Test report  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  6 
Annex  B (normative)  Microbiological examination  ................................ ................................ ........................  7 
B.1 Apparatus and equipment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  7 
B.2 Media and reagents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  7 
B.2.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  7 
B.2.2  Bacteriological peptone  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  7 
B.2.3  Plate count agar  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 7 
B.2.4  Neutral red -bile salt peptone glucose medium  ................................ ................................ ..................  7 
B.2.5  Fluid soybean -casein dig est medium  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 8 
B.2.6  Centrimide agar medium  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  8 
B.2.7  Pseudomonas agar  medium for detection of fluorescein  ................................ ................................ . 8 
B.2.8  Pseudomonas agar  medium for detection of pyocyanin  ................................ ................................ .. 9 
B.3   Preparation of Test Suspension  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  9 
B.4  Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  9 
B.4.1   Total viable bacterial count  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  9 
B.4.2  Examination for the presence of Enterobacteriaceae.  ................................ ................................ ...... 9 
B.4.3  Examination for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus . ................................ ...............................  9 DEAS 96-2: 2019 
iv © EAC 2019  – All rights reserved  
 B.4.4  Examination for the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa  ................................ ............................ 9 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  11 
 DEAS 96-2: 201 9 
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  v 
 Foreword  
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements 
governing quality of products  and services in the East African Community. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged 
within the Community will be removed.  
The Community has established an East Afr ican Standards Committee  (EASC)  mandated to develop and 
issue East African Standards  (EAS) . The Committee is composed of representatives of the National 
Standards Bodies in Partner States, together with the representatives from the public and private secto r 
organizations  in the community .  
East African Standards are developed through  Technical Committees that are representative of key 
stakeholders including government, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other interested parties. 
Draft East Africa n Standards are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the 
Partner States. The comments received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in 
accordance with the Principles and procedures for development of East African Standards.  
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the East 
African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards 
they are imp lementing .  
The committee responsible  for this document is Technical Committee EASC/TC 061, Textiles, Textile 
products and Accessories  
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be subject of patent 
rights. EAC sha ll not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  DEAS 96-2:2019 
 
© EAC 2018  – All rights reserved  1 
 Sanitary towels  — Specification  — Part 2: Reusable  
1 Scope   
This draft East African  Standard prescribes the requirements and test methods for reusable sanitary towels 
(including re usable panty liners) for external use . This Standard does not apply to disposable sanitary towels.  
2 Normative references   
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
ISO 3071, Textiles — Determination of pH of aqueous extract  
ISO 4833 -2, Microbiology of the food chain – Horizontal method for the enumeration of microorganisms – Part 
2: Colony count at 30 C by the surface plating technique  
ISO 6888 -2, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs ─ Horizontal method for the enumeration of 
coagulase -positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and other species) ─ Part 2: Technique using rabbit 
plasma fibrinogen agar medium  
ISO 7218 , Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — General requirements and guidance for 
microbiological examinations (2nd Edition)  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.  
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:  
— ISO Online browsing platform: available  at http://www.iso.org/obp  
3.1  
Sanitary towel/sanitary pad/sanitary napkin/panty liner  
Feminine hygienic product made of fabric intended to absorb menstrual flow , daily vaginal discharge and post 
delivery flow.  
3.2  
Reusable sanitary pads  
Washable hygienic sani tary towels with an absorbent upper layer and a leak proof protective barrier that 
delays or prevents pote ntial leakage.  
3.3  
Package  
Small unit set of sanitary pads as declared by the manufacturer   
2 © EAC 2019  – All rights reserved  
 4 Description  
4.1 Sanitary towels shall be described in accordance to their absorbance capacity  
a) ultra-light flow ; 
b) light flow;  
c) regular / normal for normal flow;  
d) super or heavy flow ; and 
e) extra heavy flow . 
5 Requirements  
5.1 General  
a) the reusable sanitary towels  shall be manufactured, packed  and stored under hygienic conditions;  
b) the reusable sanitary towels  shall be visibly clean and free from obvious defects; and  
c) the reusable sanitary towels  shall release soil and stain quickly when washing by hand and shall dry 
even in t he absence of sunlight.  
5.2 Materials  
The mat erials used in the manufacture  of reusable sanitary towels  shall not harm the skin in contact, a ll outer 
layers of the product should be fit for direct contact with the skin  and the colour/ fabric dye  of the mat erials 
shall not come out during washing.  
5.2.1 Top sheet (the layer which contacts  skin)  
Shall be of material that helps absorption, and shall have no harmful effect . The material u sed for the top layer 
should be soft to the touch and should not shed  any fibres when rubbed dry or wet . 
5.2.2  Protective barrier  
Reusable  sanitary pads shall  have  a protective barrier that delays or prevents potential leakage from the 
absorbent layer of the pad into the underwear  
5.2.3  Fastening mechanism  
There shall be a suita ble device for fastening the pad for secure use. F astening mechanism shall not be made 
of a ferrous metal that could rust and cause harm to skin   
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  3 
 5.3 Size 
The size  of the product shall be declared.  
5.3 Performance requirements  
5.3.1  Absorbency and ability to withstand pressure after absorption  
The reusable sanitary towels shall absorb the testing fluid when dr ipped at the centre of the pad at different 
rates as per table 1 and it shall not leak through at the bottom or sides of the sanitary towel, when test ed in 
accordance with annex A  
Table 1 — Absorbency capacity at different rates  
Product category  Absorbency  
Total Volume 
required to be 
absorbed  Volume required to 
be absorbed 
/minute  
Panty liners  Ultra -light 2 ml 1 ml 
Sanitary towels  Light  4 ml 
 2 ml 
Regular  8 ml 
 4 ml 
Heavy  16 ml  
 8 ml 
Extra heavy  30 ml 15 ml 
 
5.3.2 pH 
The sanitary towels shall be free from  acids and alkali and the pH of  aqueous extract of the absorbent material 
shall be 6  to 8 when tested in accordance with ISO 3071  
5.3.3 Dryin g time 
Reusable sanitary towels  shall be dry in not more than most 6 hours when hang in direct sunlight.  
5.3.4 Workmanship  
When visually examined the sanitary towel  shall be free from defects, lumps or wrinkles. Sanitary towels  shall 
have no loose stitchin g, wings shall be even and there shall be no visible defects on the material. The 
materials shall be smooth to the touch.  
5.3.5 Odour  
The sanitary pads shall not contain any odour, either when dry or wet with clean water.  
5.3.6 Durability  
Each pad shall  be of a durable construction designed to  endure repeated use of  60 times of wearing and 
washing .  
4 © EAC 2019  – All rights reserved  
 5.4 User and care instructions  
There shall be user and care instructions in every packet of the sanitary towels. The user and care instructions 
shall be outlined  in similar instruc tions as below to ensure proper use and care by the consumer . 
a) before first use, wash with soap and clean water and allow to dry completely ; 
b) place pad in the knickers with the absorbent side facing up (Must be worn in properly fitting kni ckers) ; 
c) close the fastening mechanism and wear. Ensure to check and change pads as needed throughout 
the day ; 
d) after use, rinse/soak in water. Pour away dirty water;  
e) in clean water, wash clean with soap. Rub thoroughly; ensuring the absorbent layer has been  
sufficiently scrubbed  clean;  
f) rinse the pad again ; 
g) squeeze all the water out of the pad ; 
h) hang to dry outdoors. Must b e completely dry before re -use; 
i) store in a clean, dry place ; 
j) do not bleach ; and  
k) do not share . 
5.5 Microbiological requirements  
a) the total vi able bacterial count, when determined in accordance with Annex B shall not exceed 1 000 
per gram of the sanitary towel ; and  
b) When tested, sanitary towel shall be free from Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, and 
Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively . 
6  Packaging and Marking  
6.1  Packaging  
Reusable sanitary towels 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.  Only packages with 
the same batch numb er shall be packed together.  
6.2  Marking  
The following information shall appear legibly and indelibly on the outside of each package:  
a) the manufacturer’s name and/or registered trade mark;  
b) the words “ reusable s anitary towels/sanitary nap kins/ pads / panty liners ”; 
c) number of sanitary towels in a package;  
d) size of the product;   
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  5 
 e) absorbency (panty liner/light/normal/heavy flow);  
f) use and care instructions, including warning to wash before first use ; 
g) storage instructions ; 
h) batch identification numb er; 
i) country  of manufacture ; and  
j) date of manufacture.  
7 Sampling  
7.1 Lot 
In any consignment , all packages  belonging to one batch of manufacture or supply shall constitute a lot.  
7.2 Scale of sampling  
7.2.1 Samples shall be tested from each lot ascertaining its conformity to the requirements of this 
specification.  
7.2.2 The number of packages to be selected from a lot sha ll be in accordance with Table 2 . 
7.2.3 The bulk packages and packag es shall be selected at random.  
7.3 Number of tests  
7.3.1 Each  package s elected as per table 2  shall be inspected for packaging and marking requirements  
7.3.2 Sanitar y towels selected as per table 2  shall be examined for requirements stipulated in clause 4  
Table 2  –scale of sampling  
Number of packages in a lot  Number of packag es to be selected  
Up to 250  6 
251-500 8 
501-1000  11 
1001 -2500  15 
2501 -5000  20 
5001 and above  30 
 
  
6 © EAC 2019  – All rights reserved  
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Method for determination of absorbency capacity  
A.1 Apparatus  
a) burette;  
b) metallic block, of mass 1 kg and dimensions 150 mm x 50 mm x 15 mm  
A.2 Reagents  
1 % solution of potassium dichromate made by dissolving 1 g K 2Cr2O7 in 100 mL distilled water  
A.3 Procedure  
A.3.1  Sanitary towel must be washed with soap and dried fully before test  
A.3.2  Lay the sanitary towels on a flat level surfac e 
A.3.3  Drip at the rate of 4 mL per minute, 8 mL of the fluid (see A .2) on to the centre of sanitary towel from a 
height of approximately 2 mm  
A.3.4  After the towel has absorbed the full amount of fluid, place a metallic bl ock of mass 1 kg (A .1.3) for 
one minute on the portion where the fluid was absorbed  
A.4 Test report  
Observe the back and sides of the sanitary towel for any leakage  
 
 
 
 
 
  
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  7 
 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Microbiological examination  
B.1 Apparatus and equipment  
Use apparatus and equipment complying w ith the relevant requirements of ISO 7218.  
B.2 Media and reagents  
B.2.1 General  
Ensure compliance with the general requirements for the ingredients and for the preparation of media and 
reagents given in ISO 7218   
B.2.2 Bacteriological peptone  
Peptone               10 g  
Disodium phosphate dodecahydrate         1 g  
Sodium chloride             5 g  
Mono -potassium phosphate          1.5 g  
Dissolve the ingredients in distilled water and make up to 1 L. Adjust the pH value to be 7.0 ± 0.1 after 
sterilization. D ispense 300 mL volumes into flasks of capacity 500 mL and sterilize by autoclaving at 121 °C ± 
2 °C for 20 min.  
B.2.3  Plate count agar  
Agar               15 g  
Glucose               1 g  
Tryptone               5 g  
Yeast extract              2.5 g  
Dissolve t he ingredients in distilled water, made up to 1litre, and adjust the pH value to 7.2 ± 0.2. Dispense 15 
mL volumes into bottles and sterilize by autoclaving at 121 °C ± 2 °C for 20 min.  
B.2.4 Neutral red -bile salt peptone glucose medium  
Peptone               20 g  
Glucose               10 g  
Bile salts No. 3             1.5 g   
8 © EAC 2019  – All rights reserved  
 Sodium chloride           5 g  
Neutral red            0.03 g  
Crystal violet            0.002 g  
Dissolve the ingredients in 400 mL of distilled water and make up to 500 mL boiling to aid solution. Adjust the 
pH value to 7.4 and filter to a clear solution. Dispense 10 mL volumes into bottles each containing a Durham 
tube and sterilize by autoclaving at 121 °C ± 2 °C for 20 min  
B.2.5 Fluid soybean -casein digest medium  
Pancreatic digest of ca sein        17 g 
Papaic digest of soybean meal        3 g  
Sodium chloride           5 g  
Dibasic potassium phosphate        2.5 g  
Dextrose             2.5 g  
Dissolve the ingredients in distilled water and make up to 1 litre, warming slightly to aid solution.  Cool the 
solution to room temperature and adjust the pH value to be 7.3 ± 0.2 after sterilization. Filter to clarify (if 
necessary), dispense into suitable containers, and sterilize by autoclaving at 121 ± 2 °C for 20 min.  
B.2.6 Centrimide agar medium  
Pancreatic digest of gelatine        20 g  
Magnesium chloride          1.4 g  
Potassium sulphate          10 g  
Agar             13.6 g  
Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (Cetrimide)    0.3 g  
Glycerine            10 mL  
Dissolve all the solid ingredients in distil led water, make up to 1 L, and then add the glycerine. Heat, agitating 
frequently, and boil for 1 min. Adjust the pH value to be 7.2 ± 0.2 after sterilization. Dispense into suitable 
containers and sterilize by autoclaving at 121 °C ± 2 °C for 20 min.  
B.2.7 Pseudomonas agar  medium for detection of fluorescein  
Pancreatic digest of casein         10 g  
Peptic digest of animal tissue        10 g  
Anhydrous dibasic potassium phosphate      1.5 g  
Magnesium sulphate (MgSO4.7H2O)       1.5 g  
Glycerine            10 mL  
Agar             15 g   
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  9 
 Dissolve all the solid ingredients in distilled water, make up to 1 L, and then add the glycerine. Heat, agitating 
frequently, and boil for 1 min. Adjust the pH value to be 7.2 ± 0.2 after sterilization. Dispense into suitable 
containers and sterilize by autoclaving at 121 °C ± 2 °C for 20 min.  
B.2.8 Pseudomonas agar  medium for detection of pyocyanin  
Pancreatic digest of casein           20 g  
Anhydrous magnesium chloride          1.4 g  
Anhydrous potassium sulphate          10 g  
Agar              15 g  
Glycerine              10 Ml  
B.3   Preparation of  Test Suspension  
Transfer 300 ml of the sterile soluti on of bacteriological peptone (B .2.2) to a sterile wide -mouthed jar of 
capacity not less than 1 litre and not more than 2  litres. The  jar shall have a mouth of diameter not less than 
150 mm and not more than 250 mm, and is fitted with a hermetically closing glass or metal -and-glass lid.  
Aseptically place the towel under test in the solution in the jar, fit the lid, agitate the contents  of the jar for 2 
min and then allo w the jar to stand for 10 min. Repeat this agitating and standing procedure twice more. 
Aseptically remove about 100 ml of the test suspensi on for testing as described in B.4 below.  
B.4  Procedure  
B.4.1   Total viable ba cterial count  
Into each of three sterile petri dishes aseptically pipette a 1 mL portion of the test suspension. To each dish 
add 15 mL of freshly  melted plate count agar  that has been cooled to 45 °C, and mix well. Incubate, count and 
calculate the total  count as described in ISO 4833  Part 2. From the total viable bacterial count and the mass of 
the sanitary towel, calculate the total viable bacterial count per gram of sanitary towel.  
B.4.2  Examination for the presence of Enterobacteriaceae.  
Aseptically  add 10 mL of the test suspension to a bottle that contains neutral red -bile salt peptone glucose 
medium (B .2.4). Incubate the bottle for 24 h to 36 h at 37 ± 0.5°C and examine for the presence of 
Enterobacteriaceae as evidenced by the formation of acid and  gas.  
B.4.3  Examination for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus .  
Use the media, reagents and procedure described in ISO 6888 -2 to ex amine the test suspension (see B .3).  
As a control, pipette 0.1 mL of a 1:1000 dilution of an 18 h to 24 h culture of Staphylococcus aureus  SATCC 
Sta 10 into Staphylococcus  medium and proceed as with the test suspension.  
B.4.4  Examination for the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa  
a) Aseptically pipette 10 mL of the test suspension into 90 mL of fluid  soybean -casein digest s medium 
(B.2.5) and mix well. Incubate for 24 h at 30 °C to 35 °C. By means of an inoculating loop transfer a 
portion from the 24 h incubated sample tube of fluid soybean -casein digest medium to the dry surface 
of petri dishes each containing approximatel y 20 mL of Cetrimide agar medium (B .2.6). Incubate at 30 
°C to 35 °C and examine after 24h, and again after 48 h incubation, for suspect colonies, bearing in 
mind that in general greenish fluorescent colonies are typical of Pseudomonas aureginosa  and that in  
10 © EAC 2019  – All rights reserved  
 its presence a gram stain examined microscopically will reveal gram -negative slender rod -shaped 
cells.  
b) As a control, add 0.1 ml of a 1:1 000 dilution of an 18 h to 24 h culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa  
SATCC Pse 11 mL to 100 mL of fluid  soybean -casein  digest medium (B .2.5), and proceed as with the 
test suspension.  
c) If none of the colonies obtained from the test suspension conforms to the description given in i) above 
and the control culture has been satisfactorily recovered, deem the test sample to be free from 
Pseudomonas aeruginosa.  
d) If colonies conforming to the description given in i) above are found, streak representative suspect 
colonies from the Cetrimide agar onto the surfaces of Pseudomonas agar  medium for  the detection of 
flourescein (B .2.7) a nd Pseudomonas agar medium f or the detection of pyocyanin (B .2.8) to obtain 
isolated colonies.  Cover and invert the petri dishes and incubate at 30 – 35 °C for at least 3 days.  
Examine the streaked surfaces under ultraviolet light for suspect c olonies, a s described in Table B .1.  
Table B .1 — Description of colonies  
Medium  Description of colonies  
Pseudomonas agar for the detection of fluorescein  Generally colourless to yellowish  
Yellowish fluorescence in ultra violet light  
Pseudomonas agar for the detec tion of pyocyanin  Generally greenish. Blue fluorescence in ultraviolet light  
 
If any further doubt exists as to the identity of the colonies, obtain final confirmation by inoculating the suspect 
colonies to the wells on commercially available diagnostic k its in accordance with the manufacturer’s 
instructions.  
  
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved  11 
 Bibliography  
[1] US 1782:2017 , Reusable sanitary towels  — Specification  
 DEAS 96-2: 2019   
 
© EAC 2019 – All rights reserved