Abstract

This specification covers the minimum requirements for individually packaged male condoms made from natural rubber latex and intended for single use. This specification does not cover the following: (1) specifications for lubricants or other dressing materials that may be applied to condoms and (2) safe and proper use of condoms. The applicability of this specification is as a design guideline and a reference test specification and not to be a routine quality control specification for condom manufacturing operations. The condoms and any dressing materials applied to them shall not liberate substances that are known to be toxic, sensitizing, locally irritating, or otherwise harmful to the general population under normal conditions of use. The requirements for the following are detailed: (1) sampling plan (2) sample handling, (3) process controls, (4) lot, (5) dimensional test for length, width, and thickness, (6) determination of tensile properties of rubber contraceptives such as breaking force, tensile strength, and ultimate elongation, as is and subjected to accelerated aging test, (7) air burst properties such as burst pressure and burst volume, and (8) leakage. The concept of repeatability and reproducibility for precision and bias of the tests are defined. Requirements for package integrity, labeling, and storage are specified as well.

This abstract is a brief summary of the referenced standard. It is informational only and not an official part of the standard; the full text of the standard itself must be referred to for its use and application. ASTM does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents of this abstract are accurate, complete or up to date.

1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers the minimum requirements for individually packaged male condoms made from natural rubber latex and intended for single use. This specification does not cover the specifications for lubricants or other dressing materials that may be applied to condoms except as noted in 3.2.

1.2 This specification is intended to assist buyers in obtaining condoms of consistent quality. The safe and proper use of condoms is excluded from the scope of this specification.

1.3 The applicability of this specification is as a design guideline and a reference test specification. It is not intended to be a routine quality control specification for condom manufacturing operations.

1.4 The annexes in this specification include important information, such as that on apparatus or materials, that is a mandatory part of the specification but too detailed for inclusion in the main text.

1.5 The appendixes in this specification contain information intended to provide guidance only and are not a mandatory part of the specification.

1.6 It shall be the responsibility of the manufacturer for any condom design that falls outside the specifications of this standard to determine testing methodology and substantiate the appropriateness of that methodology to assure the quality of the condoms to the purchaser and to the government regulatory authority having jurisdiction.

1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D412 Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers--Tension

D573 Test Method for Rubber--Deterioration in an Air Oven

D1076 Specification for Rubber--Concentrated, Ammonia Preserved, Creamed, and Centrifuged Natural Latex

D3078 Test Method for Determination of Leaks in Flexible Packaging by Bubble Emission

D3767 Practice for Rubber--Measurement of Dimensions

D4483 Practice for Evaluating Precision for Test Method Standards in the Rubber and Carbon Black Manufacturing Industries

E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

ISO Standard

Keywords

condoms; contraceptives; prophylactic; rubber; Condoms; Consumer products--specifications; Contraceptives; Elongation--rubber; Leak testing; Male condoms; Natural rubber (NR) latex--specifications; Prophylactic devices/testing; Rubber--specifications; Rubber contraceptives; Tensile properties/testing--rubber/relatged materials;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 11.200 (Birth control. Mechanical contraceptives)

DOI: 10.1520/D3492-08

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM D3492