On September 29, 2026, the DIN Consumer Council discussed the revision of DIN EN ISO 15621, guidelines for evaluating absorbent products for urinary and fecal incontinence. It welcomes the clearer inclusion of the ABL test, which measures fluid absorbed before leakage while a product is fitted to a test torso. Germany’s DIN 13222 specifies this method, and the council explains that testing under it is required for certain products to enter the statutory insurers’ aids directory.
The council criticises a retained passage on the comparative precision of Rothwell testing, which measures total absorbent capacity. Its representative, Andreas Deppe, rejected the final draft and requested deletion of the passage. The council argues that the cited 2019 study is represented one-sidedly and that leakage testing better reflects use.
The article also reports that an ISO working group led by EDANA was formed at manufacturers’ suggestion to improve international testing. Further interlaboratory trials under modified conditions reduced uncertainty in ABL measurements, according to the council, which plans to follow the work.