Healthy Living Blog

Regular and persistent use of high quality condoms is the best way to stop the spread of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) according to experts.

Condom quality is very important in the fight against STDs.

Brand name condoms go through extensive quality control tests at every stage of manufacturing. In the US, condoms are electronically tested for holes and defects. Samples are also taken from each lot and visually examined using a water leak test. In this test the samples are filled with 300 ml of water and suspended for 3 minutes.

Also, samples from each lot undergo an Air Inflation Test. The test condoms are filled with air until they reach the bursting point. They typically will hold about 40 liters of air -- the equivalent of 9 gallons of water!

Other samples are checked for size and thickness. Still others are tested to destruction for physical strength, and some are even artificially aged by applying high temperatures to ensure that they will retain their quality well beyond their 5 year product life.