The hand panel evaluation test seeks to obtain the subjective response of human subjects as they touch/ rub/ squeeze swatches of the test materials. A response form is developed to obtain the evaluator ratings and is customized according to the information needed regarding the sensory tactile hand qualities of the fabric against the skin.

The customized response form contains bi-polar rating scales for specifically selected adjective descriptor terms related to the hand of fabric.

The following is a list of descriptor terms that have been used in previous studies.

warm - cool
damp - dry
hard - soft
stiff - flexible
rough - smooth
clean - fuzzy
thick - thin
heavy - light
loose - dense
nonstretchy - very stretchy

The response form is also designed to seek a comparison between fabrics in the sample set, which fabric is most preferred, and which test item feels most like a certain descriptor term provided.

The process used to evaluate test samples can be described as follows:

· Evaluations are to be done in the environmental chamber at temperature/ relative humidity conditions agreed upon and appropriate for the end use.
· Assembled swatch sets are conditioned for a minimum of two hours in the test environment prior to the test.
· Test sessions of up to 10 evaluators per session will be scheduled according to response from the evaluator sign ups.
· Upon arrival each evaluator washes and dries hands according to the required hand washing procedure.
· Evaluator enters the environmental chamber for a 30 minute conditioning and acclimatization period. Hands should be used minimally during the conditioning period.
· Each evaluator receives a swatch set with rating sheets for each sample. Samples are handled according to the specified handling procedure (illustrated pictorially in the environmental chamber). The test samples are evaluated, one at a time, on the selected bipolar terms and for any other items included on the response form. The ratings are recorded on the evaluation form.
· Ratings are averaged and analyzed.

Typically 30 - 40 participants are used in a study depending on whether the study is for males or females or a combination of both. Evaluators are obtained from the North Carolina State University, T-PACC subject pool which includes persons, primarily students, who through a screening process are determined to be healthy nonsmoking individuals between 18 and 35 years of age. Considered first are experienced evaluators who have participated in previous studies. All evaluators receive an initial orientation regarding the requirements of being a hand evaluation participant.