Product test info

Product test info for Antimicrobial Silver

Antimicrobial Silver is the main element in the ’Rug Care’ Anti-Bac and the ’Home Care’ Sanitizing & Deodorising products.

1. The Power of Silver – Concentrated

For thousands of years Silver has been recognised for its sterile and antibacterial properties. Using modern nano-technology it is now possible to utilise the antimicrobial properties of the silver ion in a variety of ways. In recent times silver ion technology has been used in bandages and in polymers used for the manufacture of laboratory and operating theatre equipment.

The total protection system.

Antimicrobial Silver is 100% effective against all strains of S. AUREUS, including known resistant strains and also most bacteria, fungi, moulds, yeasts and algae. Our Antimicrobial Silver range of products provide an integral additional backup system to improve standard infection control procedures. The product has been extensively tested by independent laboratories.

Antimicrobial Silver is not a substitute for cleaning, but should be regarded as a complement to regular hygiene practices.

How it works

Antimicrobial Silver products contain silver ions, a natural anti-microbial with high efficacy against over 50 different organisms including bacteria, moulds, yeasts and fungi. The unique slow release technology in our Antimicrobial Silver products allows the silver ions to work continuously over time, in order to suppress microbial growth for up to 3 months or more.

The remarkable advantages of Antimicrobial Silver

> It is safe and natural with no harmful effects on humans or animals
> Kills bacteria, moulds, fungi, yeasts and drug resistant germs
> Slow release chemistry that works for months
> Controls odours associated with bacteria
> Odourless, tasteless, non-flammable, colourless and non-corrosive
> Long-lasting and durable
> Can be used on any surface

The characteristics that make silver an effective anti-microbial are:

1. It destroys the outer membrane of the germ resulting in cell death.

2. Silver enters the inside of the germ via microscopic channels and destroys the liquid (cytoplasm) inside the cell.

3. Silver interferes with the DNA replication process causing the germ’s inability to replicate: if a germ cannot reproduce, it cannot spread.

Applications

Antimicrobial Silver products can be used on hard and soft surfaces such as: door knobs, toilets, sinks, taps, food tables, wheel chairs, bed rails, mattresses, clothes closets, furniture, stair/hand rails, drapes/curtains, window sills, carpets, phones, call buttons, TV remotes, clipboard, walls, floors, wastebaskets, shower room walls and cubicles, locker rooms, drinking fountains, uniforms, sheets and more. Safe for all skin types.

Ideal for all industrial applications including:

Hospitals
Dental Clinics
All Medical-Related Clinics
Commercial Laundries
Schools
Day Care
Veterinarian Clinics
Food Service and Processing Industries
Sports Facilities
Hotels
Airlines
Mould and mildew remedial treatment for commercial and residential properties

2. Six week test with the Antimicrobial Silver element

In order to test the efficacy of Antimicrobial Silver surface protector, I made 4 agar/LB broth plates (10cm diameter) and treated them as follows: on plate No.1 I spread 500 microliters of Antimicrobial Silver with a sterile spreader; on plate No.2 I spread 100 microlitres of Antimicrobial Silver surface protector with a sterile spreader; and no antibacterial solution was spread on plates No. 3 and 4. I then coughed and sneezed on Nos.1.2. and 3, and exposed No.4 to ambient air for 2 minutes. I then placed the plates in an incubator at 37˚ Celsius. After three days, plate No. 3 had about 30 colonies of bacteria, but the rest of the plates had none. Within another 4 days, plate No. 4 developed a lawn of contamination, but the other two were clear. I continued to cough and sneeze on plates No.1 and 2 weekly for a total of six weeks, and no colonies or contamination of any kind ever developed on them.

Two weeks into the above experiment, I diluted the Antimicrobial Silver surface protector and spread the equivalent of 50 microlitres of the original solution on plate No. 5 with a sterile spreader, and I added a control plate, No. 6, on which I did not spread anything, but into which I pressed my thumb. The plates were placed in an incubator at 37˚ Celsius. Within four days, there were numerous colonies on plate No. 6, but none on plate No. 5. I continued to cough and sneeze on plate No. 5 weekly for four more weeks, and no colonies or other contamination of any kind ever developed on it.

Jeffrey Doan, Ph.D.

3240 Scott Hall
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Detroit, MI 48201

3. Case Study – Durabiltity of Antimicrobial Silver

Initial laboratory work with Antimicrobial Silver showed complete kills against E coli, P aeruginosa, E hirae and S aureus within 8 hours. Further work with accelerated testing techniques showed no shortfall in efficacy even 3 months after application. This has subsequently been tested at normal ambient temperatures and confirmed.

Longevity of efficacy was proven.

Of course questions were asked as to how long the product would keep working in high traffic areas where contact is being made.

Our answer to this was to simulate work being done but in a short period of time.

As can be seen from the photograph we took an ordinary piece of melamine worktop and divided it into sections to be tested with silicone sealant. All but one of the sections were treated as per our application instructions.

Once completely dry each section apart from the control “no treatment” section and the 0 wipe section was wiped with a tap water wetted microfiber cloth quite firmly. Section 1 received 1 wipe, 2 received 10 wipes, 3 received 100 wipes and 4 received 1000 wipes.

Once dry all sections were challenged with approximately 7 million cfu of e coli.

Following this all sections were tested with contact plates and cultured.

The results are as follows.

No silver confluent growth

0 wipes 0 cfu

1 wipe 30 cfu

10 wipes 30 cfu

100 wipes 10 cfu

1000 wipes 37 cfu

Conclusion:

Antimicrobial Silver is extremely durable as well as long lasting.

4. Monitoring Bacterial Populations on Surfaces

Before and After Treatment with Antimicrobial Silver.

REF: Yatton Hall Care Home

Introduction:

The above care home was identified to carry out a trial with silver based technology for the control of MRSA. In this instance, one room has been identified for MRSA testing due to the occupier having been identified as having MRSA at present. A series of surfaces have been identified as key points of contact and hence careful swabbing before and after treatment with Antimicrobial Silver have been carried out to try and determine whether treatment with Antimicrobial Silver will be sufficient to eradicate the problem.

Results:

The results of each sample taken are detailed below.

Table 1: Microbiological population of samples taken on 8/7/05. Represented as CFU/ml

Sample origin	Treated withAntimicrobial Silver	Aerobic bacteria	Total Staphylococci	Total coagulase +ve Staphylococci	Total MRSA
Pillow slip	no	1.0 x 10²	<100	<100	<50
	yes	<100	<100	<100	<50

Mattress	No	1.0 x 10²	<50	<50	<50
	Yes	<50	<50	<50	<50

Sink /tap area	No	2.0 x 10⁶	1.9 x 10⁶	7.1 x 10⁵	<50
	Yes	2.0 x 10⁴	1.7 x 10³	6.1 x 10²	<50

TV Remote control	No	<50	<50	<50	<50
	Yes	<50	<50	<50	<50

Wheelchair seat	No	4.3 x 10⁶	8.4 x 10³	2.0 x 10³	5.5 x 10²
	Yes	1.7 x 10⁴	1.6 x 10³	1.5 x 10³	<50

Carpet	No	1.3 x 10⁵	<50	<50	<50
	Yes	<50	<50	<50	<50

Stereo buttons	No	1.2 x 10⁴	9.2 x 10³	6.2 x 10³	<50
	Yes	<50	<50	<50	<50

Light switch	No	<50	<50	<50	<50
	Yes	<50	<50	<50	<50

Table near bed	No	<50	<50	<50	<50
	Yes	<50	<50	<50	<50

In all cases, treatment with Antimicrobial Silver produced a reduction in the microbiological counts on surfaces swabbed directly next to untreated areas.

Whitewatar Technologies,

P. O. Box 1153,

Stourbridge,

West Midlands,

DY8 2GB.

5. Independent Laboratory Results for Testing of Antimicrobial Silver

BSEN 13697 Surface Test

E coli 8 hour dirty conditions Pass

E coli 8 hour clean conditions Pass

A niger Pass

Modified BSEN 13697 surface test 8 hour clean conditions (accelerated aging 3 months)

P aeruginosa Pass

E coli Pass

S aureus Pass

E hirae Pass

Candida Pass

BSEN 1040 suspension test 5 minutes

P aeruginosa Pass

E coli Pass

S aureus Pass

E hirae Pass

BSEN 13697 8 hour clean conditions

P aeruginosa Pass

E coli Pass

S aureus Pass

E hirae Pass

A niger Pass

Modified BSEN 13697 silver treated discs stored in darkness for 3 months then challenged

P aeruginosa Pass

E coli Pass

S aureus Pass

E hirae Pass

6. Health & Environmental Considerations

Acute oral LD50 Rat 5000mg/kg

Irritancy Skin Irritation: Negative

Eye irritant: Mild/moderate as a powder

Sensitisation: Non-sensitising to healthy human skin

Mutagenicity: Non mutagenic

Carcinogenicity: No evidence

Teratogenicity: No evidence

Phototoxicity: No evidence

Regulatory Information

This product has not been tested on animals. The novel active component has had toxicological testing carried out but only in connection with its use as a pharmaceutical active agent.

Personal Care

USA INCI name Approved June 1994

UK PNA Approved April 1995

EC – Annex VI Full Approved June 1996

Australia Approved June 1996

Canada Approved June 1996

Bulgaria Approved January 1996

Czech Republic Approved March 1996

Switzerland Approved July 1996

Poland Approved August 1996

EU Cosmetics Products Directive Approved preservative listed in Annex VI directive 76/768/EC

Toxicological Data

Food Contact Uses

EC Listed Synoptic document no 7 Reference RN 86430

BgVV (BfR) Chapter 14 Approved (Also complies with Chapter 36)

FDA Federal Register Title 21 Food & Drugs Chapter 1

Part 175.105 -Adhesives

Part 175.300 -Resinous and polymeric coatings

Part 175.320 -Resinous and polymeric coatings for polyolefin films

Part 176.170 -Materials in contact with aqueous & fatty food

Part 176.180 -Materials in contact with dry foods

Part 177.2600 -Rubber articles intended for repeated use

Industrial

EC EN71 Toy applications (Parts 3 & 5) Approved

ASTM D4236 Artist materials Approved

Medical Devices Regulations 2002 Suitable for use in Class 1 medical devices

Water Regulations Advisory Service (WRAS) Suitable for use in products which come into contact with potable water (BS6920)

Industrial Biocide/Antimicrobial

EU Biocidal Products Directive (BPD) Listed in the second review regulation (EC2032/2003) as an existing active substance

Germany Blue Angel Listed in RAL-UZ 102 for use in low emission wall paints

US EPA/FIFRA Registration application in progress, EPA File ref. 49403-R

The Department of Health Rapid Review Panel has given a Class 3 accreditation.

Comments are closed.

Link Swap