SpectraSan 24 FAQ
1. What makes SpectraSan 24 so special as compared to other disinfectants?
2. How does the SDC technology work?
3. How can SpectraSan 24 benefit me?
4. Who should use SpectraSan 24?
5. Is SpectraSan 24 truly safe to use?
6. Why is SpectraSan 24 registered with the EPA?
8. Does SpectraSan 24 meet Clean Air and Water Act standards?
9. Is SpectraSan 24 considered a “Green” product?
10. Why is having a U.S. Patent so important?
11. Does SpectraSan 24 kill MRSA and VRE?
14. Why do you call SpectraSan 24 a broad-spectrum germicidal product?
15. Is SpectraSan 24 a cleaner?
16. How much area will one bottle of SpectraSan 24 cover?
17. Why is SpectraSan 24 better to use than dilutable disinfectants?
18. Have there been independent tests that prove SpectraSan 24’s claims?
19. What is the shelf life of SpectraSan 24?
20. Can I use any bottle to apply SpectraSan 24?
21. Why Use SpectraSan 24 vs. Bleach + Water?
22. Why Does SpectraSan 24 cost more than bleach?
23. Does SpectraSan 24 stain or damage fabric?
24. Is there a better hospital grade disinfectant on the market today?
25. Within what range of temperature can SpectraSan 24 be stored?
26. How is SpectraSan 24 packaged?
27. Where is SpectraSan 24 Manufactured?
28. Where can I purchase SpectraSan 24?
29. Why use a Microfiber cloth instead of a cotton rag or paper towel?
31. Why do we recommend a microfiber cloth?
32. What do we mean by saying SpectraSan 24 is “bacteria resistant”?
33. Should I wear gloves or masks when applying SpectraSan 24? They’re used in the videos.
34. Is SpectraSan 24 safe to use in food prep areas?
35. How does SpectraSan 24 continue kill germs with “residual power”?
36. Does SpectraSan 24 also clean?
37. Is SpectraSan 24 available in concentrate?
38. Do I need to reapply SpectraSan 24 after cleaning the surface?
1. What makes SpectraSan 24 so special as compared to other disinfectants?
SpectraSan 24 is truly the first groundbreaking approach to microbial control in almost four decades. This incredibly innovative disinfectant technology is based on a new patented molecule – silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC). This proprietary product contains a dual efficacy mechanism, which promotes residual resistance to new “super strains” of microorganisms. SpectraSan 24 has a self-contained immunity protection system that not only provides long-term protection, but continues to fight bacteria and dangerous mutant pathogens that conventional disinfectants on the market today cannot.
2. How does the SDC technology work?
SpectraSan 24 is based on PURE Bioscience’s patented silver ion SDC technology. SDC, when formulated as a disinfectant, is colorless, odorless and non-staining and is designed for use on hard, non-porous surfaces.
How SDC Works – SDC kills microorganisms by two modes of action:
- The silver ion deactivates structural and metabolic membrane proteins leading to microbial death.
- The microbes view SDC as a food source, allowing the silver ion to enter the microbe. Once inside the organism, the silver ion denatures the DNA, which halts the microbe’s ability to replicate and leads to its death. This dual action makes SDC highly and quickly effective against a broad spectrum of microbes.
3. How can SpectraSan 24 benefit me?
SpectraSan 24 kills germs 20 times faster than traditional disinfectants. It kills many germs in just 30 seconds and “Super Bugs” like MRSA, CA-MRSA, PVL-MRSA, and VRE in just 2 minutes. Plus, when other disinfectants dry on the surface, they stop working. In contrast, SpectraSan 24 has residual efficacy that not only provides protection, but continues to kill bacteria for 24 hours after application.
4. Who should use SpectraSan 24?
SpectraSan 24 was specifically formulated for acute care hospitals, trauma centers, medical and dental offices, out-patient surgery centers, long-term care facilities, life science and research laboratories, veterinary hospitals, home healthcare, hospice centers, and child care operations. SpectraSan 24 is safe and effective to use in schools, prisons, athletic facilities and complexes, training and fitness centers, professional, collegiate, and high school sports facilities, physical therapy centers, cruise ships, airlines, railways, bus and municipal transit vehicles, day care and pre-school facilities, churches, community centers and hundreds of other applications. SpectraSan 24 is strong enough for medical use, yet ideal for use around children in your home.
5. Is SpectraSan 24 truly safe to use?
SpectraSan 24 is non-flammable, non-corrosive, odorless, colorless and has the lowest toxicity rating (Category IV) assigned by the EPA. There are no harsh chemical smells or skin irritation that can be associated with other traditional disinfectants. The EPA does not require “Signal Words” or warnings for Category IV disinfectant products, but does have serious warnings for Category II disinfectant products, such as household chlorine bleach. Category II disinfectant products must be labeled with a number of the following warnings: Danger, Warning, Corrosive, Seek Medical Advice, may be fatal if absorbed through skin, may be fatal if inhaled, causes substantial but temporary eye injury and causes skin irritation.
For more information about EPA toxicity ratings, visit the EPA web site: Label Review Manual Chapter 7: Precautionary Statements.
6. Why is SpectraSan 24 registered with the EPA?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) treats disinfectants as pesticides and requires all disinfectants to be registered with the US EPA for sale in the United States. In addition, disinfectants must be registered in each state where the product is sold. SpectraSan 24‘s EPA registration number is 72977-3-85938, and it is registered in all 50 states, Washington DC, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
7. Is SpectraSan 24 safe to use on children’s toys, or in the presence of humans, pets, and livestock?
Yes, SpectraSan 24 is safe to use on children’s toys and play surfaces, on sports equipment (helmets and pads), wrestling mats, locker rooms, training room tables and hydrotherapy equipment. No wiping required – just spray the surface and allow to dry. SpectraSan 24 will continue killing germs like MRSA for 24 hours. SpectraSan 24 is safe to use around humans, pets, and livestock.
8. Does SpectraSan 24 meet Clean Air and Water Act standards?
Per the Clean Air Act, SpectraSan 24 does not contain any hazardous air pollutants, Class 1 Ozone depletors, or Class 2 Ozone depletors. None of the chemicals in SpectraSan 24 are listed as Hazardous Substances under the Clean Water Act (CWA), Priority Pollutants under the CWA, or Toxic Pollutants under the CWA.
9. Is SpectraSan 24 considered a “Green” product?
It is our understanding that the EPA is in the process of creating a protocol or guidelines to measure the “Green” characteristics of registered disinfectants. However, as of the day this was written the EPA has not developed a protocol to measure the environmental safety, or so called “Green” qualities, of EPA-registered products. Companies who claim that their disinfectant has been certified “Green” by the EPA are providing false or misleading statements. By the same token, SpectraSan 24 is manufactured from silver ions and citric acid, both of which occur naturally in the environment. In addition, 99.967% (by weight) is composed of renewable raw materials (water and citric acid) and our manufacturing process produces zero discharge with no waste or byproducts. SpectraSan 24 has been assigned the lowest toxicity rating (Level IV) by the EPA. If water was rated, it would be assigned the same Level IV rating.
10. Why is having a U.S. Patent so important?
A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a state to an inventor or his assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for a disclosure of an invention. A patent application must include one or more claims defining the invention, which must be new, inventive, unique, and useful or industrially applicable. The exclusive right granted to a patentee in most countries is the right to prevent others from making, using, selling, or distributing the patented invention without permission. Under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, patents should be available in WTO member states for any inventions, in all fields of technology, and the term of protection available should be minimum twenty years. Our business partner, PURE Bioscience, Inc, is the patent holder of SpectraSan 24’s active ingredient Silver Dihydrogen Citrate (SDC) concentrate. PURE Bioscience is a NASDAQ publicly traded company that trades under the symbol of PURE and holds over 200 hundred SDC technology patents in over 70 countries around the world.
11. Does SpectraSan 24 kill MRSA and VRE?
Yes, in fact, SpectraSan 24 kills both “Super Bugs” in just 2 minutes, whereas traditional germicidal products require at least 10 minutes of contact time to kill these dangerous pathogens. Typically, disinfectant solutions will evaporate in less than 10 minutes, which diminishes the efficacy of the product. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA or Staph) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) are two of the most widespread antibiotic-resistant pathogens that cause hospital and community acquired infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MRSA kills more than 19,000 people per year in the United States alone. SpectraSan 24 is effective against VRE and strains of MRSA including CA-MRSA (community-acquired MRSA) and PVL-MRSA (Panton – Valentine Leukocidin MRSA). PVL is a toxin, which destroys white blood cells, and can kill within 24 hours of reaching the lungs.
12. Does SpectraSan 24 kill Noroviruses, Influenza A (H1N1) & Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)?
Yes, SpectraSan 24 is effective in killing Noroviruses, Influenza A (H1N1) and MRSA. SpectraSan 24 is identified on the EPA lists of Registered Products Effective Against Influenza A (H1N1) & Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by the chemical name AXEN 30; EPA registration 72977-3-84364.
13. Does SpectraSan 24 require warning labels like “Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals – Danger”?
No, unlike all other disinfectants, SpectraSan 24 does not require any warning labels.
14. Why do you call SpectraSan 24 a broad-spectrum germicidal product?
That is because, unlike typical disinfectants in the market today, SpectraSan 24 is an antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral disinfectant that provides a rapid kill and keeps on killing bacteria for 24 hours after its initial application. SpectraSan 24 kills a broad spectrum of germs, bacteria, viruses and even “Super Bugs” like MRSA and VRE.
15. Is SpectraSan 24 a cleaner?
SpectraSan 24 will clean up water soluble spills such as coffee, juice and cola, but is not formulated to clean up grease and grime. If a surface needs to be cleaned, a cleaning product should be applied first, followed by SpectraSan 24 applied as a final disinfecting step. In order for SpectraSan 24 to penetrate the cell walls, attach to the microorganism’s DNA and destroy it, it must be able to reach the cell. That process would be severely compromised if it had to first clean a film of bacon grease from the surface, for example. Use a suitable cleaner to clean the surface adequately and then apply SpectraSan 24 to rapidly kill the microorganisms and provide 24 more hours of protection.
16. How much area will one bottle of SpectraSan 24 cover?
Typically, a 32 oz ready-to-use spray bottle of SpectraSan 24 will disinfect nearly 1,000 square feet of area. In fact, one case of 32 oz spray bottles will cover nearly 12,000 square feet of surfaces.
17. Why is SpectraSan 24 better to use than dilutable disinfectants?
First of all, many people typically do not know how to accurately measure dilutable disinfectants. Some people are not familiar with chemical use ratios or have a gallon container on hand to properly mix the correct amount of product with water. If too little product is added, the disinfectant will not provide the efficacy… And if too much product is added, the product can leave a residue on the surface that will eventually create a “Biofilm” or breeding ground for bacteria. Conventional hospital grade disinfectants have been assigned toxicity ratings of Level I or II by the EPA. This is an indication that the product is corrosive, toxic, is not environmentally safe, can irritate your skin, eyes, and mucus membranes in the lungs and could be dangerous to your health.
SpectraSan 24 has none of these disadvantages. There is no mixing. SpectraSan 24 has an EPA Category IV toxicity rating, which is the lowest rating assigned by the Federal EPA, so no protective gear is required, no need to rinse, it does not damage hard surfaces, soft metals, plastic, granite, Plexiglas, carpeting, upholstery, or fabrics, it may be applied in the presence of humans and animals, and there is no wasted product. Plus, SpectraSan 24 has the following advantages which include: its active ingredient, SDC, is EPA registered to kill CA-MRSA, kills faster than conventional products and offers a 24-hour residual bacterial kill.
18. Have there been independent tests that prove SpectraSan 24’s claims?
Yes, we have independent research studies that have been approved by the EPA and are available upon request. Please visit our Contact Us page to request specific information.
19. What is the shelf life of SpectraSan 24?
Although there are no specific dating codes, a safe estimate would be a shelf life of between 12-18 months.
20. Can I use any bottle to apply SpectraSan 24?
It is important that SpectraSan 24 be stored only in opaque bottles (not transparent or translucent) due to the photosensitivity of silver. Do not pour SpectraSan 24 from an opaque container into a clear or translucent container or spray bottle.
21. Why Use SpectraSan 24 vs. Bleach + Water?
Bleach is toxic and extremely dangerous if mishandled. Tremendous care must be taken when mixing a bleach water dilution and protective gear must be worn. Bleach will discolor fabrics and other materials so special care is required. The area must be well ventilated to avoid inhaling the toxic fumes emitted when using bleach. Any contact with the area being disinfected must also be avoided until the bleach has had enough time to disinfect (at least 10 minutes). Furthermore, the bleach dilution must stay wet for the entire time in order to be effective, and then must be rinsed with water. Once the bleach dries, it is no longer effective and any remaining bleach dilution loses its effectiveness over time so it must be discarded.
SpectraSan 24 has many distinct advantages over bleach. SpectraSan 24 is ready to use (no mixing required), does not require any protective gear to apply, does not require rinsing, does not stain or damage fabrics, is completely safe to use around people and animals, kills germs faster than bleach, and continues to protect for up to 24 hours!
22. Why Does SpectraSan 24 cost more than bleach?
SpectraSan 24 is unique and uses a completely different technology than bleach. SpectraSan 24 utilizes a new patented stabilized silver ion technology. This technology delivers unparalleled effectiveness that lasts up to 24 hours. Bleach stops being effective as soon as it dries.
23. Does SpectraSan 24 stain or damage fabric?
SpectraSan 24 is intended for disinfection of hard, non-porous surfaces; however, SpectraSan 24 is non-bleaching and will not stain or damage fabrics. SpectraSan 24 is a perfect choice to use around fabrics because this unique technology will not damage fabrics, vinyl, or plastic. Other disinfectants contain harsh toxic chemicals that could do damage to these materials.
24. Is there a better hospital grade disinfectant on the market today?
No. SpectraSan 24 is in a class by itself. It carries exclusive US and worldwide patents that set it aside from any other product in the market.
25. Within what range of temperature can SpectraSan 24 be stored?
SpectraSan 24 continues to be effective after being exposed to temperatures ranging between 0-100C (-32F – 212F). It is recommended, however, that SpectraSan 24 be stored under normal office/ household conditions. Freezing of the product may result in damage to the packaging during transit and should be avoided if possible.
26. How is SpectraSan 24 packaged?
SpectraSan 24 is available in the following container and case sizes.
• 32 oz. bottle
• 12-32 oz. spray bottles/case.
• 4 oz. spray bottle
• 48-4 oz. spray bottles/case
• 1 gallon refill bottle
• 4-1 gallon bottles/case
27. Where is SpectraSan 24 Manufactured?
SpectraSan 24 is manufactured by PURE Bioscience. PURE Bioscience’s manufacturing facilities are located in the United States and are Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) certified for the production of SpectraSan 24. SpectraSan 24 is bottled in multiple locations in the United States for quicker distribution.
28. Where can I purchase SpectraSan 24?
Visit www.spectrasan.com or contact:
BioTech Medical LLC
7800 Whipple Ave NW
North Canton, Ohio 44720
Toll Free: 1.800.284.9857
29. Why use a Microfiber cloth instead of a cotton rag or paper towel?
Microfibers are made of very fine polyester and polyamide fibers that are excellent dust and dirt collectors, quick and effective absorbers, dry quickly, are environmentally friendly, and very cost effective. Microfiber cloths clean surfaces and eliminate the need for cotton towels, which only push around dirt and germs. In most cases, a microfiber cloth is the best application method for SpectraSan 24.
30. Some clients are concerned with silver being a dangerous heavy metal…. Is this an issue with SpectraSan 24?
No. SpectraSan 24 contains ionic silver, NOT dangerous metallic or colloidal silver. Ionic silver poses no threat to people, pets, or the environment. And it readily degrades into inert elemental silver in the environment — and that is not toxic either.
According to the EPA and OSHA, the ionic silver contained in SpectraSan 24 is non-hazardous. And EPA’s Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure tests confirm: waste does not exhibit the characteristics of toxicity as defined by 40 CFR 26.24 for silver content.
SpectraSan 24’s ionic silver solution exhibits 100% rapid biodegradability, is non-toxic, and poses no threat to the environment, hard surfaces, soft metals, fabrics, medical vinyl or other materials.
31. Why do we recommend a microfiber cloth?
Microfiber cleaning cloths penetrate surface crevices and remove minute dirt particles missed by conventional cloths. Their split microfiber strands pick up dirt like a magnet — attracting more than twice as many dirt particles as cotton or disposable towels, without producing annoying lint.
Haze and oily residue left from waxes, polishes, glazes and cleaners are completely removed. Unlike conventional cloths, microfiber cleans glass and mirrors streak-free, even at the corners. Microfiber cloths are also recommended for cleaning chrome, plastic, vinyl and leather.
In addition, microfiber cloths are highly absorbent, retaining fluid at more than six times their dry weight — and they can be laundered up to 500 times without losing absorbency or tensile strength.
32. What do we mean by saying SpectraSan 24 is “bacteria resistant”?
SpectraSan 24 does not allow bacterial resistance. Essentially, that means bacteria can never become immune to the deadly mechanisms of the SDC molecule.
“Traditional” antimicrobials merely pierce the cell wall of the microorganism. And although these bacteria are rendered temporarily inactive, they still have the capability of reproducing — or even reinventing themselves at a later time.
On the other hand, bacteria are actually attracted to SpectraSan 24 because they recognize citric acid as a food source.
This “Trojan Horse” attack allows SpectraSan 24 to enter the microorganism through membrane transport proteins. Once inside, the SDC molecule binds to DNA and intracellular proteins, causing irreversible damage. Metabolic and reproductive functions halt, and the organism not only dies — but can never reproduce or become immune to the SDC molecule.
33. Should I wear gloves or masks when applying SpectraSan 24? They’re used in the videos.
No. It is not necessary to wear gloves, masks, or goggles when using SpectraSan 24 from a spray bottle. SpectraSan 24 is non-toxic, safe to use around people, pets… and the planet.
For legal reasons, we must show people wearing gloves and masks in publicly distributed videos.
Still, it’s always a good idea to wear a mask when fogging any product because liquids used through any misting device are reduced micron-size particles that could irritate the silica membranes leading to the lungs.
But rest assured, SpectraSan 24 is non-caustic, and contains no solvents, alcohols, or other harsh chemicals. In fact, SpectraSan 24 is the only disinfectant technology that is not required by the EPA to list “signal words” (warning, caution, danger, seek medical advice, etc) on its label.
34. Is SpectraSan 24 safe to use in food prep areas?
Yes… and NO. Although independent laboratory clinical studies validate both the safety and efficacy of using SpectraSan 24 on food prep and food contact areas and surfaces, we have yet to receive our official authorization from the EPA.
Therefore, we are not allowed to list this application on the label. We will notify all of our distributors as soon as we receive the EPA’s announcement and authorization.
35. How does SpectraSan 24 continue kill germs with “residual power”?
SpectraSan 24’s rapid and broad-spectrum efficacy is largely attributed to its dual-action mechanisms. Alone or in combination, these make SpectraSan 24 a powerful antimicrobial while mitigating microbial resistance.
Once applied to a surface, SpectraSan 24 forms a microscopic barrier that reactivates every time moisture or bacteria are reintroduced.
SpectraSan 24 not only destroys microorganisms on contact, but this microscopic film continues to halt all metabolic and reproductive functions — making it virtually impossible for the organism to survive, let alone reproduce.
36. Does SpectraSan 24 also clean?
No. SpectraSan 24 has been formulated solely as a high-grade, hospital-line broad-spectrum antimicrobial disinfectant.
Products classified as both a cleaner and disinfectant contain surfactants or wetting agents that actually reduce their efficacy claims in favor of cleaning functionality.
However, SpectraSan 24 is an excellent deodorizer because it kills bacteria that are typically the source of odors.
37. Is SpectraSan 24 available in concentrate?
Yes. But under a different name. There is a concentrated version of SpectraSan 24 called Cruise Control™. However, it is only available to international customers since it is not currently registered with the EPA. At present, we are only offering the Ready-to-Use version of SpectraSan 24 in the US market.
38. Do I need to reapply SpectraSan 24 after cleaning the surface?
Yes, this is the safest course. We recommend reapplying SpectraSan 24 after a surface has been cleaned with a detergent solution. Not all detergent solutions affect the residual efficacy of SpectraSan , but we prefer to recommend caution.
On the other hand, cleaning with plain water will not adversely affect the efficacy of SpectraSan 24.
39. Can SpectraSan 24 be “worn off” by multiple hand contacts throughout the day? Such as many hands using the same door handle?
Common sense should prevail. If a particular doorknob – or other surface — is touched by hundreds of hands during a 24-hour period of time, common sense dictates that the mere friction created by all of these hands would gradually take its tool, and that the surface should be sprayed more than once per day.
On less frequently contacted surfaces, SpectraSan 24 should easily last 24 hours.
© 2010 BioTech Medical, INC.
All rights reserved.