Bio-Free Advanced Antimicrobial
We Don’t Sell Healthcare Products, We Help Protect Them to Provide a Higher Standard of Care.
Does Infection Have to be a Part of the Healthcare Environment?
Healthcare Environments Demand Protection
Healthcare facilities, by the very nature of their operation, expose patients and staff to microbial contamination that can lead to infectious disease. Flooring, doorknobs, curtains, cabinets and those forgotten surfaces can potentially transfer contaminating organisms from surface to surface and person to person.
At the time of this paper’s writing Healthcare Associated Infections occur to approximately one in ten patients resulting in higher treatment costs increasing the potential for litigation. Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI), is among the top ten causes of death in the United States. HAI is estimated to result in as many as 98,000 deaths each year at an annual cost of up to $29 billion. Fight back by following a proper program which includes regular cleaning and use of disinfectants and sanitizers.
Odor & Deterioration Protection
In addition to an overall cleaning program, the Bio-Free™ technology provides protection against microbial contamination which can reduce costs and improve patient and staff confidence in the facility.
Bio-Free™ remains functional throughout the lifetime of the surface. Its mechanical form of protection does not support adaptive organisms. This superior technology will not leach onto the skin or into the environment. With over 40 years of safe and effective use, the EPA registered Bio-Free™ is the antimicrobial of choice for a variety of products.
How the Bio-Free™ Technology Works
Bio-Free™ attracts microorganisms with its ionic charge and physically ruptures the cell membrane upon contact. Bio-Free™ provides durable antimicrobial protection which is not removed even after repeated washings. Unlike other technologies, Bio-Free™ is never consumed so it continues to provide antimicrobial control for the life of the surface.
Hospital Blanket Study
A study was conducted that compared blankets treated with the Bio-Free™ technology to untreated blankets. Identified bacteria represented a wide spectrum of Gram (+) and Gram (-) organisms capable of producing staining, deterioration, and odors.
Simulation:
Both treated and untreated blankets were used to towel off sweat from a healthy male after one hour of intense exercise to simulate febrile diaphoretic patients. After an incubation period, the untreated samples had three times more bacteria than the treated samples.
In-Use Study:
Bio-Free™ Chemistry treated and untreated blankets were evaluated at a North Carolina 24-hour care facility. After a period of time, the treated blankets demonstrated a 95% reduction in microorganisms resulting in improved patient peace of mind.
Additional data has been generated by university, medical, and industrial laboratories representing some of the most extensive microbial work performed on antimicrobial treated substrates for use in the medical community.
Case Study:
The Arthur G. James Cancer Center Hospital & Research Institute at Ohio State University
The Disaster:
Just before its opening in 1990, a water pipe ruptured on the 12th floor of this 12-story building releasing more than 500,000 gallons of water. Despite high efficiency air filtration and a chlorine-based disinfectant fog throughout the building, large numbers of fungi and bacteria were retrieved from the air and surfaces at all levels of the hospital.
The Treatment:
All accessible interior surfaces (including carpeting, ceilings, walls, above ceiling space, furnishings, elevator shafts and mechanical and electrical chases) were treated with the Bio-Free™ antimicrobial.
The Results:
More than 80% of the tested sample sites saw a 99% reduction in microbes. The facility was free of odor and its appearance unaffected by the extensive application of the Bio-Free™ antimicrobial. Initial air samples retrieved greater than 2800 CFU/m3 despite aggressive cleaning and air filtration efforts.
One year later, retrievals averaged 0.08 CFU/m3. Two years later, retrievals averaged 0.04 CFU/m3. All newly added or modified surfaces were treated with the Bio-Free™ antimicrobial for five years after the initial treatments.
Tough on microbes, Easy on the environment
Over forty years ago, the need for an antimicrobial that did not leach into the environment was recognized by the scientists at Dow Corning Corporation. These scientists discovered this Microbe technology. Today, most people agree that controlling microbial growth and environmental sensitivity are both important.
Bio-Free™ delivers on both accounts. As a technology/business spinoff of the Dow Corning Corporation, Bio-Free™ has continued to work diligently at reducing our carbon footprint while delivering the best antimicrobial performance to our customers.
Bio-Free™ is truly unique:
- Controls microbial growth without the use of heavy metals, silver, triclosan or other leaching chemistries
- Controls the growth of microorganisms without the use of chemical poisons
- Provides durable antimicrobial protection
- Provides an environment that doesn’t promote the formation of adaptive organisms
- Provides bacterial and mold protection safe enough to wear.
Bio-Free™ Advanced Antimicrobial History
- Developed by Dow Corning Corporation in the early 1970’s, Original Patent in 1973, EPA Registered in 1976
- Bio-Free™ has been confirmed in the real world by more than 40 years of safe problem free use and daily contact with millions of consumers. In 2009, that same organofuctional silane chemistry cited in this paper was molecularly modified to create Bio-Free™, an antimicrobial that provides enhanced surface modification to include historical applications but also targeting new applications for hard surfaces. Bio-Free™ is allowed to cite all of the data and history as cited in this paper via its contractual relationship.
- Currently Bio-Free™ has 2 EPA Registrations, which includes FDA Food Contact Approvals and a U.S. Patent. Bio-Free™ is an Alternate Brand Name (ABN) for Tile Doctor Shield. Bio-Free™ is the exact same product with the exact same history as Tile Doctor Shield.
Scientific Validation
The Science of the active ingredient has been documented in hundreds of patents, and trade association papers from companies and universities around the world. With 40+ years of safe use and no negative white papers written.
The quality of the data and the uniqueness of the discovery was such that Dow Corning was granted Industrial Research magazine’s prestigious IR-100 Award for this technology. Submissions for this award are scrutinized by scientific review boards. The award is now called the R&D 100 Award and is often referred to as the Oscars of Chemistry Invention.
Working with our Team
While we did not invent the actual chemistry, we were the team who invented proprietary formulations and the process in which it is applied to most surfaces. Our team took a world proven, safe and effective chemistry that has no known environmental negatives and adapted it for an entire new focus of protecting all hard and soft surfaces. The innovation was so unique at the onset our work received an Edison Award in 2011 for Best New Product, and eventually our work was granted a US Patent in 2018 for a Product by Process Patent. Once our application is complete that item, surface or building the chemistry is applied to will have a new level of protection and an elevated standard of care. We call it, The New Definition of Clean®
Please allow our team to provide you the alternative to heavy metals, toxins or other unwanted chemistries.
