US Environmental Protection Agency approves anthrax-killing sterilant
Categories | Cleaning | Cleaning Agents | Decontamination | Measurement Testing Analysis | Biological Analysis | Pathogen Identification |
sBioMed, a biotechnology firm located in Orem, Utah, has been awarded Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval of STERIPLEX Ultra for anthrax spore decontamination.
STERIPLEX Ultra is a liquid solution that can be applied using standard spray or automated dispersion devices. When used by specially trained individuals it provides quick and comprehensive decontamination of buildings, vehicles, ships, aircraft, personal protective equipment and other articles infected with anthrax spores while remaining harmless to the product users and the environment.
The product is said to completely destroy anthrax spores in less than 30 seconds, as demonstrated with suspension test methods, and to destroy spores in only 30 minutes when used on specialised carriers using full AOAC test protocols as certified by an EPA approved Biosafety Level III laboratory. The US military's bioweapons laboratory at Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah also verified the complete destruction of anthrax spores in less than 30 seconds in a suspension test using STERIPLEX Ultra.
According to the sBioMed founders, the world has long been interested in killing bacterial spores. When their life cycle is threatened by factors such as lack of food or change of temperature, some bacteria ¬ fortunately only a few – can turn themselves into endospores to wait for better conditions. They wrap themselves in layers of coating to become almost indestructible, and can lie dormant for thousands of years.
Anthrax remediation of the Senate Hart building, several postal facilities and other US government and private office buildings following the attacks in 2001 showed that decontamination is possible, but it has been, historically, very time-consuming and extremely costly. STERIPLEX Ultra claims to be able to decontaminate a building in a much shorter time and at a substantially lower cost, while also allowing reoccupation of previously contaminated areas within a reasonable time.
sBioMed has filed 61 global patents, including 18 in the US. The EPA has also approved the proposed sBioMed training course materials designed for STERIPLEX Ultra users.
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