** Post below is shared and originally published by Derprosa, can be found here.
After more than 10 years of success with our gloss and matte Bacterstop films, based on their antibacterial properties, the world faced a new challenge, that of the need to protect against a new virus that has threatened, and still does, our way of life and of relating.
When Derprosa designed Bacterstop, we were aware that the additives used and the way of manufacture would allow a long-lasting, homogeneous and stable protection against not only bacteria, but much more extended to other types of microorganisms. Even so, given that the main focus of the need to be satisfied at that time was to prevent and avoid the spread of diseases caused by various types of bacteria, that was the position we adopted. Therefore, external tests carried out by specialized laboratories were tested in relation to bacteria the reason why we call this range of film, as is well known, Bacterstop.
For just over a year, the threat has been called coronavirus and society as a whole works and fights to avoid infections while we try to maintain our way of life, our habits.
In our case, the fastest resource to try to contribute was to check the antiviral qualities of Bacterstop and at the end of 2020 we obtained the first results. Indeed, it is a film with antiviral as well as antibacterial properties. It was then appropriate to change the name that better reflect the advantages and properties of the film and, for this reason, from now on Derprosa Bacterstop will be renamed Derprosa Antimicrobial, maintaining, however, the same product codes.
Antiviral. It reduces coronavirus presence by 73% after 12 hours
Tests were carried out by an independent laboratory according to ISO 21702 on antiviral activity of plastic surfaces and other non-porous surfaces.
Results:
Trials have shown that after 2 hours there is a 65% reduction in viruses in the surface area; after 12 hours there is a reduction of 73%. These reductions have been tested with the feline coronavirus (FCoV) strain Munich.
Why the feline coronavirus (FCoV) Munich strain was chosen for these tests?
- When we conducted the tests, the laboratories still did not have the capacity to test for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
- FCoV is the representative of the coronavirus family that is usually available in laboratories for testing.
- FCoV shares characteristics with other coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), in the composition and structure of its protective cover or capsid.
- The results obtained are indicative of the film’s antiviral behavior in relation to other viruses in the same coronavirus family.
Will effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) also be tested?
Soon we will also have concrete results of the level of protection of our Antimicrobial Derprosa against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). As soon as we have them we will share them here, on our blog. See post about its protection against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
Antibacterial. It reduces bacteria presence by 99% after 24 hours
Tests were carried out by an independent laboratory according to ISO 22196 on antibacterial activity of plastic surfaces and other non-porous surfaces.
Results:
Tests have shown that after 24 hours there is a reduction of more than 99% of bacteria on its surface. The bacteria used for this trial were Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia Coli (E-Coli).
These two bacteria were chosen because they affect humans differently and with commonly differentiated transmission pathways.
Summing up, Derprosa Antimicrobial, in gloss or matte finishes, provides protection and safety for any laminated paper product, such as restaurant menus, perfume packaging boxes, notebooks, book covers, commercial advertising, business cards, security cards, etc.