Sani-Cloth^® Plus Germicidal Disposable Cloth

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can PDI Germicidal Wipes ship by air transportation?

  Most Sani-Cloth^® brand germicidal wipes can be shipped via air transportation. However, Sani-Cloth^® Prime, Super Sani-Cloth^®, Sani-Cloth^® Plus, and Easy Screen^® wipes cannot be shipped by air due to shipping regulations and must be transported by ground only.

• Can Sani-Cloth® Germicidal Disposable Wipes be used on toys?

  Sani-Cloth wipes are available in EPA-Registered formulations that are approved and labeled for use on hard, non-porous toys. The products clean and disinfect in a one-step process, unless visibly soiled. Once disinfected, toys should be rinsed with potable water (tap water) to remove any residue and allowed to air dry. According to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the recommended procedure for disinfecting toys is “Toys should be cleaned/disinfected between patients, especially those that are visibly soiled, mouthed, or used by patients in isolation. Toys should be washed thoroughly; disinfected with a non-toxic, low-level disinfectant and air dried completely.” Infection control experts recommend only washable toys for sharing. Stuffed animals and toys that cannot be cleaned and disinfected should not be shared.

  SOURCE: APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Chapter 39, p. 14-15, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, 2011. www.apic.org

• Do PDI Germicidal Disposable Wipes contain any ingredient listed as carcinogenic?

  PDI disinfectants DO NOT contain any ingredients listed as a carcinogenic by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). To register any disinfectant product with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the manufacturer is required to provide the EPA with the product’s manufacturing process, active and inactive ingredients, efficacy, chemistry, toxicity, and information about relevant impurities. The EPA conducts a thorough review of these materials and product’s ingredients. The agency would not register any product if it contained carcinogens without requiring relevant label warnings (40 CFR 156.10(g)(7)). As such, Sani-Cloth® Wipes do not contain carcinogenic label warnings.

• Does NFPA 30 apply to PDI disinfectants (Germicidal wipes)?

  NFPA 30 applies to the storage of flammable and combustible liquids. PDI products, including Sani-HyPerCide® wipes, Sani-Cloth® Prime wipes, Super Sani-Cloth wipes, and Sani-Cloth Plus cloth, as well as Easy Screen® Cleaning Wipe, are exempt from the requirements of NFPA 30. This is because the scope of NFPA 30 (Section 1.1) states that it applies to the storage, handling, and use of flammable and combustible liquids. Even though our products contain liquids that have been classified as flammable on the SDS, the wipes themselves are not classified as liquid products. Rather, they are wipes impregnated with flammable liquids, even though there may be a small amount of free liquid in the bottom of the canister. According to the EPA, wipes are classified as a mixture product containing solids and liquids. The NFPA has also confirmed that wipes are not considered to be liquid for the purposes of NFPA 30. In addition, NFPA Section 9.1.4(4) states that it does not apply to “medicines, foodstuffs, cosmetics and other consumer products that contain more than 50 percent by volume of water-miscible liquids, with the remainder of the solution not being flammable where packaged in individual containers that do not exceed 5L (1.3 gallons) capacity.” For the above reasons, NFPA 30 does not apply to PDI products. Please verify these storage requirements against your insurance carrier requirements since they may be more stringent than NFPA 30.

• What are the levels of disinfection for PDI EPA-Registered products?

  All of PDI’s Sani-Cloth^® brand products are EPA-registered and meet or exceed CDC recommendations for cleaning and disinfection in healthcare facilities.

  Products with an efficacy claim against Mycobacterium bovis (Tuberculosis) are classified as intermediate-level disinfectants.

  This includes:

  • Sani-HP1™ Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-17)
  • Sani-HyPerCide^® Germicidal Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-16)
  • Sani-Cloth Prime Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-12)
  • Sani-Cloth AF3 Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-9)
  • Super Sani-Cloth Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-4)
  • Sani-Cloth Bleach Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-8)

  Products without a Tuberculosis claim are classified as low-level disinfectants, including:

  • Sani-Cloth Plus Germicidal Disposable Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 9480-6)

• What is contact time and what happens if the surface dries before the stated contact time on a Sani-Cloth® product label?

  The contact time listed on the product label is the total amount of time that it takes to inactivate ALL of the microorganisms listed on the product label. This time is typically referred to in minutes, and should be communicated to staff members that are utilizing the disinfectant.

  Per EPA guidance, treated surfaces must remain visibly wet for the full stated contact time in order to achieve the efficacy claims on the label. If a surface dries too quickly, additional wipes may be needed to keep the surface wet. The overall contact time itself does not change.

  Surfaces may sometimes dry before the stated contact time due to factors such as airflow and ventilation, temperature, humidity, or the material/porosity of the surface. This is not uncommon in healthcare environments, which often have high air exchanges and low relative humidity.

  While the EPA requires that treated environmental surfaces remain wet for the full contact time, some leading researchers in infection prevention have offered an alternate view. In a commentary published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (March 2018, vol. 39, no. 3, pp 229–231), Dr. W.A. Rutala and Dr. D.J. Weber suggested that contact time and treatment time are mutually exclusive, and that treatment time — regardless of visible wetness — may be sufficient for wipes (except bleach products). PDI continues to monitor this research closely and will provide customers with the latest information as regulations permit.

• What personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when using PDI Germicidal Wipes?

  For all PDI products, according to the label instruction, the use of gloves or other PPE may not be required to handle the product, particularly in non-clinical settings. Therefore, the routine use of PPE is not required unless potentially infectious blood or bodily fluids are present or if specifically referenced in the usage instructions. If bloodborne pathogens are present, such as HIV, HBV, and HCV, follow label instructions. You should, however, wear PPE as appropriate in accordance with your facility protocol. Also, in compliance with good industrial and health hygiene, you should wear gloves when cleaning and disinfecting in a patient setting.

• Where can I find the expiration date for PDI's Germicidal Wipes?

  The expiration date is stamped directly on each product in MM/YYYY format. Shelf life varies by formulation:

  • Sani-Cloth^® AF3, Super Sani-Cloth^®, Sani-Cloth^® Plus, and Easy Screen^®: 24 months from date of manufacture
  • Sani-Cloth^® Prime, Sani-HyPerCide^® and Sani-HP1™: 12 months from date of manufacture
  • Sani-Cloth^® Bleach: 11 months from date of manufacture

  Products can be used until the printed expiration date.

• Do Sani-Cloth®, Sani-Prime® and Easy Screen® products carry California Proposition 65 Warning?

  Sani-Cloth, Sani-Prime and Easy Screen products DO NOT carry California Proposition 65 Warning. Proposition 65, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires the state to maintain and update a list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.

• Some PDI products state "store at room temperature." What is the definition of room temperature?

  For our EPA-regulated products, such as Sani-Cloth^® AF3, Super Sani-Cloth, Sani-Cloth Bleach, Sani-Cloth Plus. Sani-Cloth Prime, Sani-HyPerCide^® and Sani-HP1™ brand products, room temperature within a temperature range of 20◦ to 25◦ C (68◦ – 77◦ F) degree for room temperature and within a temperature range of 15◦ C to 30◦ C (59◦ F to 86◦ F). For our FDA-regulated products, such as Prevantics^® brand products, “controlled room temperature” indicates a temperature maintained thermostatically that encompasses the usual customary working environment of 20◦ C to 25◦ C (68◦ F to 77◦ F).

  SOURCE: USP 41-NF 36 General Notices and Requirements (August 1, 2013 First Supplements) Section 10.30.50. “Room Temperature” indicates the temperature prevailing in a working area. Section 10.30.60. Controlled Room Temperature

• Which products are compatible with my equipment?

  Our products are designed to be compatible. Extensive work has been performed on materials and equipment to confirm compatibility. For information on Compatible by Design™, our comprehensive program and resources for improving healthcare equipment compatibility, review our “PDI Material Compatibility Reference Guide”, our resources, and use our Equipment Compatibility Tool to learn more!

  Please refer to the surface or equipment manufacturer’s guidelines for approved disinfecting instructions and contact your local PDI representative or Customer Care with any additional questions..

• Are eye wash stations required for areas where Germicidal Disposable Wipes are utilized?

  Eye wash stations are not required for areas where Germicidal Disposable Wipes are utilized as intended for surface disinfection. Although Super Sani-Cloth^®, Sani-Cloth Prime, Sani-Cloth Bleach, Sani-HyPerCide^®, Sani-Cloth AF3, and Sani-Cloth Plus are classified as eye irritants, there is no OSHA or ANSI regulation that requires an eye wash station for eye irritants and therefore one not needed for these products.  Handling of any chemical product, whether category 1, 2, 3, or 4, include using PPE when required, engineering controls if appropriate, and safe work practice controls to minimize any risk of exposure

• What is a Master Label, and what information does it include?

  A Master Label is the EPA-approved document that defines the approved uses, claims, and safety requirements for a disinfectant product. It provides the complete framework for how the product can be marketed and used in healthcare and other environments.

  A Master Label includes key information such as: company name and address; the EPA Registration and Establishment Numbers; approved efficacy claims; toxicity classification; directions for use; required contact times; storage and disposal instructions; first aid and precautionary statements; and any marketing claims reviewed by the EPA.

  To review a product’s Master Label, visit the EPA Master Label Lookup Tool [https://ordspub.epa.gov/ords/pesticides/f?p=PPLS:1] and search by EPA Registration Number.