SCICAN
OPTIM 33 TB Wipes Surface Disinfecting Wipes Evaluation
OPTIM 33 TB Wipes offer exceptional surface cleaning and intermediate-level disinfection in a single, nontoxic, environmentally friendly product.
Recently introduced by SciCan, OPTIM 33 TB Wipes offer superior surface cleaning and broad-spectrum sanitizing in a single product, and all with an excellent environmental profile and an MSDS health hazard rating of 0.
The active ingredient in OPTIM 33 TB Wipes is accelerated hydrogen peroxide, a fast-acting germicide with a high safety and materials compatibility profile.1 As the fi rst EPA category IV (lowest toxicity classifi cation) cleaner/disinfectant widely available to dentists, OPTIM 33 is an intermediate-level disinfectant with 60-second bactericidal and virucidal activity against a wide range of organisms, including some that are normally resistant to many surface disinfectants. OPTIM 33 also can achieve a 99.9% broad-spectrum kill of vegetative bacteria in 30 seconds.
Ease of Use
When the group of 11 dentists and hygienists who evaluated OPTIM 33 TB Wipes were asked if the wipes can be easily removed from the container, 4 rated them as excellent, 4 rated them as very good, 2 rated them as fair, and 1 rated them as poor. The evaluator who cited convenience as her favorite feature said, “Being able to get them out of the container more easily” was what she’d like to see improved. Another evaluator said they “come out easily,” citing ease of use as the feature she liked most.
Workplace and Environmental Friendliness
Described by the manufacturer as quick, clean, and green, OPTIM products are made with a blend of powerful and safe chemicals that make them both workplace- and environment-friendly. The biodegradable OPTIM 33 TB Wipes contain no volatile organic compounds, are nonirritating to eyes and skin, and have no noxious fumes.
When asked about environmental friendliness, 6 evaluators rated the wipes as excellent, 2 rated them as very good, and 3 rated them as good. One evaluator cited the ingredients as the feature she liked most. Four evaluators provided positive feedback about the scent, with comments such as “no smell” and “the nonchemical smell is what I liked best.” An additional 4 evaluators would like to see the scent of the wipes improved. One evaluator who gave an excellent rating to all features except scent, went on to say, “It’s a great product. I would order it if they changed the smell.”
When asked if the wipes leave surfaces unharmed (not scratched), 8 evaluators rated them as excellent, 2 rated them as very good, and 1 rated them as good. One dentist noted that they “streak metal surfaces, leaving them looking dirty to patients.” Another evaluator said “surfaces might look scratched after the fi rst use but were cleaner than before after a few uses. The wipes cleaned the old off and made everything look better. They left surfaces clean with no sticky residue.”
Effectiveness
Formulated to clean and disinfect hard, nonporous surfaces and noncritical medical equipment, OPTIM 33 TB is water-based and won’t evaporate quickly. When asked if all wipes in the container contain moisture, 6 evaluators rated them as excellent, 4 rated them as very good, and 1 rated them as good. The hygienist who said they “didn’t stay wet enough” noted that “surfaces dried quickly. I needed to use 4 or 5 per room.” One evaluator said they “stayed wet long enough to cover all necessary areas,” and 2 dentists and 3 hygienists cited this as the feature they liked most, noting, “They stay moist to cover a large area” and “I could clean a room with just a few wipes. The treatment area stayed wet for over 5 minutes.”
When asked if 1 wipe covers a large area of use, 7 evaluators rated them as excellent, 2 rated them as very good or good, and 2 rated them as fair or poor. Two evaluators suggested that the wipes be a bit larger and/or thicker.
Overall Satisfaction
Overall satisfaction was rated as excellent by 1 evaluator, as very good by 7, as good by 2, and as fair by 1. “I loved this product,” said a Clark, NJ, hygienist.
Reference
1. Omidbakhsh N, Sattar SA. Broad-spectrum microbicidal activity, toxicologic assessment, and materials compatibility of a new generation of accelerated hydrogen peroxide-based environmental surface disinfectant. Am J Infect Control. 2006;34:251-257.
