Microbe Guard®: A History of Confidence

This brief history is intended to provide the reader with background information on the antimicrobial used as a keystone in Microbe Guard's Antimicrobial Technology. You, the potential user of Microbe Guard's Antimicrobial technology, can benefit from a basic understanding of the following information on its chemical, physical and biological properties. The exceptional value of the Microbe Guard Antimicrobials at providing long-term protection against bacteria, fungi, and algae and their staining, odors, defacement and human health effects is played out in a myriad of medical, consumer and commercial products. Registered with the EPA in 1976 and used commercially since that time, the technology has been reviewed and re-reviewed by hundreds of large and small companies and academics, and confirmed in the real world by more than 30+ years of problem free use and daily contact with millions of consumers.

The History

Dow Corning Corporation, the largest supplier of silicone and silane chemicals in the world, began a pure research program in the late 1960's aimed at seeing if they could utilize organofunctional silanes as pesticides. They asked: "Could pesticides now be made that would not migrate into the environment by leaching or volatilizing by tying them to target surfaces with a silane? " The outcome would be safer, more efficient, and more effective pesticides, A tremendous variety of chemicals were made and tested. These included all kinds of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and bactericides. The screening tests included standard ASTM protocols, other standard tests, and a variety oftoxicological and environmental impact reviews. Out of this work came several patents and a focused effort on a particularly promising group Francisco. This brought the most promising of materials into the commercialization stages of Dow Coming's staging system. Because of the tremendous expense of staging a material for commercialization, especially one with EPA regulatory oversight, careful consideration is given each step. Passing the Dow Coming internal performance, safety and utility screens is often more difficult than dealing with regulatory agencies or with customers. By 1974, Dow Corning was moving aggressively toward full EPA registration and commercialization.

Scientific Validation

Important in this time frame was the publication of several technical papers in both chemical and microbiological technical journals. The significance of these publications is that noted scientists in these respected disciplines reviewed the work, recognizing the merit of this new and unique discovery and allowed such publications to be printed as scientific fact. Scientific publication with "peer review" is the beginning of a checks and balance system that the scientific community uses to sort out verifiable discoveries from casual observances. Subsequent to these original publications, ten additional peer reviewed papers and chapters to books have been scientifically "peer reviewed" and published. The quality of the data and the uniqueness of the discovery were such that manufacturer was granted Industrial Research magazine's prestigious IR-100 Award Submissions for this award are scrutinized by scientific review boards.

Commercialization and Real World Experience

Commercialization of this antimicrobial technology began in 1976 after receiving EPA registration under what are called "modern" standards of review. Years of research by Burlington Industries, outside laboratories, and Dow Corning verified the safety and utility of using this technology on direct human contact goods such as socks. Burlington's Bioguard brand socks revolutionized the marketing of that product.

Parallel to this project, American Hospital Supply Corporation (now part of Baxter International) was reviewing the use Francisco on surgical drapes and other medical non-woven products. The stringent rules governing the use of any particulates or chemicals that could enter the body via a wound, etc. made this review protocol very severe. Every available antimicrobial, medical and industrial, was screened for basic toxicity, effectiveness against the types of microorganisms encountered in surgery and compatibility with the variety of physical, chemical, and biological contaminants found on fabrics and in wounds, but most importantly, the agents durability to leaching. The consequences of contamination into a wound area are profound; formation of granules, granulosis, fibrin clots, and coagulation, into blood stream can cause clogging of critical blood vessels resulting in death. This work eliminated all other antimicrobials except what is known today as Microbe Guard Antimicrobial. American Hospital Supply Corporation, outside university laboratories and private laboratories contributed over thirty (30) studies verifying the safety and performance of this technology in medical use. FDA listings were obtained and ISO-BAC Medical Nonwovens were introduced to the market in 1979 and are still being manufactured today. A publication on this work is available.

The success of the sock program at Burlington Industries led to a review of other potential applications and carpeting became a major target area of commercial consideration. To provide durability, hence safety and long-term performance, again the Microbe Guard antimicrobial technology was chosen. Numerous real-world in-use durability and performance tests were carried out in hospitals, office buildings and airport terminals. Publications on this work are also available. Stimulation of the carpet market with durable antimicrobial treatment stirred the interest of the major carpet fiber manufacturers. DuPont, Allied and Monsanto all started research and development programs aimed at producing an antimicrobial carpet fiber. After testing and reviewing all available antimicrobials each of these companies decided to use this new technology. Although their use of this feature was short-lived, their technical assessment was unquestionable in its verification of the utility of the Microbe Guard antimicrobial technology, over any other technology available.

The Opportunity

These historical insights, along with the sales, technical and regulatory support resources of Microbe Guard Inc, should provide complete confidence in the validity of this technology as a valuable feature in a wide variety in commercial and consumer products. It's not defensive to say, "could all of these big, high tech companies be wrong". It is, instead, fully supportive of the value and safety of this technology. We hope this information is of value to you and your colleagues and can help us all move aggressively toward providing you and your customers with the best technological innovation supported with quality sales and technological services.