In March (Friday the 13th to be exact), Labmate announced a new product from Anachem. The MobiWatch MaxiBIO may not seem like a scary device, but it spells doom for microbes that have been safe until now. This infection control system uses a dry mist to fully penetrate even the most inaccessible areas and fully disinfect them. Anachem markets this equipment to labs and clinical facilities that require a high level of overall sterility. A single unit can treat an area as large as 500 cubic meters in one session. Since the MobiWatch is readily portable, it can be moved from one room to the next to treat an entire building.
The key to correct treatment with this system is the use of Anachem’s sporicidal formula – MicroSol3. This solution can be sprayed as a tiny mist made up of particles that are smaller than 10 microns in size. Personnel can simply set the timer on the MobiWatch, leave the room before the cycle starts, and allow the aerosol decontaminant to do all the work.
The initial spraying period is about 15 minutes (depending on room size). In the next phase, the sporicide takes 30 minutes to fully disperse throughout the area. Finally, it settles in to do its deep cleaning over the next 60 minutes. After a total period of four hours (which allows the cleaning agent to deactivate), employees can safely return to the room and find it disinfected and free of hazardous residue. This short cleaning cycle reduces downtime for facilities that operate around the clock.
Equipment Features
Programming the MobiWatch is as simple as selecting the correct duration for the size of the room being treated. An oil-free compressor delivers a fixed spray rate to diffuse the disinfecting compound. Since the decontaminant relies on this small pressurized spray mechanism for initial dispersal, the manufacturer doesn’t recommend that it be used for spaces larger than 500m3. Otherwise, saturation of the entire area can’t be ensured.
Reachable surfaces in a facility can still be sprayed and wiped down by hand using any standard disinfectant. However, the MaxiBIO unit itself is not intended for use with off the shelf cleaning solutions. The equipment was designed specifically to work with Anachem’s proprietary decontaminating formula – MicroSol3+Sporicide. This product has a neutral pH and does not leave any fumes or odor. It is a hydrogen peroxide based biocide that has been tested successfully to eliminate bacteria, fungi, and viruses – even in tough spore form.
In addition to H2O2, the formula contains a chelator and a surfactant. The active ingredients attack spore capsules, cell walls, and membranes effectively destroying microorganisms. The surfactant makes the solution somewhat effective at penetrating irregular surfaces. It does work better than water at dislodging dirt. However, the mist is not intended to disinfect porous items.
The end product of the cleaning process is environmentally safe and does not require any post-cycle clean up. H2O2 breaks down naturally into oxygen and water. As of 7/2/09, the Anachem website shows that the delivery date for the MicroSol3+Sporicide is unknown. Perhaps demand has outstripped supply for this new product. If you have current sterilization needs, please take a moment to request our free report.