For the past fourteen months, hypochlorite has been the cornerstone of disinfection in India. All modes of cleaning are compulsorily followed by the application of hypochlorite in some form, as recommended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). But over time, facility managers have also realised that it is not a one-size-fits-all solution; hypochlorite can permanently damage surfaces like marble, metal and more.
Apart from its proven efficacy against Covid-19 virus, one of the reasons hypochlorite is recommended by MoHFW is that it is readily available and highly affordable; hence, it is suited for mass use. But the MoHFW also permits the use of any disinfectant against Covid as claimed by the label or registered with the state FDA. Enter Diversey’s Oxivir Tb one-step cleaner-disinfectants. Based on patented Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP) technology, Oxivir cleans and disinfects in a single step, with lab-tested efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, within a contact time of just 15 seconds. Dr Prashant Pandey – Director R&D and Regulatory, Diversey India and Vijay Murthy – Director Marketing, Diversey India spoke to Clean India Journal about this revolutionary new product for the Indian market.
AHP technology
The WHO recommends washing hands for at least 20 seconds; imagine a cleaning chemical which can disinfect an entire surface in less time than that: Just 15 seconds!
That is the power of AHP, a patented, synergistic blend of commonly used, safe ingredients which when combined with low levels of hydrogen peroxide, drastically increases its germicidal potency and cleaning performance. “The formulation is such that the power of peroxide – which is the active ingredient – is enhanced multi-fold,” said Dr Pandey. The Oxivir series of products is powered by AHP, which is also effective against Norovirus, Adenovirus and Poliovirus.
Explaining the mechanism of action of AHP against Covid, Dr Pandey said: “AHP binds with the spike protein structure of the virus and ruptures the particle itself, killing the virus immediately.”
Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water shortly after use, leaving no residue from the active ingredient to enter the waste stream or the environment. The other constituents of AHP keep surfaces wet throughout the required contact time, which is a significant advantage over rapidly evaporating high-alcohol products or quaternary disinfectants which require longer contact times.
Prashant Pandey
The 15-second test
According to a Diversey press statement, testing was performed under the EN (European Norm) procedures in an accredited independent laboratory. It was conducted based on the TS EN 14476+ A1: 2019-09 standard.
Dr Pandey explained: “The contact time required by a chemical with a particular pathogen can be measured either on a dry surface or in suspension media. European Union standards use suspension tests as Global standards.”
In case of Oxivir TB, the strand of SARS-CoV-2 used for testing was a clinical isolate; no surrogate virus was used. Within fifteen seconds Oxivir passed the test, destroying the pathogens.
The testing conditions certify that it is efficacious even in soiled conditions, there is no need for cleaning beforehand.
EU standards vs Indian standards
While Oxivir is already recommended for use against Coronavirus in EU and US, are EN certifications (recognised across the world) valid for recommending its use in India?
Dr Pandey said: “Hydrogen peroxide as a chemistry is a well-known disinfectant under Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) and Indian FDA norms. World over, very few labs have access to do microbiological tests on clinical isolates. As a global company, we have used our global scientific knowledge and brought AHP-powered Oxivir TB liquid for India’s fight against Covid-19. Additionally, Oxivir Tb is also a registered and Indian FDA approved product for surface disinfection.”
Murthy added: “Before the pandemic, this product was imported. Now, it is manufactured in Indian itself.”
Citing its green credentials (since it leaves no residues), he added that Oxivir is high up in the pecking order in Diversey India’s portfolio of offerings, including quaternary ammonium compounds and multipurpose germ-kill offerings.
Vijay Murthy
The advantage of Oxivir Tb wipes
While a liquid cleaning chemical can be sprayed, once this is done, it needs to be wiped with a substrate, which either gets contaminated or needs to be discarded. Oxivir Tb Wipes come preloaded with the cleaning liquid in the required amount; no additional wiping is required.
Also, by using wipes instead of a spray, there is no spillage or waste of chemicals, nor does the latter come in contact with the body.
Being a one-step cleaner disinfectant, using Oxivir also helps to save on cleaning time. For example, at the height of the second wave, CT scan centres saw hundreds of Covid patients a day; the single-step, fifteen-second cleaning-cum-disinfection offered by Oxivir wipes significantly reduced turnover time between patients.
However, Oxivir Tb is also available in liquid form as a spray when a larger area has to be covered and is also effective against fungi when used with a longer contact time.
Diversey has also recently introduced a new product in the Oxivir range called Oxivir Plus, which is available in super concentrated form for healthcare facilities; it is effective against spores and all other pathogens too.
