(Image from Noble Biomaterials)
Noble Biomaterials announced today that third-party testing showed one of its metallized fabrics reduced the viability of a common, strong strain of coronavirus.
In testing conducted by BioScience Laboratories, Noble Biomaterials’ X-Static fabric reduced the survival of human coronavirus OC43 six times faster than the unmetallized control fabric, according to the Scranton, Pa.-based company.
X-Static is made by permanently bonding metallic silver to the surface of the fiber, according to the company’s website. Noble Biomaterials said in a news release that it has supplied companies on five continents with enough antimicrobial products to make tens of millions of pieces of PPE, as well as other soft-surface materials that provide antimicrobial protection to patients and healthcare workers.
Companies including Ag Scrubs use X-Static in their PPE. Toray Textiles sells fabric for PPE use containing X-Static. Arc-Com uses it in hospital privacy curtains.
“As a major supplier to the healthcare, military and consumer industries, we wanted to have a neutral third party test our fabric technology to ensure it could help reduce the viability of the virus,” said Noble Biomaterials’ CEO Jeff Keane in the news release. “These lab results provide critical safety information for our partners, particularly in the healthcare industry, where cross-contamination and infection prevention are constant concerns.”
In addition to being registered as an antimicrobial with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, X-Static holds multiple 510(k) FDA clearances for advanced wound-care and burn-care dressings and has undergone extensive safety testing, according to the company. It is also OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
“Our mission has always been to protect, so we’re grateful that our lab-tested materials are able to provide another layer of protection for healthcare workers, patients and consumers during this healthcare crisis, whether the fabrics are used for scrubs and surgical gowns, bedding and privacy curtains, or consumer masks and apparel,” Keane added.
