Wet wipes producer Nice-Pak announced that it has generated data showing its products (EPA Reg. No. 9480-5) demonstrated efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Nice-Pak’s wipes are sold under the Grime Boss brand, as well as many popular private labels. 

The testing was conducted in early May by Microbac, a premier testing laboratory that offers antimicrobial/antiviral testing for disinfectants, antiseptics, sanitizers and medical devices, and was completed in line with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test methods and guidelines. The data will be sent to the EPA for review and approval. If approved, Nice-Pak will update its products’ labels, providing consumers with a proven effective solution to kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus, when used according to label instructions.

“As the world continues to face the Covid-19 crisis – and as Americans start to reopen businesses and public spaces – effective cleaning and hygiene solutions will remain essential,” says Jim Dalton, vice president and head of Research & Development, Nice-Pak. “These positive test results support Nice-Pak’s mission and commitment to protect consumers from harmful pathogens and help keep them clean and healthy.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies and officials continue to recommend cleaning surfaces followed by disinfection (using EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2) as a best practice measure to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 in households and community settings. Frequent disinfection of surfaces and objects touched by multiple people is important, and can be easily done with a wipe product.

“Today’s announcement marks a critical step forward as we learn how to control and mitigate the SARS-CoV-2 virus to keep our communities safe,” says Robert Julius, chief executive officer,
Nice-Pak. “We look forward to working closely with the EPA as they review these important data, while continuing our ongoing efforts to meet the increased demand for wipes.”

Nice-Pak’s sister-company, PDI, announced its Super Sani-Cloth wipes, the No. 1 disinfecting wipe in healthcare, are effective against SARS-CoV-2. The data has been submitted to the EPA for review. This is one of several of the company’s hospital-grade disinfecting products being tested for efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 for submission to the EPA for approval. Testing of the additional disinfecting products is still underway and results are expected in the upcoming months.

According to the data, the wipes demonstrated a 3-log reduction against the virus. The wipes were tested in compliance with “Disinfectants for Use on Environmental Surfaces, Guidance for Efficacy Testing,” the EPA’s threshold for deeming a disinfectant effective.

“This was an important step in furthering our mission to protect patients and those on the front lines of preventing the transmission of Covid-19,” says Sean Gallimore, senior vice president and general manager for PDI Healthcare. “We are seeking SARS-CoV-2 EPA label claim approval for Super Sani-Cloth wipes to officially verify that the virus is being inactivated on surfaces, and ultimately protecting caregivers, patients and communities.”

Microbac Laboratories performed the efficacy testing using a multi-step process. First, the lab applied the virus to a surface and let it dry. Then, they wiped the surface with a Super Sani-Cloth wipe, recovered the residual liquid, and applied the liquid to cells in culture. How viable the cells remained told Microbac how effective the cloth was in inactivating the virus.

“This is an important step in understanding how SARS-CoV-2 responds to hospital-grade disinfectants,” says James Clayton, director of Laboratory Sciences for PDI, after reviewing the data. “The ability to reduce surface transmission of the virus is an important tool in the growing arsenal of preventative measures.”

Other PDI products included on EPA List N are currently being tested by Microbac and results are expected in the coming months.