Teaming Up To Innovate Across Many Industries
Aereus Technologies has partnered with Olin Brass, one of the world’s oldest, most innovative and diverse producers of copper alloys, to introduce CuVerro Shield™ by Aereus Technologies – a new solid antimicrobial copper alloy solution that begins killing 99.9% of bacteria* on contact and can be used to enhance nearly any form or type of solid surface material – including metals, heat-sensitive wood composites, tiles, polymers, and plastics.
In 2008, Olin Brass exclusive line of CuVerro® antimicrobial alloys became the first solid surface materials to be granted “antimicrobial public health claims” status by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and was subsequently also registered to make public health claims with the PMRA in Canada. Since then, these innovative, adaptable and super-effective materials have become a game-changer in public health, sparking use in a broad range of industries and applications, across healthcare, education, hospitality, fitness, transit and beyond.
EPA Registration & Tests
CuVerro® bactericidal copper surfaces represent the first class of solid-surface EPA-registered materials that actively and continuously kill bacteria* 24 hours a day.
EPA Tests
CuVerro® alloys have been put through rigorous GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) testing by the EPA to evaluate their effectiveness in killing bacteria* responsible for many hospital acquired infections (HAIs). The three GLP test protocols used to support EPA registration of antimicrobial copper alloys with public health claims and associated findings:
1. Efficacy as a Sanitizer
CuVerro® surfaces kill bacteria within two hours, proving its efficacy as a sanitizer.
2. Wear Test:
CuVerro® efficacy does not wear out or wear down over time and continues to help inhibit the buildup and growth of bacteria* between routine cleaning and sanitizing steps.
3. Repeated Contamination Test:
CuVerro® surfaces work continuously to kill more than 99% bacteria*, 24 hours a day, even after repeated contamination.
These EPA tests used stainless steel as the control since it represents the most common material used in hospital and surgical settings. The data shows that copper efficacy significantly outperformed stainless steel in all three tests.
Public Health Claims
Based on EPA Registration, products made with CuVerro® can be marketed with the following public health claims:
Laboratory testing has shown that when cleaned regularly, this surface:
- Continuously reduces bacterial contamination, achieving 99.9% reduction within two hours of exposure, when cleaned regularly.
- Kills greater than 99.9% of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria* within two hours of exposure.
- Delivers continuous and ongoing antibacterial action, remaining effective in killing greater than 99.9% of bacteria* within two hours.
- Kills greater than 99.9% of bacteria* within two hours, and continues to kill more than 99% of bacteria* even after repeated contamination.
- Helps inhibit the buildup and growth of bacteria* within two hours of exposure between routine cleaning and sanitizing steps.
CuVerro® is proven effective against the following bacteria*:
E. coli O157:H7, a food-borne pathogen that has been associated with large-scale food recalls
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one of the most virulent strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria* and a common culprit of hospital- and community-acquired infections
- Staphylococcus aureus, the most common of all bacterial staphylococcus (i.e. staph) infections that can cause life-threatening diseases, including pneumonia and meningitis
- Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE), an antibiotic-resistant organism responsible for 4% of all HAIs
- Enterobacter aerogenes, a pathogenic bacterium commonly found in hospitals that causes opportunistic skin infections and impacts other body tissues
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that infects the pulmonary tracts, urinary tracts, blood and skin of immunocompromised individuals
To obtain a copy of our EPA Registration approvals, please contact us.