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THE TECHNOLOGY

The products that we use

SteraMist®

SteraMist® was originally developed by the US Military (DARPA) in response to the 2001 Anthrax attacks. It was used exclusively by DARPA until it was established in a more mainstream capacity, with registration as a Hospital-Healthcare disinfectant with exceptional efficacy against viral pathogens beyond Anthrax. It is trusted globally for infection control purposes and is even used for mould and spore remediation.

The SteraMist® is unlike any other product on the market. By using Binary Ionization Technology (BIT) and a very low (7.8%) Hydrogen Peroxide solution, surfaces/rooms are sterilized and ready to use in minutes. No clean-up is required before or after treatment, meaning minimal downtime and interruption. No residue is left behind from the dry-mist, and even sensitive equipment is safe from damage and corrosion.

Product Features:

  • 100% Eco-Friendly
  • FDA Approved
  • EPA Approved (Lists G, H, L, K, M, N)
  • Authorized for sale by Health Canada
  • Utilizes Binary Ionization Technology
  • Touch-free application
  • Terminates all pathogen with a 99.9999% success rate
  • Leaves no odours or residue
  • Safe on sensitive items
  • Only labelled as an irritant
  • Effective treatment in minutes
  • Application takes seconds
  • Disinfection in five seconds
  • Can treat over 10,000sf in an hour
  • Can safe reprocess N95 masks/PPE up to 5x
  • Reaches surfaces that regular disinfectants and manual cleaners cannot

The pathogens that SteraMist® will terminate:

  • Bacillus atrophaeus1
  • Geobacillus stearothermophilus
  • Bacillus subtilis
  • Clostridium difficile spores3,4
  • Escherichia coli
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa3
  • Serratia marcescens
  • Salmonella entercia3
  • Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus)
  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)3
  • Bacillus atrophaeus vegetative cells
  • Aspergillus Niger
  • Aspergillus species
  • Cladosporium species
  • Penicillium Species
  • Stachybotryschartarum
  • Trichophyton mentagrophytes
  • Human rhinovirus16
  • Influenza A (H1N1)3
  • Norovirus3
  • Adenovirus
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas)

SteraMist® Surface Unit

The SteraMist® Surface Unit is a handheld, portable unit which allows the user to spray smaller spaces such as rooms and the sensitive items within them (from computers to medical equipment) in minutes. Our team of infection control experts will service you wearing full PPE to ensure that there is no risk of contamination, and they will also test the effectiveness of the treatment upon completion.

Unit Features

  • Terminates all pathogens within five seconds of contact with a seven-minute contact time
  • Disinfection of all surfaces, including high touch, sensitive equipment and electronics
  • Reaches surfaces that regular disinfectants and manual cleans cannot reach
  • Completely portable and scalable

SteraMist® Environment System

The SteraMist® Environment System uses three applicators and is better suited to larger rooms. Transportable and similar to the Surface Unit, the Environment System typically requires just over an hour to sanitize and decontaminate the area. Our trained technicians will treat multiple areas, saving time and effort.

Unit Features

  • Effective whole complete room treatment in just under 45 minutes* for a room (3,663.7 Cu/ft / 104 Cu/m)
  • Scalable for small or larger spaces, with no maximum requirements
  • Automated/remote-controlled system with downloadable data sets
  • Able to be converted into three hand-held Surface Units, extending disinfection reach

FAQ

What is Binary Ionization Technology® (BIT™)?

BIT™ is a patented two-step process that activates a less than 8% hydrogen peroxide solution producing a fine mist (AIHP) that contains a high concentration of Reactive Oxidative Species (ROS).

What is Activated Ionized Hydrogen Peroxide (AIHP)?

When BIT™ Solution is passed through the Atmospheric Cold Plasma Arc it becomes ionized, creating an Activated Ionized Hydrogen Peroxide (AIHP) mist/fog that allows the ROS to exist in high concentrations without rapidly recombining and losing their reactivity.

What is the difference between Activated Ionized Hydrogen Peroxide (AIHP) and Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP), Activated Hydrogen Peroxide (aHP) and Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour (HPV)?

After the two-step BIT™ process, the AIHP contains a high concentration of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which begins to react on contact deactivating problem microorganisms leaving no residue or noxious fumes, converting to oxygen and water (humidity). AIHP has short application, contact, and aeriation times and is safe for use on all electronic and medical equipment.

VHP is a high concentration (35%) hydrogen peroxide dry vapor that is highly corrosive, highly dependent on controlled humidity (RH), and not for use as a high-level disinfectant for reprocessing of critical or semi-critical medical devices.
aHP is a hydrogen peroxide and Silver anion solution that can cause buildup or residue with multiple uses and has limited room treatment/application parameters.
HPV also a high concentration H202 (30%), is considered HAZMAT, and due to lengthy treatment times, is highly corrosive on metals and other materials.

How does SteraMist® compare to UV light?

SteraMist’s AIHP goes everywhere – up, in, and around. UV is direct line of sight, like a light bulb. SteraMist carries the same concentrated ROS throughout the room, UV loses strength the further from the light bulb. Shadows from furniture and equipment cause major issues.

To combat this, operators will use reflective paint, multiple lights, or move equipment around to reduce the chance of missing an area. This requires an extra investment of time, personnel, and effort, but also of money – UV systems can be quite expensive.

How can it save me/my company money?

SteraMist® BIT™ is an economical, safe solution that is easily incorporated onto current cleaning protocols and can lower healthcare-related infection rates as proven in test hospitals, both domestically and internationally.

There is no clean-up required before or after treatment, which means there is less time involved. This allows us to price so aggressively because we are in and out – fast. Which cuts on labour costs. It is also safe to return to the premises immediately after treatment, resulting in minimal, to no business interruption.

With a healthy environment, you mitigate the risk of virus transmission and the build-up of harmful bacteria and pathogens. With the use of SteraMist® you reduce the risk of absenteeism and can increase staff productivity, as they know that their safety and well-being are being made a priority.

How much does it cost?

For residential, please contact our office to find out the cost which will be based on the square feet of your premises.

 For other inquires, we prefer to do site visits when quoting our clients to accurately gain a complete understanding oftheir needs. Our business model is based on providing custom tailored services to each client, and this allows us to do so. But we can also quote you over the phone based on the information you provide us if necessary. For example, in emergency situations, or in situations where a site visit is not practical, we can provide services based upon a time & materials agreement.

 For vehicle inquires, simply call our office!

 For those clients that experience emergency biological occurrences on a regular, but unplanned basis, we offer discounted service rates based upon an annual commitment.

Clients on a preventative or scheduled service plan enjoy discounted rates, monitoring between treatments, documented results, free consultation, and peace of mind.

What’s wrong with using bleach to disinfect?

Bleach is heavily marketed as a low-cost disinfectant. In practice however, bleach loses its cost advantage and its performance rapidly diminishes over time.

In the presence of organic matter (the everyday contamination we deal with), bleach loses its effectiveness and requires an extra pre-cleaning step, unlike today’s one-step cleaners/disinfectants. Its caustic nature often requires a secondary rinse unlike most modern disinfectants. In addition to the extra labor requirements, diluted bleach loses its effectiveness within 24 hours and must be prepared daily. Excess bleach must be discarded each day.

Of particular importance to many of our clients who are exposed to bleach on a daily basis, long-term exposure to bleach has well documented health consequences. And if that’s not enough of a reason to consider switching, prolonged use of bleach rapidly degrades furnishings and equipment, unnecessarily increasing your capital expenditures.

For Example:

Most citations for disinfection of C. diff in the environment states that bleach should be used or compares against bleach. So if bleach is so effective, why does C. diff continue to haunt us and sicken our patients? It is the fastest growing infection in our hospitals. The fact is that there are other chemicals that also work as sporicidals for C. diff as listed on the EPA K list. Other agents do work so why does bleach continue to be the mainstay?

A few reasons:
Bleach is easy to obtain and is cheap.
Bleach has been in the healthcare arena for many years.
The smell is familiar and not viewed as harmful by users, although data would suggest that respiratory problems are common in healthcare workers.

When treating your environment for viruses and pathogens regularly, it is important to use something effective that will not cause any health issues or leave any lingering odours.

Why shouldn’t we perform high-level bio-decontamination ourselves?

Protecting your organization from harmful contamination requires a significant investment in time and money to adequately reduce your risk level. With the exception of a few organizations with vast resources, it doesn’t make financial sense to invest in expensive equipment, staffing, training and maintenance requirements to properly decontaminate a facility.

On the other end of the spectrum, enhanced manual cleaning and the current selection of inexpensive equipment options have shown in repeated studies to have limited value.

Think closely when considering your bio-decontamination options

Double down and enhance your current cleaning efforts. While certainly an important step that shouldn’t be discouraged, increased labor and chemical costs don’t necessarily protect you from contamination residing in hidden spaces.

You simply can’t reach harmful microorganisms with enhanced manual cleaning despite your best efforts. And if you’re dealing with microorganisms that are easily aerosolized, your job is next to impossible. Your time and money is too valuable to waste with an ineffective method.

Purchase inexpensive equipment and attempt to perform decontamination in-house. If it were only that easy, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. While we all want economical options, today’s inexpensive equipment options have limited practical value to achieve anything other than low level disinfection of the least resistant microorganisms residing in the easiest to reach areas. Limited safety procedures, training and efficacy validation procedures expose your employees, clients or patients to undue liabilities. Harsh criticism certainly, but if you must validate high-level disinfection or sterilization efficacy levels in areas where contamination typically resides, your time and money is better spent elsewhere.

Purchase expensive equipment with a proven track record and perform decontamination in-house. We wish everyone could purchase the type of equipment we use at CSi, but the capital investment, training requirements and maintenance demands associated with this type of equipment only makes financial sense for a few organizations. Unless you have a dedicated staff and use your equipment every day, poor utilization rates and high support costs provide a poor ROI or return on your capital investment. In this day of increased budget scrutiny and intense focus on cost savings, you’re time and money is best spent on your core competencies.

We have a better option:
Outsource your decontamination problems to CSi and focus on running your organization:
Reduce your exposure to harmful contamination
Validate decontamination results
Start saving Time and Money
Your employees, clients and accountant will appreciate it!

Protecting your organization from harmful contamination requires a significant investment of time and money to adequately reduce your risk level. With the exception of a few organizations with vast resources, it doesn’t make financial sense to invest in expensive equipment, staffing, training and maintenance requirements to properly decontaminate a facility.

On the other end of the spectrum, enhanced manual cleaning and the current selection of inexpensive equipment options have shown in repeated studies to have limited value.

Think closely when considering your bio-decontamination options. Double down and enhance your current cleaning efforts. While certainly an important step that shouldn’t be discouraged, increased labour and chemical costs don’t necessarily protect you from contamination residing in hidden spaces.

You simply can’t reach all the harmful microorganisms with enhanced manual cleaning despite your best efforts. And if you’re dealing with microorganisms that are easily aerosolized, your job is next to impossible. Your time and money is too valuable to waste with an ineffective methods.

We have a better option:

Outsource your decontamination problems to STER-OL Infection Control and focus on running your organization, reduce your exposure to harmful contamination, validate decontamination results, start saving time and money, and your employees and clients will appreciate it!

How long does the process take?

This will depend on the size of the area being disinfected. A passenger vehicle can be fully decontaminated within 7-10 minutes, and we can treat up to 10,000sf within an hour.

How long does it last?

SteraMist® does not create a protective barrier. It disinfects or kills, unwanted pathogens on every targeted surface, but won’t protect those surfaces from becoming infected again.

That being said, institutions like medical facilities, schools and gyms may require more frequent applications because they are introduced to new, potentially harmful pathogens on a daily basis.

Does it leave a residue?

We are proud to say that SteraMist® will never leave any residues behind. Other disinfectants must dwell on surfaces, or remain visibly wet, for specified amounts of time in order to be effective and this can lead to streaking, damage and corrosion.

SteraMist® is a dry-fog that terminates everything within five seconds of contact, before disappearing. With that being said, it is safe to use on the most sensitive of items, so nothing is left untreated. Since other disinfectants will leave residues, items such as electronic, silks, and medical equipment are avoided and left untreated.

Is it safe to use on/around electronics?

SteraMist® is safe to use on all types of electronics. It will not cause any damages or corrosion, even with frequent usage. It is a medical grade disinfectant and trusted for the use in surgery rooms and on respirators! With other disinfection methods, such as electrostatic disinfection, can be performed around electronics as long as it is not applied directly, or at close range. It is also recommendedto put away paper documents, along with anything else you don’t want to be sprayed and damaged. But since SteraMist® is safe to use on all items, nothing hast to be put away and everything gets decontaminated! Providing you with a completely sterile environment!

How do I request a demo/more information about electrostatic disinfection?

There are many utilizing the power of SteraMist®!It istimesaving, it is effective and touchless application means there is no chance of cross-contamination. If you are ready to protect yourself and others, you can request more information about service by reaching out to our office directly. One of our infection control expects will be happy to help you, or arrange for a free demonstration!