Frequently Asked Questions

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Most Popular FAQ

Can Protectus Viridis™ and Ultimate Eliminate The Virus Which Causes Covid-19?

Yes. The minimum requirement for to claim efficacy against coronaviruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) virus, is to pass the EN 14476:2013 + A2:2019 regulatory standard against the vaccinia virus.

While Protectus Viridis™ and Ultimate have not been specifically tested against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes the COVID-19 disease, they have met the requirement set by EU standards EN14476:2013 + A2:2019 which covers all enveloped viruses including the coronavirus.

From these results, both Viridis™ and Ultimate are effective against enveloped viruses and has met the minimum requirements set by EU standards to allow a claim to be made for effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

In addition, Viridis™ has been successfully tested against other, more robust, viruses. The Centre of Virus and Vaccine Research at Sunway University in Malaysia, led by Professor Poh Chit Laa, has been engaged by our SurfaceTech partners to conduct a number of local tests of Viridis™ in various childcare and dental settings as well as on microorgainsms such as Methicillin Resistant Staphalococcus Aureas (MRSA), E Coli and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, isolated from hospitals. In addition, Viridis™ was tested against Enterovirus 71A which causes the HFMD disease. Non-enveloped viruses such as EN-71A are difficult to inactivate, unlike enveloped viruses such as the coronavirus which is simpler and easier to kill. In the case of the coronavirus, the individual parts of the virus are held together by a lipid membrane with weak forces. That is why regular washing of hands with soap and water can break these parts up and destroy the virus.

Effectiveness

What is residual efficacy?

Residual efficacy means that the product forms a barrier that safe-guards against future contamination. This means that when you apply the product and let it dry, the surface is still coated. When the product is applied to frequently touched surfaces, the residual barrier layer stays effective for 4 – 24 hours. Less abrasive surfaces the product stays effective for up to 7 days.

What does anti-microbial mean?

This refers to any chemical that destroys or controls microbes, while not harming higher species such as humans or animals. Microbes include bacteria, fungi or yeasts, algae and viruses.

How long can ProtectUs Ultimate & Viridis™ protect you? How long does it last?

On surfaces, we have found that the number of times a surface has been touched is more critical than the length of time passing since application. We found that even after rubbing a Viridis™ or Ultimate protected surface with wet and dry wipes ten times, it still possessed a strong antimicrobial barrier after 24 hours.

What do you mean by 99.999% effective?

Since microbes are so small, they usually exist in incredibly large numbers, counting into the millions. 99.999% effective means, that during a test starting with a million microbe cells, it was found that more than 99.999% of the cells did not survive (999 990). And the remaining 10 cells would be too little to detect reliably, which is why it cannot be 100%, only ‘more than 99.999%’.

Through independent lab testing, Ultimate & Viridis™ have been found to be 99.999% effective against a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria, moulds and yeasts. RBT products have been tested against gram positive and gram negative bacteria and shown to kill at least 99.999% of bacteria. It was also successfully tested against antibiotic resistant bacteria (MRSA). It was also shown to be highly active against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses (like EV-71A).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and various governments have recommended the usage of alcohol-based hand sanitisers as a preventative measure against the spread of infectious diseases. Why do you claim that water-based sanitisers are more effective?

While alcohol-based hand sanitisers may be effective, they evaporate completely very quickly. If not enough of the product is applied, they may even evaporate before all virus particles are destroyed.

On the other hand, RBT Protectus Products actually stay on hands and surfaces after drying and forms a residual barrier, providing a far longer safe-guard. Furthermore, alcohol can dry out the skin while Viridis™ & Ultimate have been tested to be suitable for sensitive skin.

Can Protectus Viridis™ and Ultimate Eliminate The Virus Which Causes Covid-19?

There are other surface disinfectants in the market that claim to offer residual protection for several months? Is this possible and how effective is this?

For surfaces that are not touched or otherwise disturbed for months, this could be possible. However, as soon as a surface is regularly touched and contaminated, the residual protection will be worn off and deactivated much quicker. Worse, some of these products form a permanent bond to the surface. This means that the surface could be permanently modified without any antimicrobial effectiveness left.

The WHO have advised that even soap and water can kill coronaviruses. Why are they easy to kill?

The coronavirus is an enveloped virus, consisting basically of a lipid bilayer with embedded proteins and the RNA genome in its centre. The individual components of the virus are held together by rather weak bonds. Soap (or surfactants in general) are very effective in dissolving the lipid bi-layer and inactivating the virus in this way.

There are a lot of new disinfectant technologies and products being developed and introduced into the market. Some of them claim to provide protection on surfaces for several months. For example, it has been reported that some airports have been using this kind of technology for disinfecting, especially on lift buttons and doorknobs. How does it work and is it generally effective in terms of microbial efficacy?

These products will work for a certain time, probably even for months if left untouched. However, if touched and contaminated, dirt will build upon the surface and hide any antimicrobial surface underneath. Therefore, the surface needs to be cleaned (preferably with detergents) regularly for the surface to stay clean. Since these products are typically positive charged surfactants (cationic) and detergents are typically negative charged surfactants (anionic), this will effectively neutralise the active ingredients on the surface. Worse, the surface is now permanently modified by the coating, even though it is not effective!

Products And Ingredients

What are the differences between your hand sanitisers, multi-surface disinfectants and wet wipes?

Our hand sanitisers are specifically for hand hygiene, offering a residual barrier in the absence of soap and water. Our multi-surface and wet wipe disinfectants are applied on hard surfaces to kill pathogens and prevent recontamination.

What are the ingredients in Viridis™? Are they safe?

Viridis™ contains three classes of ingredients: organic acids, solvents and non-ionic surfactants. The ingredients are all used in cosmetics and well-known to be safe. The active ingredients in Viridis™ were assessed by the European Biocide Product Committee and found to be safe and effective for hand sanitisation and surface disinfection.

What do you mean when you say that Viridis'™ ingredients are biodegrabale?

Viridis’™ main ingredient is lactic acid and this occurs naturally in the human body formed from the breakdown of glucose. Lactic acid biodegrades and does not remain as a fluid in sore muscles long after anaerobic exercise. 2- phenoxyethanol and surfactants break down within 28 days.

2-phenoxyethanol is listed as one of the ingredients. Some reports state that 2-phenoxyethanol could be harmful - is this true?

All ingredients in Viridis™ have been carefully-selected and tested for their safety profile and effectiveness. They have been selected to prevent any long term damage, while keeping the highest efficacy. 2-phenoxyethanol is well-known and used as an antiseptic in medicine – newborn babies have even been treated with it without adverse effects. The European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has found it safe for use.

What is a surfactant? What surfactant is contained in Viridis™? Why is it important?

In short, a surfactant is a molecule that lowers the surface tension of a liquid and binds equally well to oils and water. This ability allows surfactants to remove dirt very well, which is why it’s the basis for soaps and detergents. We have surfactants in both Viridis™ and Ultimate. In Viridis™, we have a surfactant (lauramine oxide) to help the active ingredients with killing and deactivating microbes. Against enveloped viruses, like the coronavirus, surfactants, such as the ones contained in Ultimate and Viridis™ are highly effective in disassembling the virus particle and encapsulating its individual components.

Protectus Ultimate and Viridis™ contain surfactants which are basically detergents (similar to soap) which have the ability to dissolve fat and grease. In addition to its other active ingredient

Yes. Ultimate and Viridis™ are also very effective against gram-negative bacteria (e.g. E.coli), which have a more complex cell wall structure as compared to coronaviruses.

What is the difference between Viridis™ and other water-based products with quarternary ammonium compounds (quats), chlorides, hydrogen peroxide etc?

Other water-based (hand-) sanitisers often contain so-called ‘quats’ as the active ingredient. These generally work slower and are less effective as compared to Viridis™. Even worse, ‘quats’ are known to cause reproductive issues [Reproductive Toxicology Volume 59, January 2016, Pages 159-166]. Using these on a regular basis on the skin or around the household is not recommended, and their use is severely limited to certain industries, for example in the food industry, for consumer safety reasons.

Why is hydrogen peroxide, which is an ingredient in other disinfectants, dangerous? Is it effective?

Hydrogen peroxide is dangerous for a number of reasons:

Firstly, it is a strong oxidizer, which is why it is also used to bleach. As such, it can be corrosive to many surface materials – it can react violently with other chemicals and stringent safety measures are necessary, especially if handling concentrated liquid.

Secondly, it can lose potency over time, making it ineffective.

Thirdly, it generally requires long contact times or higher, more dangerous concentrations to be effective.

Vaporised hydrogen peroxide is also often used. This form of hydrogen peroxide is more effective, but highly toxic for inhalation even at small doses.

Testing And Safety

Where has Viridis™ been tested?

In addition to our own internal facilities, our products and results have been verified by independent laboratories in both the UK and Germany.

Furthermore, several universities (Sunway University and University of South Africa) have worked in partnership with some of our major international clients (Kuiper, AB-INBEV, etc) to verify the products efficacy.

Our partners, Surface Tech in Malaysia, have an ongoing consulting agreement with the Center of Virus and Vaccine Research at Sunway University’s labs to independently verify our testing claims and to conduct ongoing testing procedures for prospective clients.

What tests or research have you conducted to back up your findings or claims?

We have conducted testing with independent laboratories following European Norms for disinfection testing. Furthermore, we have done extensive research and testing to acquire relevant EU regulated certification for our products, such as, EN 14476, EN 1276, EN 13697, EN 1500, EN 1650, ISO 13485, ISO 9001 and Halal certification.

Where is Protectus Ultimate & Viridis™ manufactured?

The concentrates are currently manufactured in the UK by Residual Barrier Technology Limited.

Are Ultimate & Viridis™ flammable?

As our Protectus range of Ultimate and Viridis™ contain no alcohol, they are non-flammable.

Is Viridis™ or Ultimate suitable for children?

In general, children under 4 years old are not recommended to use disinfectants without adult supervision due to the nature of biocides. Eye contact and ingestion must always be avoided.

Will the use of Viridis™ or Ultimate dry your hands? Can people with skin sensitivities use Viridis or Ultimate?

The product was tested in a study performed by UK-based Cutest Ltd, a skincare consultant which offers independent testing, on 29 volunteers and found to be compatible with sensitive skin. Additionally, we have heard large volumes of testimonials from users who have used Ultimate and Viridis™ and displayed no symptoms like they would with traditional disinfectants and sanitisers. Many stated their hands were more hydrated than normal and appreciated it on their skin.

Usage

How do we best apply Viridis™ or Ultimate as a surface disinfectant for protection? What are the main areas users should apply in a household, office and factory environment?

Protectus Viridis™ or Ultimate should be regularly applied on high-touch surfaces, like doorknobs, light switches, phones, sink faucets, and toys. High-touch surfaces can become contaminated by direct contact with bodily fluids or through indirect contact with other contaminated objects, such as inadequately cleaned rags and sponges or improperly washed hands.

Pathogens can stay on surfaces if they are not properly disinfected. For example, the hepatitis A virus and rotavirus can survive up to one month on hard, non-porous surfaces, while noroviruses can survive up to 42 days on the same types of surfaces. High-touch surfaces have been shown to play a role in the transmission of pathogens both directly by surface-to-mouth contact and indirectly by contamination of hands and subsequent hand-to-mouth contact.

If regularly applied,both Viridis™ and Ultimate will protect these surfaces with its residual barrier from contamination and effectively stop this way of virus transmission.

Why does the user experience vary when Viridis™ sanitiser is applied using different delivery mechanisms? For example, when applied through the lotion pump, it feels soapy before it dries up and then gives the sensation of smoothness. In the case of mist or foam deliveries, it feels sticky before it dries up and then feels very smooth. Do the different sensations affect the biocidal efficacy and residual efficacy of the product?

When Viridis™ is applied through the foam pump, a lot of air is added to the liquid to make it foamy. This changes the tactile feel of the product on the skin as compared to spraying it as a liquid through the lotion pump. Such effects are totally expected and the better feeling of the foam is one reason to prefer it over liquid.

Viridis™ is acidic and contains organic acids. What surfaces, if any, should we avoid using it on?

Some surfaces are known to be sensitive to organic acids like lactic acid. One example is marble, where the calcium can be attacked by lactic acid. However, since the concentration of the acids is low, this effect is likely to be small. Still, it is best practice to try the product first with an inconspicuous spot on sensitive surfaces.

Additionally, through rigorous material tests continuously being carried out, Viridis™ has been found to oxidise brass and is not recommended on the use of brass objects.

What happens if Viridis™ or Ultimate disinfectant are applied on open wounds? Is it harmful or does it work similarly like an antiseptic killing microbes?

We cannot recommend using Viridis™ or Ultimate as an antiseptic on open wounds, since this would require extensive clinical studies and regulatory approvals. However, from our experience, the product does not burn on little scratches and skin blemishes as opposed to the burning sensation of other products like alcohol hand sanitisers. Furthermore, the active ingredients in Viridis™ are components of antiseptic products, and chitosan is used as a wound care product.

We have seen misting tunnels being used to spray disinfectants on people. Is this kind of application effective?

Yes, this is an effective application as this helps to prevent surface to surface contamination.

Secondly, a misting application helps to build up a residual barrier on the users clothing which will greatly reduce the spread rate of pathogens. Similarly, misting allows the RBT solutions to reach contaminated areas that would otherwise not have been accessible. For example, if a person uses public transport and unknowingly sits or makes contact with a contaminated surface, such as a seat. This means that the persons clothing is now contaminated and has a chance of spreading the contamination onto every other surface that they sit/come in contact with. Therefore, when the user walks through a misting booth, the mist will reach the contaminated surface.

Another reason is that misting with an RBT solution greatly disrupts surface biolayer which in time creates a disinfected environment for a longer period of time before recontamination.

How should I store Viridis™ and Ultimate products?

Like other household chemicals, they should be stored at in a dry place, ideally at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.

Is there an expiration date for the products?

The expiration period of the products is indicated as 2 years after the stated manufacturing date printed on the bottle. However, test results have shown that they continue to be effective after the expiration date if kept under proper condition.

What happens if Viridis™ or Ultimate are accidentally consumed? What actions need to be taken?

Rinse mouth with plenty of water. Do NOT induce vomiting. If you feel unwell, get medical advice.

Other

Where can I buy Viridis™ or Ultimate products?

Protectus Viridis™ and Ultimate can be purchased directly from RBT Ireland or any of RBT Globals approved distributors, pharmacies, supermarkets, convenient stores, petrol stations or online or other commercial websites.

How can I become a distributor, wholesaler or retailer of Viridis products?

We are looking for suitable partners to distribute our products. You can send us an enquiry here.

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