New Lab Study Reinforces CHG Efficacy for Skin Antisepsis

A peer-reviewed laboratory evaluation published this quarter adds independent evidence that 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) in 70% isopropyl alcohol delivers rapid, broad-spectrum skin antisepsis with sustained residual protection.

Study Overview and Methods

The study followed a standardized skin-preparation protocol on healthy adult volunteers and in-vitro microbial panels. Evaluators measured log reduction at multiple time points, tracked the persistence of antimicrobial activity across 48 hours, and recorded tolerability of the formulation on intact skin.

Altogether, more than 1,200 individual test points were collected to model how CHG behaves across the clinical touchpoints most relevant to surgical site prep, vascular access and routine care.

Key Findings

• Fast-acting. More than 99.99% log reduction of common skin flora within 30 seconds of application.
• Broad-spectrum. Effective against staphylococci, enterococci and other organisms frequently implicated in surgical-site infections.
• Persistent. Measurable residual antimicrobial activity retained for up to 48 hours after a single application.
• Well-tolerated. Low irritation scores observed across repeated application cycles on intact skin.

"The results reinforce what clinicians observe every day: CHG does not just clean the site — it creates a persistent antimicrobial environment that lasts."

Clinical Implications

For surgical site preparation, vascular access and catheter maintenance, persistent antisepsis narrows the window for recolonization between application and procedure. Consistent, single-use applicators further reduce cross-contamination risk and support audit-ready, traceable compliance.

Why Hospitals Are Standardizing on CHG

Beyond efficacy, standardized CHG protocols simplify staff training, streamline documentation and deliver reproducible outcomes. As part of a complete skin-preparation workflow, 2% CHG + 70% IPA applicators give care teams a defensible, evidence-based standard of care — from surgical prep to everyday injections.