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Why All Reptiles Keepers Should Use F10 Disinfectant

by Gary Rolfe on in Products

Northampton Reptile Centre has been using F10 products to safe guard our animals for years. The F10 product range is used in many of the world’s leading veterinary hospitals and is widely recognised as being the most effective means to keep you, and the animals in your care, safe from disease.

Generally the products are based on a novel formulation of core actives which have a quick kill, broad spectrum (bactericidal, fungicidal, virucidal and sporicidal) biocidal performance giving greater than a log 5 reduction in microbes but at the same time are safe to use.

F10 SC disinfectant is available as a ready-mixed solution in a spray bottle, but is also available as an incredibly cost effective F10 SC disinfectant concentrate. The power of F10 is also available in a range of other disinfecting products including;

Here comes the ‘science bit’…

F10 Core Actives

The F10 disinfectant and treatment range are based on F10's tested and proven core actives a quaternary ammonium compound, Benzalkonium Chloride, and a biguanide compound, Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB). The antimicrobial mechanism of action of the F10 products is derived not only from that of each of the individual compounds, but also the novel synergistic action of the components.

The attributes of the F10 Core Actives are:

Efficacy:

 

  • total spectrum activity
  • bactericidal
  • fungicidal
  • virucidal
  • sporicidal
 Speed of kill:

 

  • gram positive bacteria
  • less than 15 seconds to fungicidal in 15 minutes
 Safety:

 

  • non toxic oral and dermal LD50 > 5000mg/kg,
  • inhalation nil
  • ocular irritation draize score 4 @ 1hr, 2 @ 4hrs
  • skin irritation 0 score after 48 hrs on both intact and abraded skin
  • free rinsing
  • very low insoluble matter content
  • aldehydes and iodine free
  • biodegradable
Equipment friendly:

 

  • Olympus approved
  • noncorrosive after 30 days on polished aluminium
 Testing:

 

  • SABS, SAIMR, ARC, Inst. for Animal Health, Vet Institute, Vet Faculty Poultry Lab
Approvals:

 

  • Act 29 in SA, Act 36 in SA, MAFF in UK, MAF in NZ.
  • NRA, TGA, AQIS in Aus, Min. of Ag. In Uruguay.
 Quality Marks:

 

  • SABS 636, 639; SABS 1828
 Economical:

 

  • good dilution rates

 

Performance and speed of kill of F10 SC Veterinary Disinfectants

Micro- organism Dilution Contact Time
Gram Positive bacteria: e.g. Staphylococcus aureus 1:1000 water 2 minutes
Gram Negative bacteria: e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1:500 water 2 minutes
Fungi,Yeast, Moulds: e.g. Candida albicans 1:500 water 15 minutes
Fungal spores: e.g. Aspergillus niger 1:250 water 30 minutes
Virus: e.g. Newcastle Disease Virus 1:500 water 10 minutes
Rabies 1:500 water 30 minutes
Infectious Bursal Disease 1:250 water 20 minutes
Parvovirus 1:125 water 30 minutes
Bacterial spores: e.g. Bacillus subtilis spores 1:125 water 30 minutes

 

F10 Wipes Solution is effective against E. coli, S. aureus, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans in less than 30 seconds

Test data

There is a large amount of test data pertaining to the efficacy of the F10 range. Some example of the commonly requested organism are listed here.

For further details, or information on organisms not on the sample list please visit the site of the South African manufacturers, Health and Hygiene (Pty) Ltd.

Testing standards

  • South African Bureau of Standards
  • South African Institute for Medical Research
  • South African Vaccine Producers (Pty) Ltd
  • University of Pretoria, Poultry Reference Laboratory
  • Agricultural Research Council, Veterinary Institute, Onderstepoort
  • Agricultural Research Council, Animal Improvement Institute, Irene
  • Complies with AFNOR standards, as well as EN Standards for chemicals and antiseptics within the EU

Safety Data Sheets

F10 SC Veterinary disinfectant products are:

Non-toxic

  • acute oral and dermal LD50 > 5000mg/Kg
  • inhalation – non toxic

Non-irritating

  • Proven in supervised independent field trials
  • score of zero on intact and abraded skin when tested to SABS method 671

Free rinsing

  • complies with (SABS 1593 6.11).

Water insoluble matter content

  • 0,3g/litre (SABS 1593 6.12)

Biodegradable

  • zero hazard rating to EU standards

Non-corrosive

  • passed SABS 1615 after 30 days

Approvals

  • SABS Approval Mark 636 and 639, for Efficacy and Quality Assurance
  • SABS Mark 1828. Chemicals for use in the Food Industry approval to EU Standards
  • SABS Standards Act 29/1993 Compulsory registration of disinfectants
  • SA, National Department of Agriculture, Stock Remedies Act 36 for surfaces, equipment and air spaces
  • NZ, MAF approved for food, beverage, farms, and factories.
  • Australia, NRA, TGA, AQIS for surfaces, equipment and air spaces
  • Uruguay, Min of Ag for surfaces, equipment and air spaces

About Gary Rolfe

Gary has worked with fish and reptiles for over 20 years and currently works as the head of ecommerce for Northampton Reptile Centre.

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