A novel rapid and effective donor arm disinfection method

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to derive a donor arm disinfection technique that was rapid, but with a disinfection efficacy equivalent to a previous “best‐practice” technique. This method consisted of a two‐stage procedure with an initial application of 70% isopropyl alcohol and then 2% tincture of iodine (IATI). The total time for the IATI method was 2 minutes in duration. A rapid technique (1 min in duration) was needed to obviate potential problems due to increased donor waiting time, had the IATI method been implemented at blood donation sessions.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A direct swabbing and plating technique was used to enumerate bacteria present before and after disinfection. In total, seven methods were evaluated.RESULTS: The chlorhexidine/alcohol applicator (CAA) disinfection device containing 1.5 mL of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% isopropyl alcohol (99.91% reduction; confidence limits, 99.55%, 99.98%) was shown to have equivalent disinfection efficacy as the IATI method (99.89% reduction; confidence limits, 99.36%, 99.98%; p = 0.86). Procedural time for the 1.5‐mL CAA method was 1 minute thereby avoiding potential problems of increased donor waiting time, inherent in the IATI 2‐minute procedure at blood donation sessions.CONCLUSIONS: The 1.5‐mL CAA disinfection method offers blood services a rapid and effective donor arm disinfection procedure. In 2006, the 1.5‐mL CAA procedure was implemented throughout the entire English blood service for all donations.