Protection is about the person, not the product

Antimicrobial Copper is the only solid surface material registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continuously kill bacteria* that pose a threat to human health. No other touch surface, including silver-containing coatings, has this kind of registration.

Antimicrobial Copper is the most effective touch surface and is the only such material with a US EPA public health registration.  This type of registration means that Antimicrobial Copper kills specific bacteria* that cause infections and pose a threat to human health.

Silver-containing coatings do not have public health registration.

Instead, these coatings are marketed under the so-called 'treated article exemption' which means the antimicrobial agent may only protect the product itself from non-specific bacteria that cause odour and degradation.  Such products are not proven to offer people any protection against disease-causing bacteria.

In contrast, products made from Antimicrobial Copper can be marketed in the US with the following public health claims:

Laboratory testing has shown that when cleaned regularly:

• This surface continuously reduces bacterial* contamination, achieving 99.9% reduction within two hours of exposure.
• This surface kills greater than 99.9% of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria* within two hours of exposure.
• This surface delivers continuous and ongoing antibacterial* action, remaining effective in killing greater than 99.9% of bacteria* within two hours.
• This surface kills greater than 99.9% of bacteria* within two hours, and continues to kill more than 99% of bacteria* even after repeated contamination.
• This surface helps inhibit the buildup and growth of bacteria* within two hours of exposure between routine cleaning and sanitising steps.