Antimicrobial Copper is the most effective touch surface material in the fight against pathogenic microbes, killing greater than 99.9% of bacteria* within 2 hours of exposure. No other material, such as silver-containing coatings, comes close.
Laboratory research on the efficacy of Antimicrobial Copper has been carried out and verified at institutions around the world, including the UK (Aston University, University of Southampton, Kingston University), US, South Africa, Germany and Japan. Results have been peer reviewed and published.
Kill times vary according to organism, strain, level of challenge, copper content of alloy and temperature - being more rapid at 20°C but still with a considerable effect at 4°C. Copper exhibits efficacy under typical indoor conditions (humidity and temperature). Silver-containing materials (from two manufacturers) and triclosan behaved as the stainless steel control i.e. showed no antimicrobial efficacy under these conditions.