I was poking around the first aid aisle of a supermarket as I often do and stumbled on the Swab-Plus 3 step first aid kit. I was curious enough to buy this because it had ready-use swabs of both povidone iodine and lidocaine/Benzalkonium Chloride.

On closer inspection, the swabs are packaged in non-sterile plastic pocket packs that don't appear to be air tight. So that means to me:
a) I wouldn't want to use either of these on open wounds since the package is clearly labeled non-sterile
b) because the swabs themselves have a tendency to dry out the liquid inside (from my own personal experience, your mileage may vary), and they are not individually wrapped chances are you if you don't use them right away the liquid will have probably evaporated.

For those who haven't seen the swab-plus products they're the size and shape of Q-tips and you snap one end to release liquid into the swab at the other end. Since it's difficult to find small single-use packages of povidone iodine (aka Betadine) without sending away to medical supply stores or purchasing a full kit I was hoping this would be a good candidate for a small first-aid/supply kit but I would think the reasons above would be a deal breaker.

Does anyone with a medical background care to weigh in on this, I've always read that you never want to apply anything to a wound that is non-sterile. I won't even bother rating the generic bandages that came in the package since as Doug points out the plastic ones are usually throw-aways that should be replaced anyway.

So, is there any reason at all to carry a non-sterile povidone iodine or disinfectant applicator in a first aid kit? The only legit use I could see would be disinfecting unbroken skin like for an IV or syringe needle but no one is going to buy that in a supermarket so I guess I'm confused and out a few bucks.

Product link: http://www.swabplus.com/product_list.asp?catid=1

vt52, check your PM.

Dave

This is just off the top of my head, but what's going to grow in Betadyne? I wouldn't be surprised to find that the gallon jugs of it aren't sterile either.

Once you open a tube of Neosporin, it probably isn't sterile for long, but since the stuff itself is supposed to kill nasties, you don't need to toss a one-ounce tube after using it once.

I could be missing something here..... We need a professional to chime in here, I guess.

Sue

There is no reason to worry that the swaps are not sterile. They are what one might call a “clean” product. They are produced under clean conditions, any bacteria that might have contaminated the tip of the swap, really does not have any organic food source to grow and multiply.

When the povidone iodine or lidocaine/Benzalkonium Chloride ampoule is broken and the fluid absorbed into the tip, any remaining organisms would be killed. I use the lidocaine/Benzalkonium Chloride swaps all of the time for minor cuts and abrasions. They are nicely packaged in a plastic case to reduce the chance of snapping the swap.


Pete

Wait a minute...they make single-use packets of Betadine? Like ketchup packs? Where can I get some? I don't care if I have to buy a case lot...I'll hand them out for free to my friends and family! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I've been spending a lot of time on Utahmountainbiking.com's first aid page since they have in depth coverage on treating various outdoors injuries (rekindling my obsessing on this topic since I last built a kit using this site).

The doctor guy there promotes woundcareshop.com and they've appear to have everything from 1-1/4" prep pads to gallon jugs of povidone iodine. You and your friends can have a betadine party <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Other than that single-use Betadine/Povidone iodine packs will show up in your better first aid kits, the AMK wound closure kit comes with a small tube of Betadine a little bigger than a fast food ketchup packet and I've found wipes in at least one other kit. Other than that you're not likely to find single use Betadine at your corner pharmacy.

And the other means of application I have seen (pre moistened prep pads or sterile gauze pads soaked in it) usually seem to be sterile. This is what raises concers for me.

P.S. The mountain biking site is a really good resource actually even if you never bike because he covers a lot of common injuries and the best way to treat them in the field. There are also lots of good pics of the treatment of injuries of unfortunate bikers so you can see what it looks like when you run a finger through the spokes of a derailer..

wound prep stuff
http://woundcareshop.safeshopper.com/323/cat323.htm?468

utah mountain biking first aid page (in case you're interested)
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/firstaid/index.htm

Just in case you don't believe me, REI has a shot of the wound closure kit. The brownish PDI packet is povidone iodine. Also cool: the little vials are self contained tincture of benzoin applicators to make the steri strips stick better-just snap it like a light stick and it fills the spongy tip. The kit comes in the same waterproof pouch as Doug's kit.

http://www.rei.com/product/47852038.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

There are many medical supply companies that can provide these products, this just happens to be the first I could find. Swaps, ampules and pads are are all available.

http://www.medco-athletics.com/List/Product.asp?Leaf_Id=10867

Pete