Main News Desk

Zebra patient wristbands proven MRSA-resistant

~ company announces new infant bands ~

April 01, 2008

Results of independent lab tests at Northland Laboratories in the US show Zebra’s patent-pending antimicrobial wristband coating effectively resists Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Type II, Type III and
Type IV.

The coating also protects the Z-Band wristbands from S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli, three of the leading causes of hospital infections. Zebra Technologies, a global leader in delivering on-demand specialty printing solutions for the healthcare industry has also introduced two new infant wristbands to its offering, both with the latest antibacterial coating.

“Barcoded patient identification wristbands provide the necessary foundation for preventing medical errors by making accurate patient information available at the point of care and enabling caregivers to confirm a correct match between the patient and the treatment provided,” says Aileen McHugh, healthcare manager, at Zebra Technologies EMEA. “With Zebra’s antimicrobial wristband coating, hospitals can extend these benefits further by eliminating dangerous, infection-causing bacteria from the wristbands.”

Results from Northlands Laboratories tests confirmed that the bacteria is not able to survive on the wristband, making it even more difficult for MRSA and other superbugs to spread around a hospital.

The Z-Band antimicrobial-coated wristbands, which are available in infant, paediatric and adult sizes, will continue to feature a topcoat layer that resists alcohol, water, foams, soaps and blood. The Z-Band Direct products feature a tab closure that enhances the ease of use, comfort and security of the wristbands. Zebra’s Z-Band QuickClip™ wristbands feature clips available in seven colours for use when colour coding to communicate patient risk factors or special needs.

The infant version of the Z-Band QuickClip wristband, a premium direct thermal band that provides ID verification at the point of care, will feature the same durable clip closure and antimicrobial coating as the adult version and offers six options for colour coding. In addition, Zebra’s new Infant Foam Wristband will feature comfortable, soft foam with a hook and loop Velcro closure.

“Establishing a secure patient identification solution for infants is a top priority for hospitals. They not only need to ensure the privacy and accuracy of patient information, but also provide wristbands that are comfortable, durable and can be easily scanned throughout the duration of the patient’s stay,” said McHugh. “The introduction of our two new infant wristbands reinforces Zebra’s commitment to providing healthcare customers with cost-effective, efficient solutions for meeting their patient safety goals.”
(402 words)

Executive quote

“Barcoded patient identification wristbands provide the necessary foundation for preventing medical errors by making accurate patient information available at the point of care and enabling caregivers to confirm a correct match between the patient and the treatment provided,” says Aileen McHugh, healthcare manager, at Zebra Technologies EMEA. “With Zebra’s antimicrobial wristband coating, hospitals can extend these benefits further by eliminating dangerous, infection-causing bacteria from the wristbands.”

About the company

About Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA) delivers innovative and reliable on-demand printing solutions for business improvement and security applications in 100 countries around the world. More than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Zebra®-brand printers. A broad range of applications benefit from Zebra-brand thermal bar code, "smart" label and receipt printers, and plastic card printers, resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity, improved quality, lower costs, and better customer service.

The company has sold more than six million printers, including RFID and wireless mobile solutions, as well as ZebraDesigner™ software, ZebraLink™ connectivity solutions, Genuine Zebra printing supplies and ZebraCare™ services. Information about Zebra specialty printing solutions is at http://www.zebra.com.

Zebra Technologies Europe Ltd, headquartered in the United Kingdom, provides product and speciality label sales and support across EMEA.

Contact details

For more information please contact:

Anna White or Lisa Gillingham at LEWIS PR
email: annaw@lewispr.com lisag@lewispr.com
tel +44 (0) 207 802 2626

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Zebra patient wristbands proven MRSA-resistant

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