ChemDAQ, Inc. Files for Patent for Peracetic Acid Sensor

Online, June 18, 2010 (Newswire.com) - PITTSBURGH, Pa. - ChemDAQ, Inc., the leader in providing toxic gas monitoring systems to the healthcare industry, filed a patent today for a Peracetic Acid (PAA) sensor to add to its already diverse Steri-Trac® gas monitoring system. The new sensor will be the fourth sensor for sterilant gases introduced by ChemDAQ, along with sensors for Ethylene Oxide, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Ozone. For the first time, employers will be able to adequately protect their workers from the known dangers of exposure to PAA in the workplace via continuous monitoring.

Existing technology includes air sampling and badge methods, both of which require several days or weeks to analyze before the results are known. These methods can only determine the toxic gas concentrations from the past. Affected employees could be exposed daily before receiving any indication of a problem. According to Dr. Richard Warburton, ChemDAQ's CTO and General Counsel, this patent pending sensor "will give real time warnings of high concentrations of peracetic acid vapor, allowing workers to proactively mitigate the source and prevent ongoing exposure."

With so many uses of PAA, such as waste water disinfection, aseptic food packaging, medical device sterilization, and disinfection in hospitals, PAA has the potential to affect many workers in the event of a leak or spill. Using a system of simultaneous audible and visual alarms, the Steri-Trac® system continually tracks and analyzes exposure where toxic gases are used and stored. This enables employers to comply with OSHA regulations as well as the recommendations of regulatory agencies and standards organizations like the EPA and Association for Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

"We are very excited at the opportunity to get this technology patented," said ChemDAQ President and CEO David Hilliker, adding that "the ability to monitor PAA vapor is long overdue." Mr. Hilliker stated that the sensor represents "a new benchmark in the area of employee safety by protecting a whole new category of workers".