What is Barbicide?
·Barbicide is a clear, blue, low level disinfectant solution used by most hair salons to disinfect items such as combs.
·Barbicide is a Quaternary Ammonium (QA) compound. QA compounds are classified a low-level disinfectant solutions.
·Few QA compounds, in higher concentrations, can be used as an intermediate level disinfectant.
Barbicide is a low-level disinfectant solution, and can only disinfect pre-cleaned non-critical items.
·Health Canada lists QA compounds as low-level disinfectant solutions for objects such as surfaces.
These solutions are not to disinfect instruments.
For What Items is Barbicide Applicable?
·Barbicide
can disinfect pre-cleaned
non-critical items (items that do not penetrate intact skin or contact blood or body fluids) such as surfaces, combs, brushes, rollers, chairs, and scissors and clippers that
have not nipped the flesh.
·If a non-critical item nips the flesh (scissors, clippers, etc.), it must be cleaned and disinfected as a semi-critical items, before being re-used.
·A razor for razoring or feathering hair (not shaving skin) is a non-critical item, and can be cleaned and disinfected with a low-level disinfectant solution. The razor must be equipped with a proper guard in place to prevent cutting skin.
For What Items is Barbicide NOT Applicable?
·Barbicide, or any other disinfectant solution,
cannot be used to disinfect
critical items (items which penetrate skin, or handle sterile items, etc.). These items must be cleaned and sterilized, with an autoclave or dry heat sterilizer, between uses; or be supplied in sterile packaging, and be a single-use disposable item. Critical items may include needles, blades, earrings, opening and closing pliers used for body piercing jewellery, etc.
·Barbicide
cannot be used for any part of a shaving razor or blade that contacts the skin (critical items such as blades for shaving are single-use items which must be disposed of in a sharps container immediately after use). The handle and cradle, which holds the blade, must be cleaned and disinfected as a semi-critical items between uses. Old-styled straight razors (all one piece, so the blade is re-useable, and not disposable) must be sterilized in an autoclave or dry heat sterilizer between uses.
·Barbicide
cannot disinfect
semi-critical items. Semi-critical items may come into contact with blood or body fluids, or accidentally penetrate body surfaces, and are found in establishments offering services such as ear piercing, aesthetics, manicures or pedicures, but also in hair salons that offer these services.
·Semi-critical items used in hair salons or barber shops (which offer no other ear piercing, aesthetic, or nail services, etc.) may include: the handle and cradle of a razor, which is where the blade is inserted, a crochet hook for cap highlights (which can scratch the head, and scissors and clippers that
have nipped the flesh.
·
An intermediate to high-level disinfectant is required to disinfect semi-critical items. Examples of an intermediate level disinfectant would be a solution of 70% to 90% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol, or a solution is 1 part of bleach and 99 parts water (1% dilution).
Some Common Misuses of Barbicide, and other Disinfectant Solutions
·Most personal service workers (PSW) are using their disinfectant solutions improperly, because they are not aware of proper disinfection methods.
·Often the PSW is not cleaning the item prior to disinfection. A dirty item cannot be properly disinfected. Placing a soiled item (comb, etc.) in a container filled with Barbicide (or any other disinfectant solution) will not disinfect the item. The more dirty items that are placed in the container of disinfectant, the more contaminated the solution becomes. For this reason, an appropriate disinfection area requires access to a sink with running water (not at a workstation).
·Another problem is not using fresh Barbicide. Some operators do not change their disinfectant solutions for days or longer.
·Objects to be disinfected must be fully immersed in the disinfectant solution. An item cannot be disinfected if it is not in full contact with the disinfectant solution.
·Spraying a disinfectant solution onto a contaminated object is not a effective means of disinfecting the item. Spraying and wiping a contaminated object only serves to smear and spread contamination over the surface of the object.
·Contact time is also a concern. Manufacturers instructions for proper contact time must be followed. If contact time is too short, disinfection will not be achieved. If an item is left in the disinfectant too long, it weakens the disinfectant solution, and may damage the item.
Also, it is not necessary to sterilize our implements and equipment in a salon environement. Using a hospital grade disinfectant is your best plan... such as viralex T36, or other similar products.
