A) uninfected VERO-E6 cells grown to confluency and stained with crystal violet to show take up by viable cells. B) confluent VERO-E6 cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 and subsequently stained with crystal violet to show dead and dying cells seen as clear plaques.
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Copper Studies
Coronavirus can be inactivated on copper surfaces in as little as 1 minute.
Rapid inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 on copper touch surfaces determined using a cell culture infectivity assay
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Copper as an Antimicrobial tool in Health Care
Controlling the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria is a major public health challenge, and antimicrobial resistance has become one of the most important global problems in current times. The antimicrobial effect of copper has been known for centuries, and ongoing research is being conducted on the use of copper-coated hard and soft surfaces for reduction of microbial contamination and, subsequently, reduction of HAIs.
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Ancient Egyptian copper surgical tools. 8,000-10,000 BC
Copper hospital beds kill bacteria, save lives.
"A new study has found that copper hospital beds in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) harbored an average of 95% fewer bacteria than conventional hospital beds, and maintained these low-risk levels throughout patients' stay in hospital."
- American Society for Microbiology
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the registration of 355 antimicrobial copper alloys in April 2011. This permits public health claims that copper is capable of killing harmful, potentially deadly bacteria. Copper is the first solid surface material to receive this type of EPA registration, which is supported by extensive antimicrobial efficacy testing.