The Evolution of the Perfect COVID Disinfectant Fogger

Many articles provide misinformation and, in some cases, outright false information when it comes to understanding the differences between foggers and sprayers. To clarify any misconceptions, let’s find out what are EPA-registered disinfectants, how are they used in foggers, and what makes the perfect COVID disinfectant fogger. 

At the Intersection of the Application and the Applicator: Why a Dual-Registered COVID Disinfection Fogger Matters

While many, if not most, disinfectant “systems” on the market involve purchasing a disinfectant and then dispensing that chemical via a device that is not necessarily tested by the EPA, some whole-space foggers and disinfectants are tested together and then approved together by the EPA to kill targeted microorganisms. Only one of these systems, CURIS, utilizes patented Pulse™ technology to inject, maintain, and replenish the solution to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

Do You Really Need an EPA-Registered COVID Fogger? 

The only way to be sure your product kills COVID the way you plan to use it is to choose one that is listed on the EPA’s List N and read the directions for use found on your product’s label.

What Does EPA Registration Mean?

For a solution to be labeled a disinfectant, it must meet criteria from the EPA, showing it can kill certain organisms to a certain level (e.g., 99.9%, all the way up to 99.9999%). From there, the EPA further delineates disinfectants by cataloging them on lists according to the specific pathogen they are effective against:  EPA Lists N and K.  

EPA List N contains disinfectants the EPA specifically approved to kill coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19), which is relatively easy to kill on surfaces according to the well-regarded Spaulding Classification. EPA List K, on the other hand, is often desired by healthcare facilities since it catalogs antimicrobial products, which are more robust and can kill harder-to-kill pathogens like the hospital superbug, Clostridium difficile.

Where Did the Fogging Technology You Use Originate—Healthcare or Agriculture? 

Pests versus Pathogens: Very Different Targets

Some foggers were originally created for agriculture as a means to spray pesticide directly on plants. These foggers were typically handheld or worn like a backpack with a wand for directing the spray. In each case, the application relied on the people using them. Variations of these foggers are still in use in agriculture and other industries and have now been repurposed as COVID-19 disinfectant foggers. With that in mind, you might be wondering: if they were designed to target one plant at a time, how can they possibly disinfect my rooms and things evenly or thoroughly?  Good question. The efficacy of spray disinfection is subject to many variables including:

• How long the spray is aimed at each section of surface. Product labels dictate proper times.
• Whether the individual applying the spray takes the time and effort to aim at every surface or potentially misses a spot.
• Whether the chemical is kept wet on the surface for a long enough time.

As you can see, there is a lot of room for human error, and many articles discuss these concerns but often fail to mention whole-space disinfectant foggers as an alternative.

Hands-Off Technology Hits the Target Every Time 

In direct contrast to agricultural foggers, whole-space disinfectant foggers are expressly intended to disperse disinfecting solution throughout an entire area, filling the space with a “mist” or “fog.” Whole-space foggers are not handheld and are capable of disinfecting an entire space at all at once. The droplets that make up the fog/dry mist can reach everywhere air touches—every little nook, cranny, and crevice—resulting in an even treatment. The hands-off nature of these foggers means there is less need for the man hours used in application and little room for human error, eliminating one of the downsides of handheld devices.

The CURIS 3 — The Pinnacle of Fogging

Originally designed to handle high-level disinfection in laboratory settings, the CURIS Core’s innovative design maximizes coverage of its 7% hydrogen peroxide solution, CURoxide, to provide the utmost efficacy.  Our disinfectant fogger is EPA-approved to work in conjunction with CURoxide, meaning the way you would use the two together is exactly how the device and solution were tested together, providing peace of mind. CURIS validates treatments using biological indicators of Geobacillus stearothermophilus. This is to ensure the system is successfully treating the space with a six-log reduction for challenged areas, so you KNOW it works. There are a variety of extra features that we’re confident makes the CURIS Core second to none:

• EPA LISTS N & K approved disinfectant. Kill Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and C. diff in a tri-part soil load.
• Built in Data Management for real-time quality control, job tracking, and reporting.
• Fully Automated for remote operation when paired with the CURIS app.
• Easy to Use requiring minimal staff labor.
• Patented multi sync capability for effectiveness in a variety of locations and spaces.
• NO Harmful, Sticky Residues. CURoxide dries in ten minutes when properly applied and decomposes into water and oxygen.

More Than Just a COVID Fogger 

While CURIS is the ideal choice as a COVID disinfectant fogger, the lightweight, portable system can be used for so much more. As mentioned above, CURoxide, the proprietary solution paired with the CURIS fogger, is also on List K because of its efficacy against hospital superbug C. difficile. The CURIS Core has been used for many years for a wide variety of disinfection needs, helping protect public and facility health before COVID-19 across a diverse set of industries, including, healthcare, transportation, education, and preventing laboratory cross contamination. The CURIS System was even used to disinfect N95 masks for frontline workers during 2020’s shortage.

For more versatility, the CURIS 3 provides the ability to port into a room, attach a hand sprayer, or even decontaminate multiple rooms at the same time. If you require something even more specialized, CURIS is always hard at work finding new ways to innovate and offers customized disinfection to meet your needs.

COVID Disinfection: CURIS Heroes of Disinfection 

CURIS Core has been used by a wide variety of public and private sectors as a COVID fogger including: 

• West Virginia National Guard
• Fire stations (Pinellas PPE)
• Police
• Hospitals
• Universities 
• Transportation
• Service Companies
• Health departments
• Research facilities
• BSL3-Ag facilities
• Laboratories