Let's clear the air

Yes. SaniiSwab’s pre-saturated double swabs with columellar guard are an industry first.  SaniiSwab's unique columellar guard ensures perfect placement of the double swabs into the lower nasal vestibule, never up high in the fragile mucosa area of the upper nose.  The pre-saturated swabs enter the nose simultaneously to eliminate the risk of re-and cross contamination and are then disposed of following each step.

70% Isopropyl alcohol.

No.  As indicated on the packets.

No. SaniiSwab uses 70% isopropyl alcohol which is registered by the FDA for OTC use.

Please note: Povidone Iodine is not approved by the FDA for OTC use and requires medical supervision to apply.

Yes. SaniiSwab is designed to be self-administered and can be used by anyone age 12 and above. Under age 12 requires adult application or supervision.

Our pre-saturated swabs—in easy-tear packets—require no prepping or guessing as to the correct placement and take 30 seconds to complete. SaniiSwab is discreet, disposable and can be used anywhere, anytime by patients, medical personnel, non-medical staff and visitors.

Step 1: CLEAN the dirt and gross contaminants from the skin lining of your nose, then

Step 2: SANITIZE by applying the antiseptic sanitizer directly on the clean nasal skin lining where the bacteria and viruses exist

If you apply a swab, ampule or spray with sanitizer into your nose, without cleaning it first, most of the sanitizer will be wasted as it is absorbed by the dirt, nasal debris (boogers) and other contaminants, which create a barrier to the nasal skin lining where the bacteria and viruses exist.

Dr. Polley invented the SaniiSwab to strictly adhere to the proper surgical two-step method of cleaning and sanitizing.

No. Just like washing your hands—or any other skin on your body—the same concept applies to your nose. Upper mucosa holds the good bacteria and SaniiSwab does not reach this area.

SaniiSwab was designed with a tab handle that has a columellar guard that keeps our fingers—which are highly contaminated—from entering our nose. SaniiSwab's 2-step dual-prep method involves first mechanically cleaning out the debris, allergens and secretions and then sanitizing. After completing each step, the swabs are disposed of to avoid cross and re-contamination.

The lower nostrils must first be mechanically cleaned to remove any debris (boogers) and secretions to maximize the effectiveness of the sanitizer in Step 2. Simply using a tissue or spray is not sufficient for preparing the skin for the application of the sanitizer.

The proper technique for nasal decolonization is to:

Step 1: CLEAN the dirt, allergens and gross contaminants from the skin lining of your nose, then
Step 2: SANITIZE by applying the sanitizer directly on the clean nasal skin

Please tell me more about Incubations Periods:

When nasal contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and allergic dander or allergens enter the nose, they do not immediately replicate and begin an infectious/allergic process. They are first filtered in the nasal vestibules where they attach to nasal debris and small hairs (cilia). Eventually they work their way onto the nasal skin lining where they then begin their infectious process of multiplying.

The period of time from contaminants first entering the nose to starting the infectious process is known as the incubation period.

The goal in nasal decolonization is to eliminate these contaminants during their incubation period, prior to them becoming infectious, as well as, causing allergic reactions. Because our noses are continuously being bombarded by contaminants, the best way to protect ourselves is to clean our noses daily before incubation begins.

Incubation periods (virus/bacteria)

Staph A: 20-50% of population colonized

MRSA: 10-20% of population colonized                               

Pneumococcus: 1 - 3 days

Covid 19: 3 - 6 days

RSV: 3 - 7 days

Influenza A: 1 - 4 days

Influenza B: 1 - 2 days

Rhinovirus: 2 - 4 days

Nasal Anatomy and Nasal Colonization

The lower halves of your nose are called the nasal vestibules (right and left, separated by the columella). The inner lining of the nasal vestibules is skin, just like the skin of the rest of your body. Nasal vestibular skin has hair follicles, sweat glands, and apocrine or mucous glands. These glands secrete a sticky mucus that lines the vestibular skin and nasal hairs. Hairs and secretions act as a filter, trapping contaminants that are either breathed in (90% of breathing is through your nose) or entered into your nose by your fingers (touching your nose).

While the nasal vestibules are an efficient filter, ironically, they also provide an ideal breeding ground (warm, dark and moist) for bacteria and viruses to breed and multiply, known as colonizing the nose. Decolonization or effective nasal vestibules cleaning is therefore as, or more, important to good health as washing the rest of your body!

Example: Masking over a nose that hasn’t been decolonized is like:

• putting a band-aid over a wound that hasn’t been cleaned

• surgeons not washing their hands before putting on gloves

PREPPING—and the Dangers of Cross- and Re-Contamination

The most important goal of surgical prepping is to avoid infections as the result of cross-contamination. Cross-contamination literally means to transfer contaminants such as viruses and bacteria from one area to another.

Cross-contamination occurs when the same sponge, swab, or ampule that has already been used on one area of skin (now contaminated,) is used a second time on a different area of skin. Sponges, swabs or ampules used to clean or sanitize an area of skin, should be immediately discarded after a single use. A new clean one should be used to complete the cleaning and sanitizing process in another area.

For nasal surgery, specifically:
Once a sponge, swab or ampule has been used in one nostril or nasal vestibule (and is now contaminated) that same sponge, swab or capsule should never be used in the other nostril or nasal vestibule to avoid cross contamination.

No. SaniiSwab is a patented technique for performing nasal hygiene.  Though personal hygiene is important for maintaining good health, SaniiSwab makes no claims to cure, mitigate, or treat on-going diseases.

No. SaniiSwab is a patented technique for preforming nasal hygiene.  Though personal hygiene is important for maintaining good health, SaniiSwab makes no claims to cure, mitigate, or treat on-going diseases.

Yes. SaniiSwab is an important hygiene adjunct in infection prevention, but it is not a substitute for other PPE’s, such as masks and gloves.

Not at all. SaniiSwab has been specifically designed to prevent effecting or touching the inside nasal mucosa. The columellar guard of the double swab prevents SaniiSwab from entering the mucosa, and the swab lengths are designed to address only on the skin of the nasal vestibules.