XTRASORB™ HCS is designed to act as a hybrid hydrogel / hydrocolloid dressing – it hydrates dry to lightly exuding wound, and it absorbs when a wound is moderately exuding. Given the fact that it can hydrate a wound, it might be perceived that its absorptive capabilities are somewhat limited. However, XTRASORB™ HCS is able to absorb significantly more fluid than market leading competitive hydrocolloids.

Test performed using Inverted Paddington Cups. Modifi ed Test Methodology BS EN:13726-1:2002 Part 3.3. This determines Total Fluid Handling (= Absorption + Moisture Vapor Loss) of different dressings, measured in grams per square metres per 24 hours. Tests carried out at 55% Relative Humidity.

XTRASORB™ Foam and XTRASORB™ “Classic” are designed to, among other things, absorb significantly more than leading foam dressings. For moderately to heavily exuding wounds, XTRASORB™ Foam can absorb two to three times the amounts of market leading foam dressings. Additionally, under compression, XTRASORB™ Foam retains up to 90% or more of the fluid it has absorbed. Under similar levels of compression, leading dressings only retain 65% and in some cases as low as 50% of the fluid they have absorbed. For extra heavily exuding wounds or for those times when extended wear times are a necessity, XTRASORB™ “Classic” absorbs and retains more than even XTRASORB™ Foam.

Dressings are held under a 5kg weight (corresponding to approx. 40mmHg). Flow rate of Ca Saline at 3ml/h (representative of a very high level of exudate). The experiment determines the amount of fl uid taken up by each dressing up until the time that the dressings are unable to continue to absorb all the fl uid being delivered to them. The experiment is allowed to run for 30 minutes beyond this failure point to ensure that the latter is the case. Measurements are then taken at that time. Each dressing is subsequently rolled 3 times with a 2.5kg roller to determine proportions of free and bound fl uid.