Private Label · Antiseptic
Iodine Wipes
We manufacture private label povidone-iodine wipes and swabs at 10% PVP-I — the broadest kill spectrum of any antiseptic we make, and the only one you can see working. Produced in the USA for surgical-prep programmes, wound-care lines, first-aid brands and medical distributors.
10% PVP-I · BROADEST SPECTRUM · VISIBLE COVERAGE · MADE IN THE USA
Active
10% Povidone-Iodine
Available iodine
~1% free iodine
Dry time
~2 minutes for full effect
Shelf life
24–36 months
How it works
Povidone-iodine: an oxidiser with a colour indicator built in
Povidone-iodine is a complex of iodine held in a polyvinylpyrrolidone carrier. The carrier does two useful things: it stops the iodine irritating and staining as aggressively as tincture of iodine did, and it releases free iodine slowly and continuously. That free iodine — around 1% available from a 10% PVP-I solution — is the actual biocide. It penetrates the cell wall and oxidises amino acids, nucleotides and fatty acids indiscriminately, which is why resistance to iodine has never meaningfully developed and why its spectrum is the widest of any chemistry in this range: bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, non-enveloped viruses, and spores.
The trade-off is time. Alcohol works in fifteen seconds; povidone-iodine needs roughly two minutes of contact and needs to dry to reach full effect, because the iodine has to be released from the complex first. Applied and wiped off immediately, it does very little. The orange-brown stain is therefore a feature rather than a defect — it is a visual record of exactly which skin has been prepped, which is why it remains standard for surgical field marking.
Povidone-iodine is contraindicated for patients with iodine sensitivity, and should be used cautiously with thyroid disorders, in neonates and over large burn areas, because iodine is absorbed systemically. Where those constraints bite, chlorhexidine is the usual substitute.
At a glance
✓10% povidone-iodine (≈1% available iodine)
✓Broadest spectrum: bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores
✓Visible coverage — the stain shows what was prepped
✓Swabstick, prep pad and scrub formats
✓No documented microbial resistance
Caution: iodine sensitivity, thyroid disorders, neonates, and large-area application. Allow 2 minutes and let it dry.
Applications
Where iodine wipes are used
Chosen when spectrum matters more than speed, or when the person prepping needs to see their own coverage.
01
Pre-surgical skin preparation
The traditional surgical field prep — applied in expanding concentric circles from the incision site outward, with the stain marking the prepared field for the whole team.
02
Minor wound care & first aid
Cleansing abrasions, lacerations and puncture wounds where a broad-spectrum antiseptic matters and the exact organism is unknown.
03
Blood culture & specimen collection
Skin antisepsis before blood culture draws, where contamination rates directly affect diagnostic accuracy.
04
Catheter & dialysis site care
Access site preparation in dialysis and peritoneal catheter care, often in a swabstick format for controlled application.
05
Podiatry & nail procedures
Fungal and mixed-flora settings where iodine’s fungicidal activity is the specific reason for choosing it.
06
Field, military & travel kits
Individually sealed PVP-I swabs are a staple of trauma and expedition kits precisely because the spectrum is broad and the shelf life is long.
Specifications
Povidone-iodine wipe specifications
Format matters more here than in any other chemistry — swabstick, pad and scrub each suit a different application ritual.
| Active ingredient | 10% w/v povidone-iodine USP |
|---|---|
| Available iodine | Approximately 1% free iodine |
| Alternative strengths | 7.5% PVP-I scrub (surgical hand scrub) |
| Substrate | Nonwoven pad or foam-tipped applicator |
| Standard formats | Prep pad 1″ × 2″ · 2″ × 2″ pad · swabstick · 3-swab pack |
| Saturation | 0.6–1.6 ml per unit |
| Contact time | ~2 minutes, allow to air-dry |
| Efficacy | Bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, viruses, spores |
| Residual activity | Moderate — while stain remains present |
| Sterility | Non-sterile standard; gamma-sterilised option |
| Shelf life | 24–36 months unopened |
| Compliance | FDA OTC antiseptic monograph; USP-grade PVP-I |
Packaging formats
- Single sachet pad1 pad, foil-laminate
- Swabstick1 or 3 per sleeve
- Prep trayPads + swabs co-packed
- Carton100 / 200 sachets
- Scrub sachet7.5% PVP-I hand scrub
- Kit componentTrauma & suture kit inserts
PVP-I requires a light-barrier sachet — iodine degrades under UV. Our foil laminate handles this as standard; clear film packaging is the usual reason a competing product tests below label strength at end of shelf life.
Comparison
Iodine vs. the other medical wipe chemistries
Iodine buys you spectrum and visibility, and costs you two minutes and a stain. That trade is right for some protocols and wrong for others.
| Product | Active ingredient | Kill spectrum | Best for | Applied to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Wipes | 70% isopropyl alcohol | Bacteria, fungi, enveloped viruses. Not sporicidal | Fast skin prep before injections & blood draws | Skin + device |
| Chlorhexidine Wipes | 2–4% chlorhexidine gluconate | Broad antibacterial with persistent residual action | Pre-surgical bathing & catheter site prep | Skin only |
| Iodine WipesThis page | 10% povidone-iodine | Broadest: bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores | Pre-surgical prep where visible coverage matters | Skin only |
| Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes | 0.5–1.4% hydrogen peroxide | Bacteria, viruses incl. norovirus; sporicidal at higher levels | Residue-free surface disinfection near patients | Surface |
| Quat Wipes | Quaternary ammonium (BZK/dual-quat) | Bacteria, enveloped viruses. Not C. diff or norovirus | Routine daily surface disinfection, low odour | Surface |
| Bleach Wipes | 0.55% sodium hypochlorite | Everything incl. C. difficile spores & norovirus | Outbreak response & terminal cleaning | Surface |
| Dry Sterile Wipes | None — sterile substrate only | Sterile (SAL 10⁻⁶); you choose the solution | Wound care with your own sterile solution | Skin + wound |
| No-Rinse Bathing Wipes | pH-balanced surfactant + emollients | Cleansing (CHG 2% version available) | Full-body bathing without water or basin | Skin only |
Private Label & OEM
Iodine, packaged so it still tests at label strength
Povidone-iodine is a straightforward formulation with one hard packaging requirement: keep light and air out, or the available iodine falls below label before the expiry date. We fill into foil laminate with a four-side seal as standard and validate strength at end of shelf life, not just at release. Everything above that — format, size, artwork, co-packing — is yours to specify.
✓Light-barrier foil sachet as standard, not an upgrade
✓Swabstick, pad, scrub and tray formats from one line
✓End-of-shelf-life potency validation, not release-only
✓Co-packing into suture, trauma and dialysis kits
✓Full-colour artwork with lot, expiry and barcode fields
FAQ
Iodine wipes FAQ
Is povidone-iodine the same as Betadine?
Betadine is a brand name for povidone-iodine — the active ingredient is the same 10% PVP-I. Generic povidone-iodine at the same concentration and USP grade is clinically equivalent. This is precisely why private label works well in this category: the buyer is choosing between identical actives, so packaging, price and supply reliability decide it.
How long does povidone-iodine take to work?
Around two minutes, and it needs to dry. Unlike alcohol, the iodine has to be released from the povidone complex before it can oxidise anything, so wiping it off immediately after application defeats the purpose. The persistence of the stain is a rough proxy for the persistence of activity.
Why does povidone-iodine stain the skin orange-brown?
The iodine complex itself is coloured. In surgical practice this is treated as an advantage, not a side effect: the stain is a visible map of exactly which skin has been prepared, so the team can see the sterile field boundary. The stain washes off skin and most fabrics, though it can be persistent on some synthetics.
Does povidone-iodine kill spores and viruses?
Yes — it is the broadest-spectrum chemistry in our antiseptic range, with activity against bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, non-enveloped viruses and bacterial spores. Because it works by indiscriminate oxidation rather than a specific molecular target, no meaningful microbial resistance to iodine has developed in decades of use.
Who should not use iodine wipes?
Anyone with known iodine or shellfish-related iodine sensitivity. Use caution with thyroid disorders, in neonates and premature infants, and over large burn or wound areas, because iodine is absorbed systemically and can affect thyroid function. Where those apply, chlorhexidine is the usual alternative — we make that too.
Can you supply povidone-iodine as swabsticks rather than wipes?
Yes. Swabsticks give more controlled application for concentric-circle surgical prep and catheter site care, and are usually supplied one or three per sleeve. We produce pads, swabsticks and 7.5% surgical scrub sachets from the same PVP-I formulation, so a single programme can cover all three.
Other antiseptic wipes we make
Iodine is rarely the only antiseptic in a facility. These are the chemistries most often specified alongside it.
Antiseptic
Chlorhexidine Wipes
The standard alternative where iodine sensitivity or thyroid concerns rule PVP-I out.
View details →
Antiseptic
Alcohol Wipes
70% isopropyl for the fast, high-volume skin preps iodine is too slow for.
View details →
Sterile
Dry Sterile Wipes
Sterile lint-free substrate for wound cleaning with the solution your protocol specifies.
View details →
Add povidone-iodine to your antiseptic range
Pads, swabsticks or surgical scrub — US-made, foil-sealed, validated to label strength at end of shelf life.