ChloraPrep Skin Antiseptics

ChloraPrep is the antiseptic clinicians reach for before IV insertions, injections, catheter placements, and surgical incisions. Every applicator delivers the same proven combination: 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) paired with 70% isopropyl alcohol. That pairing matters — the alcohol works fast for immediate kill, while CHG bonds to the skin and keeps working for hours, giving you persistent antimicrobial activity that a plain alcohol swab can't match.

Which format you need comes down to the procedure. The ChloraPrep One-Step Applicators (5.25 mL, 260103) are built for larger prep areas like central line and surgical site preparation, releasing solution with a single pinch and controlled sponge application. For smaller, precise sites — port access, injections, minor procedures — the ChloraPrep Clear Sterile Foam Applicator (3 mL, 930400) gives you a tinted-free option so you can visualize the skin, and it's sterile for use inside the sterile field. When you want individually packaged single-use convenience for routine skin prep, the ChloraPrep One-Step Swabsticks (260100) travel well and reduce cross-contamination.

A few practical points buyers ask about: sterile versus non-sterile comes down to whether the applicator itself enters a sterile field — the 3 mL Clear foam is sterile, while the standard 5.25 mL and swabsticks are non-sterile for general skin antisepsis. For the antiseptic to do its job, let the site dry completely before proceeding — roughly 30 seconds on dry sites and up to two minutes on moist areas — and never blot or fan it. Applicator coverage scales with volume, so match the mL size to your prep zone rather than over- or under-applying.

Explore the full range of Skin Prep products, or browse related Antiseptics to stock your procedure carts and treatment rooms.