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LIFE is Heiwa Medic’s private brand.
Hida Takayama's first domestic cotton swab, created on the basis of high-quality wood, has undergone various changes in the history of more than half a century, while still evolving in order to support customers' comfortable lives.
Products Q&A For Medical Professionals
Find answers to questions about our products by clicking relevant questions.
About medical swab products
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What is the expiration date for sterile products?Basically, the expiration date is until the previous month three years after the date of manufacture.
※For products manufactured in September 2014, the sterilization expiration date is August 2017.
(Some products have an expiration date of two or four years. For details, please contact us here.)
(Please check the definition of sterilization here ⇒.)
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How is it sterilized?We use EOG sterilization. This is a method of exposing the object to ethylene oxide gas under certain conditions. We can also supply products in a form that matches other sterilization methods, so please contact us here for details.
(For the definition of sterilization, please click here.)
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What specifications of cotton swabs can you manufacture?Please refer to theOEM Productspage. We can also develop products with materials and specifications other than those listed, so please contact us using the inquiry form.
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What type of glue is used for cotton swabs?Standard paper or wooden cotton swabs use glue whose main ingredients are PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) or CMC (sodium carboxymethylcellulose).
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What types of cotton are used for cotton swabs?Generally, cotton and rayon are used. For special applications, we can also manufacture in polyester.
About pharmaceutical swab products (Medic Swab Povidone-Iodine)
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Can I claim the NHI price? （Can I claim for the drug price?）This is not a NHI-priced product.（This product is not subject to drug price restrictions.）
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What is the expiration date?Two years from the date of manufacture.
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Is “Medic Swab” a sterile product?This product is not a sterilized product. However, this product is manufactured in a highly controlled clean room, using EOG-sterilized cotton swabs, and packaging materials are also treated with UV sterilization lamps to ensure thorough hygiene.
We also have a specialist company conduct regular environmental measurements to measure and manage cleanliness. In addition, we also manage the air conditioning of the entire manufacturing building, and constantly monitor the temperature and humidity to deliver safe, high-quality products.
(For the definition of sterilization, please click here.)
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How long does the bactericidal effect of povidone-iodine last?Povidone-iodine exerts its bactericidal effect by oxidizing iodine. The bactericidal effect appears in a relatively short time, and is strongest 30 to 60 seconds after application.
(For a definition of germicidal, pleaseclick here.)
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Can “Medic Swab” be used in the oral cavity?Not for oral use. As indicated on the product label, it is for external skin disinfection.
About Wet Tissue Products
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Once opened, how soon should it be used?Please use as soon as possible after opening. Once opened, the seal will gradually deteriorate. Although it depends on the climate and storage conditions, we recommend using it as soon as possible after opening for hygiene reasons.
Differences between sterilization（≒滅菌）, antisepsis（≒消毒）, germicidal treatment（≒殺菌処理）, bacterial eradication（≒除菌）, antimicrobial（≒抗菌）. Word definitions conform to Japanese domestic standards
- Sterilization means to kill or clear all the bacteria (including microbe and virus).
In Japanese Pharmacopoeia, it is defined as sterilization if the survival rate of microorganisms is less than 1 in 1 million.- Antisepsis is to neutralize virulence of virus, etc. by killing or removing pathogenic microorganism attached on or included in the object or living body to reduce until it become to be harmless or it looses Infectivity.
- Germicidal treatment means "killing bacteria", but the term does not include targets and degree to be killed. Therefore, even by killing only a part of objects, it is regarded as germicidal treatment. in other words, when this term is used, it can be said that effectiveness is not strictly guaranteed.
- Bacterial eradication is to reduce microorganism contained in objects, liquids or limited spaces and raise cleanliness.
- Antimicrobial means to avoid breeding bacteria. As the definition by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan, the target of anti-bacteria is literally only bacteria.
(Source: Excerpted from “Terms such as ‘’sterilization（＝滅菌）, germicidal treatment（≒殺菌処理）, bacterial eradication（≒除菌）, antimicrobial（≒抗菌）” on the website of the Japan Soap and Detergent Association (JSDA).)
