RSDecon, a business of Bracco Diagnostics Inc., announced that it is conducting collaborative research with the Canadian government into further uses of RSDL–a safe, fast-acting, easy-to-use and economical form of protection against chemical warfare (CW) agents and T-2 toxin.
The Canadian government developed RSDL as a decontamination tool for its military forces in the 1980s. RSDL is now standard equipment carried by head-of-state protection agencies in the U.S. and abroad as well as major U.S. police and fire departments. RSDL was tested and shown to be effective by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and multiple NATO military organizations, and is deployed by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. RSDL was demonstrated to be safe and effective as a skin decontaminant and is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Union’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
The research is to evaluate RSDL’s ability to neutralize or remove specific toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) and provide scientific verification of RSDL’s safety and effectiveness as a decontaminant for a variety of industrial chemicals and solvents. The research also aims to support identification of new, associated decontamination technologies.
The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) and Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), the agencies involved with the initial RSDL research and development, are playing an important role in the research activities.
“RSDL brought science-based innovation to CW agent and T-2 toxin decontamination,” said Laura Cochrane, Director, Development Programs for RSDecon. “We are hopeful this next phase of scientific research and development will expand approved uses of RSDL and better equip the military and first responders to deal with common, dangerous substances that can cause emergency situations or can be easily converted into weapons by terrorists.”
Cochrane said many first responders, including RSDecon’s advisory board of law enforcement, fire department, and emergency medical leaders, have requested that the company accelerate its research on RSDL’s effectiveness in neutralizing TICs.
Until the development of RSDL, the technology associated with CW agent and T-2 toxin decontamination remained rudimentary. First responders and military personnel relied on charcoal, water, or dirt for decontamination. Water remains the primary decontamination tool used by many first responders today, but it is not effective against some CW agents and TICs.
Unlike water or powder-based technologies, which can smear or spread the CW agent, RSDL neutralizes or removes contaminants from the skin. In the case of large-scale contamination, RSDL can be applied immediately to reduce the danger and prevent the spread of contaminants.
Single-step application of RSDL provides the ease of use necessary when time is of the essence. RSDL leaves a non-toxic residue that can be easily rinsed off with water when operational conditions permit.
RSDL is a patented, broad spectrum topical skin decontamination product intended to neutralize or remove CW agents and T-2 toxin from the skin. RSDL is manufactured for E-Z-EM Inc., a Bracco company, in Lake Success, N.Y. Originally developed by the Canadian Department of National Defence, RSDL has since been adopted by several military services around the world. The U.S. FDA issued 510(k) clearance for RSDL in March of 2003 and has cleared the use of RSDL in 21 and 42 mL packets.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
For external use only. Contact with eyes and mucous membranes should be avoided. In emergency conditions, RSDL does not require immediate removal from the skin and can be left on under protective clothing, but should be rinsed as soon as it is safe to do so. An ingredient of RSDL is absorbed. Studies with RSDL left on the skin for 24 hours showed minimal adverse effects. Avoid prolonged skin contact.
About RSDecon
RSDecon is a business unit of Bracco Diagnostics Inc. To learn more about RSDL, visit www.RSDecon.com, call 1-888-RSDecon (1-888-773-3266), or contact Rosemarie Vertullo, Senior Director of Sales, North America, at rosemarie.vertullo@diag.bracco.com.