Anti-infection products firm Tristel has welcomed a French study showing the superiority of its wipes in disinfecting medical instruments, compared with the current market leader in France.

The joint study by the infection prevention and ear, nose and throat departments at the University Hospital in Lille focused on the effectiveness of Tristel Wipes and the disinfectant Anios Anioxyde 1000 against four strains of bacteria and a bacterial spore.

Tristel Wipes killed all four bacterial strains in 30 seconds compared to 10 minutes for the French product, which requires instruments to be soaked.

The wipes also killed the far more resistant bacterial spore in two minutes, whereas the French product was unable to so in 10 minutes.

The ability to kill microbes is the most important feature of an instrument disinfectant, although the time taken to do so is almost as important as it relates directly to the number of patients who can be seen during a clinic.

Tristel, based at Snailwell, near Newmarket, says the latest study complements previous published research from the UK, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Russia that substantiates the benefits of its Tristel Wipes system.

During its latest financial year, to the end of June 2015, the company sold £7.5million of its wipes worldwide, of which £4.5m were generated in the UK. Tristel has a sales presence in all of the major European countries, but France is its least developed market, and the company expects the new study and other initiatives to accelerate its market penetration there.

Paul Swinney, chief executive at Tristel, said: “We have developed a Wipes business in Germany worth over £1 million in sales, and significant footholds in Spain, Italy, Benelux, and also Scandinavia.

“Whilst we have a very capable distribution partner in France, the lack of French originated scientific support for our products has held us back in terms of sales. This study is a very positive step forward for us in the French market.”