STX705W Sterile Cotton Cleanroom Swab with Wood Handle (Individually Wrapped)

STX705W Sterile Cotton Swab is a sterile, individually wrapped, USP-grade spun cotton cleanroom swab designed for controlled-environment sampling and solvent-assisted cleaning where reach, absorbency, and point-of-use sterility matter. The cotton head is securely bonded to a long wood handle using an aqueous (water-based) adhesive, and the swab is gamma irradiated to 10^-6 Sterility Assurance Level (SAL) to support aseptic workflows and documentation-heavy programs. Cotton is inherently fibrous (no swab is truly ‘lint-free’ in every process condition), so STX705W is typically selected when pickup/retention and compliant sampling workflows are the priority, with technique used to control low-linting outcomes.

• Swab type: Dry swab (cotton)
• Head material: 100% USP-grade spun cotton
• Handle material: Wood (brown)
• Head bond: Aqueous (water-based) adhesive
• Sterility: Gamma irradiated to 10^-6 SAL (sterile validated per ANSI/AAMI/ISO 11137 family; commonly referenced as ISO 11137)
• Packaging (point-of-use sterility): 1 swab per peel-apart sleeve (individually wrapped)
• Packaging (clean introduction): 50 sleeves per inner bag, triple bagged; 10 bags per case (500 swabs/case total)
• Case quantity (commercial pack): 10 boxes of 50 swabs per case
• Shelf life: 3 years from date of manufacture (sterile)
• Typical dimensions (nominal): Head width 7.0 mm (0.276"); head thickness 7.0 mm (0.276"); head length 17.0 mm (0.669"); handle width 2.5 mm (0.098"); handle thickness 2.5 mm (0.098"); handle length 135.0 mm (5.315"); total swab length 152.0 mm (5.984")
• Use applications: Diagnostic sampling, environmental monitoring, surface sampling, and cleaning with solvents such as IPA or acetone (final suitability depends on your method, surfaces, and SOP)
• Cleanliness testing (program-relevant): Tested for endotoxins, ions, and non-volatile residue (NVR) (typical values; test methods available upon request)
• Country of origin: Made in the Philippines; gamma irradiated in the USA (sterile processing)

Values below are typical (not acceptance limits). Use them to compare swab families and inform risk-based selection, then confirm fit in your validated process (your solvent system, recovery method, and analytical requirements).

Typical ion extractables (µg/swab)

Typical non-volatile residue (NVR) (mg/swab)

Texwipe (an ITW company) designs cleanroom swabs as engineered contamination-control tools, not commodity sticks. For the spun cotton sterile series, that means controlled cotton selection, precision automated manufacturing for consistent geometry, and packaging engineered to preserve point-of-use sterility and support controlled introduction into sterile areas (individually wrapped sleeves, lot coding, and expiration dating).

SOSCleanroom (SOS) supports that discipline with a close working relationship with ITW Texwipe focused on continuity of supply, correct product identification, and clean documentation handoff (certificates, lot traceability) so customers can standardize sterile cotton swabbing in sampling and monitoring programs with predictable performance and procurement reliability.

• Gamma irradiated to 10^-6 Sterility Assurance Level (SAL) and sterile validated according to AAMI guidelines
• Validated for radiation sterilization control aligned to ANSI/AAMI/ISO 11137 framework
• Individually wrapped in a peel-apart sleeve to support point-of-use sterility
• Each sleeve is lot coded and has an expiration date for inventory control
• Fifty sleeves are triple-bagged for introduction into sterile areas; outer case packaging adds an additional protective layer
• Certificates of Irradiation and Compliance attached to each case confirm irradiation dose met specifications
• Pre-sterilized swabs can eliminate repackaging, documentation, and validation burden associated with autoclaved swabs
• 100% USP-grade spun cotton head with long wood handle for reach into recessed sampling sites
• Tested for endotoxins, ions, and non-volatile residue (NVR) (typical values; methods available upon request)
• Packaging labeled for global use

• Sterile-at-point-of-use control: Individually wrapped sleeves plus lot coding and expiration dating support aseptic workflows and audit-ready handling
• Sampling defensibility: Documentation discipline and consistent geometry reduce consumable-driven variability when results are trended, investigated, or inspected
• High absorbency for swab-based wipeups: Cotton fiber matrix supports pickup and retention of residues, powders, and soils during localized cleaning and sampling
• Long reach in tight access points: Wood handle stiffness and length support ports, crevices, corners, tracks, and recessed features without tool substitution
• Solvent application flexibility: Commonly used with IPA and other compatible solvents for controlled wipeups (confirm chemical compatibility to your SOP and exposure profile)

• Diagnostic sampling workflows where sterile, individually wrapped swabs support controlled introduction
• Environmental monitoring (surface sampling) in controlled areas
• Localized cleaning with solvents such as IPA (and other compatible solvents per SOP)
• Pickup of fine powders and particulate residues in corners and recessed features
• Swab-based wipeups for investigation support (targeted residue collection and removal)

• Open-and-use discipline: Open the peel-apart sleeve only at point of use; avoid staging opened swabs where sterility or cleanliness can be compromised.
• Control wetness: If using IPA, pre-wet the head lightly—avoid soaking that can mobilize residues, increase fiber release, or stress the head/handle adhesive bond line.
• Technique for low-linting outcomes: Use gentle, straight-line strokes; avoid aggressive scrubbing, twisting, or snagging on burrs and sharp edges.
• No-torque handling: Do not rotate the swab under load; torque can mechanically stress adhesive-bonded cotton heads.
• One swab, one critical zone: For sampling, avoid cross-contact—use a fresh sterile swab per defined surface/site and follow your chain-of-custody or labeling practice.
• Replace on trigger: Change out if the head shows fraying, visible soil loading, tackiness, or if you risk re-depositing contaminants.

• Cotton vs. synthetic swabs: Choose STX705W when absorbency, pickup/retention, and sterile sampling packaging are primary drivers. If fiber risk, extractables, or residue films are failure-critical, consider a thermally bonded foam or knit polyester swab family for final-pass cleaning (process-dependent).
• Wood handle vs. plastic handle: Wood provides stiffness and reach for recessed features. If your workflow prioritizes plastic shaft durability or different chemical exposure behavior, evaluate an equivalent sterile polystyrene-handle option.
• Individually wrapped sterile format: Select STX705W when point-of-use sterility and documented packaging controls (lot code + expiration) are required by the workflow, method, or audit expectation.