In cleaning validation and surface verification work, the real failure mode is often not “we missed a spot.” It’s that the sample result is dominated by background contribution, inconsistent technique, or extra handling. When the lab is chasing drift or investigating outliers, a swab that adds variable organic background, sheds inconsistently, or forces repeated touch points becomes a root-cause candidate—whether or not the process is actually dirty.

TX714K is designed to reduce that risk by controlling the swab’s own contribution and standardizing handling. The low-TOC processing target helps keep the swab background consistent for TOC methods. The notched, break-away handle lets operators snap the head into a vial with minimal handling—useful when you want a defensible chain of technique across shifts, operators, and sites.

Low-linting outcomes depend on technique and surface condition. No swab is truly lint-free; edge sharpness, surface roughness, solvent load, contact pressure, and stroke discipline govern what you see on the part and what you recover in the vial.

Texwipe TX714K is used for defined-area surface sampling and cleaning validation protocols where Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis is the endpoint, and where the swab’s background must be controlled to protect detection limits and trending. The head/handle format supports consistent wipe paths on stainless steel, equipment exteriors, process-contact surfaces, panels, and other sites where recovery can be sensitive to face roll, pressure spikes, and wetness drift.

The manufacturer positions cleaning validation swabs for use in determining the effectiveness of cleaning protocols as specified by the U.S. FDA, with TOC cited as one of the analytical methods used in these validations. TX714K is also NSF Certified as a cleaning swab (P1) for use in and around food processing areas, with the standard restriction that it must not have direct contact with food or potable water and must be used per the manufacturer’s directions.

• Certified low-TOC background target (<50 µg/L, <50 ppb) supports consistency in TOC sampling results and trending.
• Notched, break-away “snap” handle supports vial transfer with minimal handling and reduced contamination opportunities.
• Thermal bond construction (no adhesive pathway at the bond line) reduces a common, avoidable residue variable.
• Double layered, double knit Alpha® polyester head is designed to entrap contaminants during sampling and release into diluent for recovery.
• Lot-coded packaging supports investigations, deviations, and audit-ready documentation discipline.
• Autoclavable for sterile environments and processes (validate to your site method; do not treat as a sterile item unless processed and controlled as such).
• Trademarked light-green handle with “TEXWIPE” embossed on the handle supports practical line segregation and traceability cues in multi-swab environments.

Head: Alpha® polyester knit (double layered, double knit)

Head bond: thermal bond (no adhesive at the head/handle interface)

Handle: 100% polypropylene; notched break-away for snap-and-drop vial transfer; handle color: light green

Practical implication: TX714K is meant for controlled sampling—not “scrub-cleaning.” Treat burrs and sharp edges as a process risk; reduce pressure near edges, keep the knit flat, and avoid dragging the head across sharp corners that can create local fiber/particle release and compromise recovery repeatability.

For TOC sampling, geometry is not just “fit”—it is technique control. Use the head width to standardize overlap and stroke count so operators do not drift into scrubbing. Use the notched snap feature to standardize vial transfer and reduce touch points. Handle geometry matters for consistent pressure and face orientation, which directly affects recovery and repeatability when the sample site is polished, coated, or film-sensitive.

Attribute	TX714K
Head material	Knitted Alpha® polyester (double layered, double knit)
Head width	12.7 mm (0.500")
Head thickness	4.2 mm (0.165")
Head length	25.7 mm (1.012")
Handle material	Polypropylene (100%)
Handle width	5.2 mm (0.205")
Handle thickness	3.0 mm (0.118")
Handle length	101.8 mm (4.008")
Total swab length	127.5 mm (5.020")
Head bond	Thermal
Handle color	Light green
Design notes	Flat head paddle; long, easy-grip handle; notched break-away for vial transfer

The values below represent typical analyses and are not per-unit specifications. Use them to set background expectations, support method development, and speed troubleshooting. If you run film-sensitive work or validate cleaning analytically (TOC, HPLC/UV-Vis, ion chromatography), qualify the swab with your solvent/diluent, your surfaces, your defined area, your stroke count, and your vial handling method so the swab does not become the dominant background signal.

Ion	TX714K
Calcium	0.06
Chloride	0.05
Fluoride	0.05
Magnesium	0.03
Nitrate	0.12
Phosphate	0.09
Potassium	0.04
Sodium	0.16
Sulfate	0.12

Extractant	TX714K
DIW extractant	0.01
IPA extractant	0.03

Operator takeaway: the method is the product. Keep the sampling area definition, wetness, and vial transfer consistent. If you see sample-to-sample variability, confirm the swipe pattern, the number of strokes, the swab face rotation point, and whether the snap-and-drop transfer is being done without touching the head.

• Packaging (TX714K): 20 swabs/bag; 50 bags/case; 1,000 swabs/case
• Sterility: non-sterile; swab series is described as autoclavable for sterile environments and processes (validate against your site’s sterilization cycle, packaging integrity rules, and analytical method controls)
• Traceability cues: lot-coded packaging supports investigations; trademarked light-green handle with “TEXWIPE” embossed supports practical line segregation
• Country of origin: commonly listed as Philippines (PH) in distributor catalogs for this SKU; confirm the exact origin for your lot on the carton label and/or your receiving documentation (COC/traceability paperwork where applicable)
• Shelf life: 5 years from date of manufacture (series statement)

Treat TX714K as a controlled sampling tool, not a “cleaning swab.” Define the sampling area, define the wetting approach (if your method uses wet sampling), define stroke count and overlap, and define discard triggers. Your goal is repeatable recovery—not maximum scrubbing force.

• Area definition: Use a template (or measured boundary) to keep sample area consistent. Document the sampled cm² and the direction of strokes.
• Wetness control (when applicable): If your protocol calls for wet sampling, keep the head damp—not dripping. Excess wetness increases pooling and can dilute or mobilize residue unevenly.
• Stroke discipline: Single-direction strokes with defined overlap. Rotate to a fresh face on a defined schedule (for example, after a fixed number of strokes) rather than “when it looks dirty.”
• Pressure guidance: Apply enough pressure to maintain full-face contact, then reduce slightly. Excess pressure can squeegee residue into lines and reduce recovery consistency.
• Snap-and-drop transfer: Use the notched break-away feature to place the head into the vial with minimal touch points. Avoid contact with gloves, sleeves, bench mats, or vial rim threads.
• Documentation cues: Record lot code, sampler identity, area sampled, stroke count, diluent and vial type, and any visible anomalies (film lines, roughness, burrs, or staining) that could explain recovery differences.

• Confirm your method’s diluent compatibility with polyester knit and polypropylene (and any product-contact materials at the sampling site).
• Run blank controls (vial + diluent + swab) per lot to quantify background contribution before sampling production equipment.
• Define recovery expectations on representative coupons (same finish as equipment) before formal validation runs.
• Standardize snap-and-drop handling and timing (time from sample to vial closure, time to analysis) to reduce variability.
• Trend lot codes and investigate shifts early; uncontrolled substitutions are a common cause of “sudden” method drift.

• Sampling without a defined area, causing inconsistent recovery and results that cannot be compared across lots or campaigns.
• Over-wetting (when wet sampling is used), leading to pooling and inconsistent residue pickup/dilution.
• Touch contamination during transfer (glove, bench, vial rim contact), especially when snap-and-drop discipline is not followed.
• Scrubbing pressure that smears residue or damages soft finishes, reducing repeatability and changing recovery dynamics.
• Poor control of blanks and lot trending, causing teams to chase “process contamination” that is actually background drift.

The closest alternatives are cleaning validation-oriented polyester swabs where selection hinges on background control strategy (TOC and extractables), head construction, bond method, and traceability support. For validation work, insist on lot traceability and published contamination characteristics so your method is defensible when auditors ask what changed.

• Contec cleaning validation swab formats (polyester classes): Compare background-control approach (TOC claims, extractables support), bond method, and documentation depth for investigations.
• Berkshire validation-oriented polyester swab formats: Evaluate published cleanliness metrics, traceability discipline, and how the head releases into your diluent under your method timing.
• Puritan polyester cleanroom swab formats (validation candidates): Confirm thermal-bond versus adhesive interfaces, method-specific contamination data, and lot coding/COC availability that supports qualification.

TX714K is a strong fit for controlled environments where the sampling result needs to be defensible and repeatable—especially in pharmaceutical and biotech programs where cleaning validation and residue investigations demand technique discipline, background control, and lot-level traceability.

SOSCleanroom’s relationship with ITW Texwipe supports continuity of supply and documentation discipline. That reduces the risk of unplanned substitutions that can change background contribution, wetting behavior, and recovery—an avoidable source of “mystery drift” in validation programs and ISO-aligned controlled environments.

When validation work is scheduled tightly, operational support matters. Fast shipping and responsive customer service help keep validated work instructions intact by preventing last-minute material swaps.