TX3221 Sterile Vertex is a dry, sterile, two-ply 100% continuous-filament polyester knit cleanroom wiper with sealed edges, designed for the specific moments when liquid volume and contamination control collide: spill response, wet wipe-downs, disinfectant application/removal, and solution handling that cannot create a new particle/fiber problem at the edges.

This wiper is positioned for ISO Class 3 (Class 1) through ISO Class 8 (Class 100,000) programs, with gamma irradiation aligned to ANSI/AAMI/ISO 11137 and a sterility assurance framework of 10⁻⁶. The practical value is consistency and control: high sorption without fragile edges, packaging that supports staged entry, and documentation discipline that helps quality teams keep wiping a controlled method—not a variable.

Spill control and high-fluid wipe-downs on benches, carts, equipment exteriors, pass-through items, and staging surfaces—especially where operators need a wipe that loads quickly, holds fluid, and stays intact under pressure and repeated strokes. TX3221 is also used in routine sterile cleaning steps where programs prefer sealed-edge construction to reduce edge-derived releasables while maintaining high sorptive behavior.

TX3221 tends to win when the program’s risk is “wet work that must not shed,” and when the quality system wants repeatable, auditable controls around sterility, packaging, and consistency.

• Two-ply continuous-filament knit: Built for wet strength and high sorption so the wipe can capture liquid without tearing or fraying under realistic stroke pressure.
• Edge strategy (sealed edge): Minimizes particle/fiber release at the boundary—often decisive when wiping corners, hardware, gasket lines, and fixture interfaces where edge friction spikes.
• Sterility framework: Gamma irradiated per ANSI/AAMI/ISO 11137 with SAL 10⁻⁶ positioning; supports sterile workflows where wiping must align to the aseptic strategy.
• Packaging discipline: Triple-bagged, with inner packs that support staged entry and reduce overhandling (100 wipers/bag as five inner bags of 20; 5 bags/case).
• Contamination profile (typicals): Manufacturer typicals (particles/fibers, NVR, ions) provide a starting point for qualification—then validate on your surfaces and chemistries.
• Documentation and continuity: Certificates of processing/compliance are commonly referenced for each case; stable supply and consistent lots matter when you are trending environmental results over time.

The substrate is a two-ply polyester knit made from continuous-filament yarns. Continuous filaments matter because they reduce loose ends compared with staple fibers, which helps control fiber release in abrasion-prone wipe steps. Two plies matter because they increase bulk, fluid retention, and mechanical stability—key for spills and wet wipe-downs where a thin knit can saturate and start smearing.

The sealed-edge construction is the control feature: edges are typically the highest-stress zone during wiping. When an operator “cuts in” along a corner or wipes around a fastener head, the edge sees concentrated load and friction. Sealing the edge is intended to reduce edge-derived particles/fibers and keep the wiper behaving predictably across the full stroke path.

Size: 11" x 11" nominal (28 cm x 28 cm). This footprint is large enough to fold into a stable “pad” with multiple clean faces, while still manageable for controlled strokes on equipment exteriors and benches.
Type: Dry wiper.
Material: 100% continuous-filament polyester knit, two-ply.
Edge: Sealed edge (primary contamination-control differentiator in wet work).
Sterile: Yes; gamma irradiated with SAL 10⁻⁶ positioning.
Cleanroom environment (program fit): ISO Class 3 (Class 1) through ISO Class 8 (Class 100,000); manufacturer also positions sterile Vertex for ISO Class 3–7 / Class 1–10,000 / EU Grade A–D contexts depending on program controls.

For wiping materials, particles/fibers, nonvolatile residue (NVR), and ions are the operational “tripwire” metrics. Treat manufacturer numbers as typical analyses at publication time—not specifications—and confirm your acceptance criteria with your own chemistries, surfaces, and sampling methods.

Absorbency (TX3221 sterile sheet typicals): Sorptive capacity 525 mL/m²; sorptive rate ~0.3 seconds.
LPC (≥0.5 µm, TX3221 sterile sheet typical): 15 x 10⁶ particles/m².
Particles & fibers (TX3221 sterile sheet typicals): 0.5–5.0 µm: 6.4 x 10⁶ particles/m²; 5.0–100 µm: 185,000 particles/m²; fibers >100 µm: 160 fibers/m².
NVR (TX3221 sterile sheet typicals): IPA extractant 0.07 g/m²; DIW extractant 0.02 g/m².
Vertex series cross-check (Rev. 03/23, TX3221 typicals): LPC (≥0.5 µm) 8.2 x 10⁶ particles/m²; fibers (>100 µm) 240 fibers/m²; NVR IPA 0.02 g/m²; NVR DIW 0.01 g/m²; ions (ppm) shown as low single-digit hundredths (e.g., sodium, potassium, chloride).

Sterile wiping fails most often at the handoff points: how the wipe is introduced, staged, and presented to the operator. TX3221’s triple-bagged configuration and inner-pack segmentation are intended to support staged entry (outer bag removal outside, inner bag progression inside) and reduce “open time” at the point of use. The manufacturer also references certificates attached to each case and periodic endotoxin testing as part of its sterile contamination-control posture.

The wiper matters, but the wiping method controls the outcome. For sterile/high-consequence wipe steps, standardize the fold, the stroke, and the discard trigger so operators do not improvise under pressure.

• Fold into a stable pad: Create multiple clean faces and a defined leading edge; avoid bunching, which concentrates pressure and can increase localized releasables.
• One-direction, overlapping strokes: Use linear passes (not circular scrubbing) to move contamination off the surface rather than redistributing it.
• Capture first, then clean: In spills, remove bulk liquid and gross soils first, then perform a defined follow-up wipe to remove residues.
• Rotate faces early: Do not “chase the last clean inch” with a saturated face. A loaded knit can redeposit residues and create streaking, especially with IPA/disinfectant residues.
• Match chemistry to the residue: TX3221 is commonly used with IPA, ethanol, acetone, and degreasers; confirm surface compatibility and EHS controls for volatile solvents.
• Validate the final pass: For defect-sensitive final cleaning, qualify the whole method (wipe + chemistry + technique + dry time) to your acceptance criteria.

Overusing one face: High sorption can become cross-contamination if the operator keeps wiping after loading. Fix it with an explicit face-rotation rule and a discard trigger (time, area, or stroke count), supported by inner-pack discipline.
Edge abuse in corners/hardware: Even sealed edges can be forced into high-friction scrubbing that increases localized releasables and can scratch sensitive surfaces. Fix it by controlling pressure and using a defined stroke pattern (short linear strokes, then re-wipe with a fresh face).
Misplacement in the program: TX3221 is optimized for wet work and spill control; the tightest final-pass steps should be validated to the surface, residue, and sampling method rather than assumed.
Packaging defeated at point-of-use: Leaving inner packs open, “digging” wipes out by hand, or staging unprotected wipes creates a preventable contamination pathway. Fix it with staged entry, minimal-open-time handling, and presentation tools where appropriate.

Contec Quiltec® I (sealed-edge, quilted 2-ply polyester): Mechanism is laminated/quilted structure that creates internal “pockets” for fluid capture—often selected when maximum sorbency is the dominant requirement. Qualification often comes down to how the quilted structure behaves on the site’s actual spill chemistry and whether the program prefers quilted pocketing vs. a knit platform.

Berkshire Gamma Wipe® 300 (sterile, sealed-edge 2-ply polyester knit): Mechanism is a tubular, sealed-edge two-ply knit positioned for high sorbency with a sterile assurance framework. Programs typically compare edge behavior under pressure, streaking/residue behavior with their disinfectants/solvents, and documentation/traceability fit.

TX3221 fits as the “wet work and spill control” tier inside sterile or aseptic-adjacent programs: the wiper you reach for when volume is high and edge control matters. It is particularly relevant in ISO 3–8 workflows where wet cleaning must coexist with strict contamination control, and where consistency and documentation help prevent qualification drift. For many facilities, the most successful approach is to define TX3221 as the controlled response tool (spills, solution handling, high-fluid wipe-downs) while reserving validated, defect-sensitive final passes for the exact surface/chemistry combination proven in the facility’s qualification work.

• SOSCleanroom product page (TX3221): https://www.soscleanroom.com/product/wipers/texwipe-tx3221-sterile-vertex-11-x-11-polyester-2-ply-sealed-edge-cleanroom-wiper/
• SOS-hosted Texwipe technical data sheet copy (TX3221; Effective July 2013): https://www.soscleanroom.com/content/texwipe_pdf/3221.pdf
• Texwipe product page (TX3221): https://www.texwipe.com/sterile-vertex-high-sorption-tx3221
• Texwipe Vertex Series Technical Data Sheet (US-TDS-022, REV. 03/23): https://www.texwipe.com/images/uploaded/documents/Wipers/Texwipe-VertexSeries-TDS.pdf
• IEST recommended practice referenced by manufacturer test methods (IEST-RP-CC004.3): https://www.iest.org/
• ASTM standard referenced for particle/fiber release counting (ASTM E2090): https://www.astm.org/
• Contec Quiltec I product data sheet (PDSW058): https://www.contecinc.com/
• Berkshire Gamma Wipe 300 product information PDF: https://berkshire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Gamma-Wipe-300.pdf