Here are some frequently asked questions on QuikClot:
Q. How Does QuikClot Work?
A. It works by providing a hemo-concentration effect in the blodd that is exiting a wound. The body's natural clotting process is accelerated by the increased concentration of platelets and clotting factors at the wound site.
Q. What Causes the Hemo-Concentration?
A.QuikClot's main component material is called an adsorbent, it is actually a synthetic derivative of volcanic rock. It has many pores, internal and external, which capture and hold the water molecules that make up the majority of the blood. The ability to attract and hold the water molecules is due to the electrostatic forces that are present in the pores of QuikClot material when it is dry and are liberated when the QuikClot is saturated. These are the same types of forces that cause static cling, but in the formulation of QuikClot, they are much stronger. Water molecules are held very strongly.
The clotting factors, protiens in the blood, and the cellular components of the blood are not attracted nor held by the QuikClot, because they are simply too big to fit in the pore structure of the QuikClot material. This leaves them free to do their work at the wound site.
Q. Is there a chemical reaction involved?
A. No, the interaction of the QuikClot and the water in the blood (called adsorption) is purely physical in nature. Upon application, QuikClot rapidly attracts water molecules, and almost instantly the internal pores are filled. There are no chemical changes to the blood, the water, or the QuikClot. Since the reaction is physical, and not biological or chemical, there is almost no chance for an allergic reaction to occur.
Q. Are there any side effects?
A. The adsorption of water into the QuikClot granules can cause an instantaneous release of heat, called an exothermic reaction. The release of heat stops when the pores of QuikClot become filled, when due to QuikClot's strong attraction for water, is only a second or two.
Q. What Causes the Heat?
A. The heat is generated by a phenomenon called the Heat of Absorbtion. The electrostatic charge in each pore of the QuikClot, which attracts the water molecules, is released when the pore is filled. The liberated enegy is in the form of heat.
If you have any more questions on QuikClot would be happy to answer them for you.
Thanks Andy