WoundClot®
NONRCS
Non-oxidized, non-regenerated cellulose. No active ingredient — the substrate itself is hemostatic. Four mechanisms of action. FDA cleared, Rx Only.
Comparison
Four categories of hemostatic dressing
Hemostatic gauze is not one category. The four families on the market differ in what they are made from, how many mechanisms they act through, and what they demand from the clinician applying them.
The landscape
The four product categories
Alternative 01
Oxidized regenerated cellulose
Cellulose broken down by oxidization. 75+ year-old technology. Representative products: Surgicel® and its variants.
Alternative 02
Kaolin / mineral
Non-resorbable non-woven fiber impregnated with kaolin, an inorganic clay. Representative product: QuikClot®.
Alternative 03
Chitosan
Non-resorbable non-woven fiber impregnated with chitosan, a sugar derived from crustacean exoskeleton. Representative products: Celox®, ChitoGauze®.
Side by side
Category comparison
Comparative statements below describe the product categories as characterized by the manufacturer of WoundClot®. Always confirm against the current Instructions for Use for any specific device.
Absorptive capacity, as a proportion of dressing weight
Bar lengths are drawn to the true ratio.
WoundClot® NONRCSNon-oxidized, non-regenerated cellulose
Conventional hemostatic gauzeKaolin, chitosan and ORC carriers
~400%
| Attribute | WoundClot® — NONRCS | Oxidized regenerated cellulose | Kaolin / mineral | Chitosan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base material | 100% plant-derived cellulose, structure intact | Cellulose broken down by oxidization | Synthetic non-woven fiber + inorganic clay | Synthetic non-woven fiber + shellfish-derived sugar |
| Active ingredient | None — inherently hemostatic material | None — relies on oxidized substrate | Kaolin | Chitosan |
| Mechanisms of action | Four — absorption, adhesion, aggregation, activation of Factors XI & XII | Substrate-dependent; low absorptive contribution | One — activation of Factor XII | One — electrostatic attraction of red blood cells |
| Adjunctive pressure required | Hand weight only | Manual pressure typically applied | Intense pressure, 3–5 min | Sustained pressure required |
| Absorptive capacity | Up to 2,500% of its weight in fluid | Substantially reduced by oxidization | Carrier-dependent; not the primary mechanism | Carrier-dependent; not the primary mechanism |
| Duration of activity | Actively absorbent up to 24 hours in the wound | Not indicated for persistent or heavy bleeding | Single-event activation | Single-event activation |
| Re-bleeding on removal | Does not re-bleed | Adheres to gloves and instruments rather than wound surfaces | May cause re-bleeding | Product-dependent |
| Anticoagulated / coagulopathic patients | Effective | Limited — designed for capillary and small-vessel oozing | Dependent on an intact clotting cascade | Dependent on red blood cell interaction |
| Residue & particulate | No mineral leaching, no particulate shedding; residual gel irrigates out | Resorbable, but IFU advises removal where possible | Kaolin may leach into the bleeding site | Shellfish-derived — relevant to allergy screening |
| Thermal reaction | None — non-oxidative | None | None in current-generation gauze formats | None |
| Bleeding severity indicated | Mild, moderate and severe | Not designed for persistent or heavy bleeding | Moderate to severe | Moderate to severe |
Surgicel® is a registered trademark of Ethicon, Inc. QuikClot® is a registered trademark of Z-Medica, LLC. Celox® is a registered trademark of Medtrade Products Ltd. ChitoGauze® is a registered trademark of Tricol Biomedical, Inc. These marks are used for identification only; Hemovance and Core Scientific Creations Ltd. are not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by these companies.
In detail
What separates each category
vs. oxidized regenerated cellulose
ORC hemostats rest on technology more than seventy-five years old. They tend to adhere to gloved hands and instruments rather than to the intended wound surface, and they are not designed for use where persistent or heavy bleeding is occurring. Some ORC products are FDA Class III surgical implantables, yet their Instructions for Use direct removal wherever possible because of the raised risk of infection or adverse reaction.
WoundClot® leaves the cellulose structure unoxidized, which preserves absorbency (up to 2,500% of its weight) and adhesion to wound surfaces even under high-pressure bleeding.
vs. kaolin / mineral
Kaolin is an inorganic white clay produced by the natural decomposition of other clays or feldspar, carried on a non-resorbable non-woven fiber. These products work through a single mechanism — activation of Factor XII — and require intense manual pressure for at least three to five minutes to be effective.
WoundClot® requires only hand weight or placement pressure, adds three further mechanisms, and does not leach mineral into the bleeding site.
vs. chitosan
Chitosan is a sugar obtained from the hard outer skeleton of shellfish — crab, lobster and shrimp. Chitosan dressings work through a single mechanism: a positively charged agent attracting negatively charged red blood cells. Effectiveness therefore tracks with the patient's red cell interaction.
WoundClot® contains no shellfish-derived material, and its multiple mechanisms mean hemostasis does not rest on a single interaction.
Value analysis
Consolidation across departments
Because a single dressing is indicated across mild, moderate and severe bleeding — and works on anticoagulated and coagulopathic patients — it can consolidate products that are currently stocked separately by the operating room, the emergency department, dialysis, interventional radiology and the wound care team.
The manufacturer positions WoundClot® at approximately half the unit cost of Surgicel® and QuikClot®. Actual delivered cost depends on configuration, contract and volume — request a quote and we will model it against your current spend.
Documentation available for value analysis committees
- Biocompatibility results summary (US)
- ORC comparison chart
- Peer-reviewed publications and case reports
- Specialty primers — trauma, orthopedic, plastic, podiatry, ED, chronic wound
- In-service education for clinical staff