On the road, on the trail, and in the home, the SteriPEN gives you hassle-free peace of mind about the quality of your drinking water.

Steve, founder of Better Health Innovations, found the SteriPEN because of a trip he took out of the country. After spending a day in the hospital and over a week recovering from the effects (we'll hold the details) of bad drinking water, he sought out an effective solution that would prevent it from happening again. As a frequent traveler, he needed an effective, portable, light weight water purification system. The SteriPEN fit his criteria perfectly. Now he uses it virtually every time he travels and all the time when camping with the family.

The SteriPEN is the only patented, handheld water purifier that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to destroy waterborne microbes. Ultra-violet light has been used for 90 years in large-scale systems including hospitals, city water systems and bottling plants.

Microbiological testing has been conducted at the University of Arizona, the University of Maine, the Oregon Health Sciences University and at Hydro-Photon. To date SteriPEN has been tested against: E. coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Poliovirus, Rotavirus, Klebsiella terrigena, Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis (vegitative and spore), common yeast, Coliphage MS2, Giardia and Cryptosporidum. Testing shows that SteriPEN meets the standard as set forth in the U.S. EPA Guide Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers. SteriPEN has been shown to destroy in excess of 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.99% of viruses and 99.9% protozoa.

SteriPEN is versatile and easy to pack - carry it in your back pack, suitcase, purse or briefcase it's like carrying hundreds of gallons of purified water with you wherever you go - and it can be used in a variety of containers. Whether you are traveling overseas or going on a backwoods hike, at 8 ounces, carrying the SteriPEN is no trouble at all.

SteriPEN uses 4 AA batteries. Lithium disposables work well in most situations (Keep in jacket pocket in very cold weather). Using SteriPEN with rechargeable batteries like NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride), it is the most economical portable water purifier at 10 cents per gallon.

The SteriPEN Safe Water Pack includes:

• The SteriPEN as described above
• Water Bottle Pre-Filter
• Wide-Mouth Water Bottle
  
• Case
• User Guide

• Weight: 3.7 oz. without batteries. (6.5 - 8 oz. with batteries, depending on type)
• Dimensions: 7.6" (L) X 1.5" (W) X 1.5" (H)
• Battery: 4 disposable or externally rechargeable AA batteries.
  

When used as directed, SteriPEN™:

• Destroys Giardia and Cryptosporidium
• Kills 99.9999% of bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli
• Eliminates over 99.99% of viruses such as hepatitis and poliovirus
• Meets U.S. E.P.A. Guide Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers

These common microorganisms are destroyed by SteriPEN™:

• Bacillus anthracis
• Corynebacterium diphtheriae
• Dysentary bacilli (diarrhea)
• Escherichia coli (diarrhea)
• Legionella pneumophilia
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Salmonella (food poisoning)
• Salmonella paratyphi (enteric fever)
• Salmonella typhosa (typhoid fever)
• Shigella dysentariae (dysentery)
• Shigella flexneri (dysentery)
• Staphylococcus epidermidis
• Streptococcus faecaelis
• Vibro commo (cholera)
• Bacteriophage (E. Coli)
• Hepatitis
• Influenza
• Poliovirus (poliomyelitis)
• Baker's yeast

Microbiological testing conducted by the following institutions:

• University of Arizona, Tucson
• University of Maine, Orono
• Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland

1. Does SteriPEN™ use chemicals to purify water?
SteriPEN™ disinfects only with light — it adds no chemicals to the water. By not using chemicals, SteriPEN™ avoids problems of chemical toxicity and unpleasant chemical taste.

2. What is ultraviolet (UV) light?
Ultraviolet light is invisible, high-energy light. Wavelengths of light are measured in nanometers (nm). A nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Visible light ranges from red at about 700nm to violet at about 400nm. Normally the human eye does not see light at wavelengths outside of this 400nm to 700nm “visible” range. The entire band of UV light is about as broad as the entire visible spectrum — it runs from 400nm to about 100nm. The UV band is divided into 3 ranges: UV-A between 400nm and 320nm, UV-B between 320nm and 290nm and UV-C between 290nm and 100nm. Most of SteriPEN’s light is emitted at 254nm, in the UV-C range. (See item #3 for discussion of SteriPEN’s visible light.)

3. How does UV purify water?
UV light destroys DNA and thereby prevents microbes from reproducing. Germicidal UV light – between about 240nm and 290nm – acts on thymine, one of the four base nucleotides in DNA. When a germicidal UV photon is absorbed by a thymine molecule that is adjacent to another thymine within the DNA strand, a covalent bond or dymer, between the molecules is created. This thymine dymer prevents enzymes from “reading” the DNA and copying it. Without the ability to replicate DNA, the microbe cannot reproduce and is rendered harmless.

4. Is UV light dangerous?
Exposure to ultraviolet light can cause skin and eye damage. Used as directed, SteriPEN™ will not cause UV exposure to the user. Note that SteriPEN™’s lamp emits a number of wavelengths, some of which are in the visible range. The visible blue light given off by SteriPEN™ is just that, visible blue light – not ultra violet – and it is not dangerous to look at. In fact while the visible light has no germicidal effect, it is an important indicator that the lamp is functioning properly. If no light is visible the lamp is malfunctioning. UV-C will not pass through most materials. Drinking containers made from glass, ceramic, metal, and nearly all plastics block UV-C transmission. Also, the underside of the air/water interface in a water container acts as a very effective reflector for UV-C. As a result, when SteriPEN™’s lamp is immersed in virtually any drinking vessel, the UV-C is well contained. Note that SteriPEN™’s water sensors prevent it from operating unless the lamp is completely immersed. While very few materials are transparent to UV-C, there are a small number of uncommon materials that are. These include optical grade quartz (the SteriPEN™ lamp material) and a few fluoropolymers in the Teflon family – both unlikely materials to be used for drinking containers.

5. How does SteriPEN™ operate?
SteriPEN™ has an onboard microcomputer that controls dose times. The user must decide on one of two volume ranges to be treated – either 16 oz or less or between 16 oz and 32 oz. Once volume has been indicated by either one button push or two, SteriPEN™ automatically delivers the appropriate dose duration and then shuts off. There is no need for the user to time anything. SteriPEN’s™ dose time ranges from 38 to 48 seconds for 16 ounces to 90 seconds for 1 quart (or 1 liter). This is far faster than chemical treatments that can take up to 4 hours. SteriPEN™ is also generally quicker – and certainly far easier – than pump filters. It is also worth noting that SteriPEN’s™ speed and ease of operation makes it useful in places where filters and chemicals are inappropriate such as restaurants and cafes.

6. Is it important to agitate the water?
During a SteriPEN™ treatment it is important to agitate the water by stirring with the SteriPEN™ or gently shaking the water in the container. Agitation of the water insures uniform UV treatment in a way that cannot be achieved in stagnant water.

7. Can SteriPEN™ be used on murky water?
SteriPEN™ is intended for use on clear water only. Water with significant discoloration or particulates can reduce effectiveness of SteriPEN™ by inhibiting penetration of UV light through the water. SteriPEN™ should also not be used to treat liquids other than water as such liquids may allow very poor UV-C transmission and therefore reduced germicidal effectiveness.

8. What kind of batteries does SteriPEN™ use?
SteriPEN™ uses four AA batteries. The number of doses between batteries is dictated by battery type. Standard alkaline AA’s provide anywhere from 20 to 40 16-oz doses. Lithium disposable camera-type batteries give about 140 16-oz doses but do not function well in cold temperatures. Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries are a great all-around choice. While slightly heavier than the other types, they perform well in cold temperatures and provide about 150 16-oz doses at temperatures above 32°F. The NiMH batteries add great economy, too, as they can be recharged hundreds of times – even with solar chargers.

9. What is the microbiological effectiveness of SteriPEN™?
SteriPEN™’s microbiological effectiveness has been tested at 3 universities (U. Maine, U. Arizona, Oregon Health Sciences U.). Used as directed, SteriPEN™ has been shown to destroy over: 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.99% of viruses and 99.9% of protozoa (i.e. Giardia and Cryptosporidium). These levels of destruction exceed the requirements of the US EPA’s Guide Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers.

10. Is SteriPEN™ Certified?
SteriPEN™ has been tested by Intertek Testing Service to all relevant US and international standards. SteriPEN™ conforms to: UL Standard UL 61010B-1, Conforms to EN 61010-1: 1993 + A1 + A2. Certified to CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 1010.1-92, Listed 3058969

11. Lamp Replacement
Lamp replacement is rarely an issue as it is fluorescent and contains no filament to burn out. It also isn’t fragile as it is made from thick quartz and surrounded by a thick quartz outer sleeve.