Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Celox?

Celox is a very effective haemostat granule. It is made of a proprietary composition which contains chitosan. Chitosan is a natural polymer extracted from shrimp shells and highly purified. Celox’s composition is protected by 3 international patent applications.

2. How does Celox work?

Celox™ granules are very high surface area flakes. When they come in contact with blood, Celox™ swells, gels, and sticks together to make a gel like clot, without generating any heat. It works independently of the body’s normal clotting mechanism and can clot hypothermic or even heparinised blood.

3. Where can I get the product?

Celox is sold through a network of distributors. To find out who represents Celox in your area, please contact celoxenquiries@medtrade.co.uk detailing what country you are in with details about your intended use.

4. Is Celox a Pharmaceutical?

No. Celox products are Class III CE Marked Medical Devices and approved by BSI.

5. Will Celox stop life-threatening bleeding?

Yes, if applied to the bleeding vessel Celox can stop life-threatening bleeding from a severed artery. This has been demonstrated independently in laboratory testing and evidenced in actual battlefield use.

6. Will Celox clot blood containing anticoagulants such as Heparin?

Yes, Celox has been tested and proven to clot blood containing Heparin and Coumadin (generic name warfarin).

7. Will Celox clot hypothermic blood?

Yes, Celox has been tested and proven to clot blood as cool as 15°C. BSI have reviewed these tests as part of our class III CE Mark.

8. Can Celox be easily removed from a wound?

Yes. In cases of emergency bleeding, Celox should be left in the wound until the patient in seen by medical facility personnel. It can then be easily removed. Remove as much as possible by hand, then irrigate the wound with water or saline. In cases of minor bleeding Celox can be removed once the wound has stabilized. This can be as short as 10 minutes. Irrigate with water or saline. Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide (polymer made of sugars) and has been shown to be broken down to basic sugars (glucosamine & n-acetyl glucosamine) by lysozyme, one of the body’s normal enzymes. Celox™ does NOT use non degrading procoagulant minerals or nano particles such as kaolin, smectite or zeolite, which will remain in the body indefinitely unless completely removed.

9. What Shelf life does Celox have?

Celox Granules and Celox-A Applicator have a shelf life of 4 years from the point at manufacture. Celox Gauze and Celox Rapid Gauze have a 5 year shelf life. Each product pack is marked with an expiration date.

10. How much is needed to treat a life-threatening wound?

All wounds are different but the 5-foot gauze has been tested and stopped bleeding from a major artery, as has the 15 g granules. The larger sizes (10 foot gauze) give additional security for more complex injuries or multiple wounds on one casualty.

11. Will Celox adversely affect later wound healing?
No. Celox has been tested to show that wound healing continues normally after its use.

12. Does Celox generate heat?

No. Celox has been tested and shown not to generate any increase in heat during blood clotting.

13. How is Celox used?

Celox use is easy. Pour, Pack And Press.

• Pour on to the area of the wound.
• Pack any cavity with either Celox or gauze.
• Press. Compress the wound to push the Celox into place and stop blood flow for a short period while the Celox clot develops and strengthens.

The amount of time and pressure required depends on the pressure at which blood is coming out of the body. For life-threatening bleeding strong pressure for 1 minute (with Celox Rapid), 3 minutes (with Celox Gauze) or 5 minutes (with granules). Should a wound start to re-bleed (and you believe Celox was put over the bleeding area) then just hold pressure for longer. If you suspect Celox is no longer contacting the area where the bleeding is coming from, then remove and apply a fresh pack. Additional packs can be used if required.

14. Are there any contraindications?

Celox is not intended for internal (surgical) use. Celox should not be used in the eyes. It is not indicated for use in the mouth.

15. What if I get it in my eyes?

If eye irritation occurs, flush with water for five minutes.

16. Which is the best product for me to use?

The best version depends on your application. The best place to start is to read the product section at the foot of the relevant users’ page, whether military, security and close protection services, police, first responder, paramedic, or humanitarian relief. These describe the most relevant products for each user.

17. Do people with shellfish allergies have allergic reaction to Celox as a result of the chitosan?

There have been no known or suspected allergic reactions as a result of using Celox since its launch in 2006. The chitosan has been extensively tested on individuals with suspected and confirmed shellfish allergy, none of the test subjects demonstrated any dermal sensitivity when tested against the chitosan material.

18. Where can I find the latest safety data sheets?
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) can be downloaded from celoxmedical.com following this link – Click here

19. What happens if I accidentally consume Celox?
Do not eat. Celox is non-toxic but not recommended for consumption. Celox absorbs moisture when in contact with fluid and can absorb moisture from the gut which may cause discomfort.   If ingested, drink copious amounts of water to avoid any discomfort.
For the latest Safety Data Sheets please follow this link – Click here

20. Is Celox a powder?
No, Celox granules are macroscopic granular flakes prepared from Chitosan, a material derived from Chitin which is found naturally in crustacean exoskeleton or shell. Celox is different from some other hemostatic agents that contain minerals such as Zeolite or Kaolin that are released as nanoscale powders when in contact with fluid.

21. How do I store Celox?
Celox products should be stored in dry conditions at ambient temperature and no special storage conditions are required or indicated on the product labelling. Stability studies of Celox products stored at temperatures of 60°C and 40°C and freeze-thaw studies have been completed with no detrimental results to product or packaging reported.
Discard any remaining product after use as sterility will be compromised.
Re-use potentially poses a risk of infection.

22. How many times can you use Celox to treat wounds and how many wounds?
Celox products are provided sterile for single use. Celox can be used to treat several wounds on one casualty.
Do not store unused opened packs of Celox for later use. Products sterility and performance may be affected.

23. Can I use Celox on the Head or Neck?
Celox can be used on the head (for injuries outside of the skull) and neck. Refer to your clinical guidelines and or training, for example: Treatment of injuries in these areas needs to consider the airway and major blood vessels that supply the brain and the risk of applying pressure to the brain and nervous tissue in the event of a fracture. Celox is not approved for use inside of the mouth.

24. Can I use Celox on the Chest or abdomen?
Wounds to the chest or abdomen are generally classed as non-compressible. Most guidelines e.g. TCCC say do not use haemostatics on non-compressible wounds. Refer to your clinical guidelines and or training. In an extreme situation this requires clinical judgement. Use of Celox on this part of the body is not contraindicated. For penetrating chest injuries the recommended treatment to prevent tension pneumothorax is to use an occlusive seal such as Foxseal.

25. Does Celox work on patients with Haemophilia / Von Willebrand Disease?
Von Willebrand disease is a genetic disorder caused by missing or defective Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) a clotting protein. VWF binds factor VIII, a key clotting protein, and platelets in blood vessel walls, which help form a platelet plug during the clotting process.
Celox works by purely physically means and does not rely on the body’s own blood clotting mechanisms³⁶. While we do not have testing on patients with Haemophilia, Celox has been tested on blood containing Warfarin and Heparin as well as being tested on hypothermic blood. In all of these cases Celox continued to work as well as on normal blood.

26. How long can Celox be left in place in a wound?
Case reports have shown Celox has been left in place for 24 hours where there was no re-bleed or leakage. We recommend leaving Celox in place until the patient is moved to definitive care.