CATIONIC POLYMER DETECTION SYSTEM, INDICATOR WIPE PRODUCT AND METHODS THEREOF

Systems, indicator wipe product, and methods thereof used to detect the presence of cationic polymer residues on a surface are described. In various embodiments, the cationic polymer to be detected comprises a quaternary silane residual antimicrobial. The indicator wipe may comprise a woven, nonwoven, or double-knit fabric, cotton, functional cellulose, or open cell foam material substrate impregnated with an aqueous dye solution comprising a sulfonephthalein dye. The indicator wipe may be configured to differentiate between traditional monomer quaternary ammonium compounds and cationic polymers such as quaternary silane compounds used in residual antimicrobial coatings by color changes on the indicator wipe and by observing if cationic-dye complexes diffuse by chromatography on the indicator wipe.