Direct comparison
Aquacel Ag vs Calcium Alginate: Same Dressing?
Aquacel Ag vs calcium alginate: not the same. Compare fiber type, silver and the uses in each FDA 510(k) record, plus what to check on the label.
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How do Aquacel Ag and Calcium alginate compare side by side?
The table below compares Aquacel Ag and Calcium alginate across 10 dimensions, from fiber material to when to pick each.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Aquacel Ag | Calcium alginate |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber material | Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) fibers with Hydrofiber technology, plus ionic silver in the Ag version (K063271 summary) | Calcium alginate fibers, supplied in felt and rope configurations in the cleared example (K991061) |
| What happens on contact with wound fluid | The 510(k) summary says the fibers form a cohesive, clear gel and absorb fluid within the fiber structure | The 510(k) file says the dressing transforms into a gel or fiber mat on contact with exudate |
| Silver | Aquacel Ag includes ionic silver, which the manufacturer's 510(k) summary says is the only difference from plain Aquacel | No silver in the calcium alginate file read; silver alginate is a separate product type (see the linked comparison) |
| Same product? | No: a CMC Hydrofiber dressing with silver | No: a calcium alginate dressing. The two names are not interchangeable |
| Over-the-counter uses listed | Aquacel: abrasions, lacerations, minor cuts, minor scalds and burns | Dermaphylyx example: abrasions, minor burns, minor cuts, minor lacerations |
| Uses listed under a health care professional | Aquacel: leg, pressure (Stage II-IV) and diabetic ulcers; surgical wounds; second-degree burns; wounds healing by secondary intention; wounds prone to bleeding; painful wounds | Dermaphylyx example: venous, diabetic, pressure and arterial ulcers; superficial burns; abrasions and lacerations; donor sites; postoperative wounds; help to control minor bleeding |
| FDA record | K063271, cleared Apr 16, 2007, product code FRO; manufacturer Convatec | K991061, cleared Jun 28, 1999, product code NAE, 21 CFR 878.4022; manufacturer Dermaphylyx, Inc. |
| What to check on a label or IFU | The exact product name (Aquacel versus Aquacel Ag), the 510(k) number, the form (pad or ribbon), the sterility marking, and the wear and change instructions in the manufacturer's IFU | The exact product name and brand, the 510(k) number, the form (sheet, felt or rope), the sterility marking, and the wear and change instructions in that manufacturer's IFU |
| Scope of this comparison | Aquacel Ag is one branded product line, and its indications can differ from plain Aquacel | Calcium alginate is a category with many brands; the FDA record read is one cleared example, so another brand's indications may differ |
| When to pick each | When a clinician or the product's IFU calls for a Hydrofiber dressing; confirm the label says Ag if silver is intended | When a clinician or the product's IFU calls for a calcium alginate dressing; follow that specific product's IFU rather than the category name |
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Common questions
Common questions about Aquacel Ag vs Calcium alginate
Is Aquacel Ag the same as calcium alginate?
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No. Aquacel Ag is a Hydrofiber dressing made of sodium carboxymethylcellulose fibers with ionic silver. Calcium alginate dressings are made of calcium alginate fibers. Both gel on contact with wound fluid, but they are different fiber types (FDA 510(k) records K063271 and K991061, read 2026-11-01).
Is calcium alginate the same as Aquacel?
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No. Aquacel is a carboxymethylcellulose Hydrofiber dressing, and the Convatec 510(k) summary itself contrasts Hydrofiber fibers with alginate dressings. Calcium alginate is a different material.
What is the difference between Aquacel and Aquacel Ag?
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The Convatec 510(k) summary (K063271) states that the only difference between the two dressings is the ionic silver in Aquacel Ag. Check the product name for Ag to see which one a product is.
Do both dressings have FDA records?
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Yes. Aquacel and Aquacel Ag were cleared together in 510(k) K063271 on Apr 16, 2007. The calcium alginate example read here, Dermaphylyx, was cleared in K991061 on Jun 28, 1999. Other alginate brands have their own 510(k) records.
