Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Biopatch is a chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) foam disk that sits around a central venous or arterial catheter insertion site. This guide is for clinic staff, buyers and students who need to know what the product is, how its sizes map to catheter sizes, and how it differs from other catheter-site dressings.
What Biopatch is
Biopatch is a protective disk with CHG made by Ethicon (Johnson and Johnson MedTech). The manufacturer describes it as “a hydrophilic polyurethane absorptive foam with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)”, used as a protective dressing at central venous and arterial catheter insertion sites. Its cleared indication, according to the manufacturer, is to reduce the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), local infections and skin colonization in patients with central venous and arterial catheters.
Who uses it: clinical staff who care for central venous and arterial catheter sites, and the supply and purchasing staff who stock the correct size for them.
How it is built
- Material: hydrophilic polyurethane foam, described by the manufacturer as a proprietary engineered polyurethane composite.
- Absorbency: the manufacturer states the foam absorbs up to eight times its own weight in fluid.
- Antiseptic component: the foam contains CHG and is designed to release it continuously for up to 7 days to maintain skin antisepsis, according to the manufacturer.
- Shape: a round disk with a centre hole that fits around the catheter. The hole diameter differs by size, so each size is matched to a range of catheter diameters (see the table).
Sizes and product codes
The manufacturer’s EMEA catalogue lists three sizes. Each pairs a disk diameter with a centre-hole diameter, a catheter size range in French (Fr) and a maximum CHG content per dressing. Source checked 2026-10-30.
| EMEA code | Disk diameter | Centre hole | Catheter size | Max CHG per dressing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44150 | 1 in (2.5 cm) | 4.0 mm | 6-12 Fr | 92 mg |
| 44151 | 3/4 in (1.9 cm) | 1.5 mm | under 6 Fr | 53 mg |
| 44152 | 1 in (2.5 cm) | 7.0 mm | 13-20 Fr | 86.8 mg |
Each code is packed 10 per box, 4 boxes per case (40 per case) in the EMEA catalogue. The US product page lists the codes as 4150, 4151 and 4152, without the leading 4 of the EMEA numbering. Match the code to the catalogue for your region and to the instructions for use (IFU) packed with the product rather than assuming the two numbering systems are interchangeable.
How to choose a size
The only selection criterion stated in the manufacturer’s catalogue is the catheter size range for each code: the centre hole is paired with a stated Fr range. Read the IFU supplied with the product for any further instructions before use.
Safe use and handling basics
- The manufacturer states that instructions for use are found in the information that accompanies the product packaging. Follow them for application, replacement, warnings and contraindications.
- Biopatch is one component of catheter-site care, not a stand-alone infection-prevention programme. It sits alongside the measures described in our CLABSI prevention bundle guide.
- This page does not give application steps. Those belong to the IFU and your facility’s policy.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up code numbers. 4150 (US) and 44150 (EMEA) are not the same string; confirm the specification of the code you are actually ordering.
- Assuming one size fits all catheters. The three sizes are paired with different catheter ranges.
- Confusing the product class. Biopatch is a CHG-containing foam disk. A transparent film dressing is a different product class; see our guide to the IV dressing types. Likewise, CHG bathing is a separate practice, covered in the chlorhexidine bathing protocol guide.
FAQ
What is a Biopatch?
A hydrophilic polyurethane foam disk containing chlorhexidine gluconate, used as a protective dressing at central venous and arterial catheter insertion sites.
How long is it designed to release CHG?
The manufacturer states it is designed to continuously release CHG for up to 7 days.
What sizes does it come in?
The EMEA catalogue lists 3/4 in (1.9 cm) and two 1 in (2.5 cm) disks with 1.5 mm, 4.0 mm and 7.0 mm centre holes, for catheters under 6 Fr, 6-12 Fr and 13-20 Fr respectively.
Where can I find the instructions for use?
In the information packed with the product. Related supplies are listed under infusion supplies.
Sources
- Johnson and Johnson MedTech, BIOPATCH Protective Disk with CHG (US product page), https://www.jnjmedtech.com/en-US/products/surgery/antimicrobial-dressing/biopatch-protective-disk-with-chg/, checked 2026-10-30.
- Johnson and Johnson MedTech, BIOPATCH Protective Disk with CHG (EMEA product page and product-code table), https://www.jnjmedtech.com/en-EMEA/product/biopatch-protective-disk-chg, checked 2026-10-30.
