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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Ten20 conductive paste is a water-based paste used with EEG and other neurodiagnostic electrodes to reduce the contact resistance between the electrode and the skin. It is made by D. O. Weaver and Company, and the U.S. FDA files this kind of product under product code GYB, “Media, Electroconductive,” a Class 2 device category. People who search for “ten20,” “ten20 paste” or “ten20 conductive paste” are usually clinic staff, neurodiagnostic technologists, buyers or students who need to know what it is, what is in it and where its stated limits lie. This page covers those points from the regulation, the FDA device record and the manufacturer’s safety data sheet.
What Ten20 conductive paste is
Ten20 is a conductive and adhesive paste. The manufacturer’s safety data sheet gives its identified use as a “conductive and adhesive paste for use in neuromonitoring procedures in conjunction with non-gelled neurodiagnostic electrodes to improve test results.” The distributor Cadwell describes it as a water-soluble, odor-free paste designed for EP and EEG testing that holds electrodes in place so they do not need to be reattached during a test.
Who uses it: neurodiagnostic technologists and clinic or hospital staff who record EEG or evoked potentials, and the supply buyers who stock those departments.
In the regulation, 21 CFR 882.1275 defines electroconductive media as “the conductive creams or gels used with external electrodes … to reduce the impedance (resistance to alternating current) of the contact between the electrode surface and the skin.” The regulation classifies the device as Class II (performance standards). The openFDA classification record for product code GYB agrees: device name “Media, Electroconductive,” device class 2, regulation number 882.1275, medical specialty Neurology.
What is in it and how it works
Skin resists the small electrical signals an EEG records. A conductive medium fills the gap between the electrode surface and the skin so that less of the signal is lost; this is the impedance reduction that 21 CFR 882.1275 describes. The paste also has an adhesive function, which is why it is used with disc or cup electrodes that are not pre-gelled.
The manufacturer’s safety data sheet (SDS002, version 1.2, revision of 1 January 2025) lists the mixture as:
- Polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether
- Water
- Glycerin
- Calcium carbonate
- 1,2-Propanediol
- Potassium chloride
- Gelwhite
- Sodium chloride
- Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitol
- Methylparaben
- Propylparaben
The same sheet states the mixture does not meet the classification criteria of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and contains no hazardous components. It adds that health hazards beyond drying and chapping of skin or minor skin sensitivity have not been demonstrated, and that the paste is intended for healthy, intact skin.
Regulatory status and package forms
| Item | What the source states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA product code | GYB, Media, Electroconductive | openFDA classification; AccessGUDID |
| Regulation | 21 CFR 882.1275 | eCFR |
| Device class | Class II (performance standards); openFDA lists class 2 | eCFR; openFDA |
| 24-pack of single-use cups (DI 10891893002274) | Not sterile; prescription use listed (Rx: yes, OTC: no); marked “In Commercial Distribution” | AccessGUDID |
| Other package records | Status varies by package record in the database | AccessGUDID |
| Labeled item numbers | 10-20-8, 10-20-4, 10-20-4T, 10-20-4TK, 10-20-1, 10-20-1S | Manufacturer SDS002 |
Sizes and package forms
| Form | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Single-use cups | Pack of 24 cups, 15 g per cup | Cadwell product page |
| Tubes | 4 oz (114 ml), sold as 3 tubes | Cadwell product page |
| Jars | 4 oz (114 ml), sold as 3 jars | Cadwell product page |
| Jars | 8 oz (228 ml), sold as 3 jars | Cadwell product page |
Cadwell lists a 3-year shelf life, and the labeling quoted by a retailer says every product carries an expiration date and should be stored at room temperature away from sun and moisture.
Fit and limits stated by the manufacturer
The manufacturer’s documents state these limits:
- Electrode type: intended for use with non-gelled neurodiagnostic electrodes. It is not recommended for current-inducing electrodes, because adequate clinical data have not been collected for that use.
- Skin condition: for healthy, intact skin. The safety data sheet lists injured skin or open wounds, and a history of skin allergies or sensitivity to cosmetics or lotions, among the uses it advises against.
- Imaging: labeling quoted by a retailer states the paste contains insoluble materials that may shadow or interfere with MRI.
Handling and storage basics
General points drawn from the safety data sheet and quoted labeling:
- The safety data sheet describes it as a topical product meant for direct contact with healthy, intact skin only.
- The safety data sheet notes that using the paste together with the usual procedures that reduce skin impedance carries a risk of infection at the electrode site. The manufacturer’s instructions for use and the facility’s own policies govern how it is used.
- Mild drying, chapping or minor skin sensitivity are the effects the sheet describes.
Facilities that stock this kind of consumable often place it on an equipment checklist; see the sleep clinic supply checklist for one example. For the FDA framework behind a Class II device category, see FDA medical device classification, 510(k) and PMA pathways and FDA 510(k) premarket notification. Neurodiagnostic and related supplies are also listed under diagnostic, monitoring and imaging supplies.
Common mix-ups
- Current-inducing electrodes. The manufacturer documents say this use is not recommended.
- Broken or damaged skin. The safety data sheet advises against use on injured skin.
- Skin allergy or cosmetic-sensitivity history. The sheet lists this among the uses it advises against.
- MRI interference. Retailer-quoted labeling says the paste contains insoluble materials that may shadow or interfere with MRI.
- Calling it a gel. Under the FDA’s code both creams and gels fall in one category, but Ten20 is described as a paste for non-gelled electrodes.
FAQ
Is Ten20 the same as Ten20 paste?
Yes. “Ten20,” “Ten20 paste” and “Ten20 conductive paste” all refer to the same Weaver and Company product line, which is sold as cups, tubes and jars.
Is Ten20 water-soluble?
Cadwell describes it as a water-soluble, odor-free paste. Water is also listed in the mixture on the safety data sheet.
Is Ten20 an FDA-regulated device?
Electroconductive media fall under 21 CFR 882.1275 and FDA product code GYB, which is Class II. The AccessGUDID record for the 24-pack lists prescription use.
Does it contain hazardous components?
The manufacturer’s safety data sheet states that it does not meet the classification criteria of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and has no hazardous components. It also lists parabens (methylparaben and propylparaben) among its ingredients.
What does the manufacturer say about broken skin and current-inducing electrodes?
The safety data sheet advises against use on injured skin and states that adequate clinical data have not been collected for current-inducing electrodes.
Sources
- 21 CFR 882.1275, Electroconductive media, eCFR, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-882/subpart-B/section-882.1275 (date checked 2026-10-30)
- openFDA device classification, product code GYB, https://api.fda.gov/device/classification.json?search=product_code:GYB (date checked 2026-10-30)
- FDA AccessGUDID, device identifier 10891893002274, https://accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/10891893002274 (date checked 2026-10-30)
- D. O. Weaver and Company, Safety Data Sheet SDS002 v1.2, Ten20 Conductive Paste, revision 1 January 2025, hosted by Cadwell, https://www.cadwell.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SDS002-Ten20-SDS-v1.2-en.pdf (date checked 2026-10-30)
- Cadwell, Ten20 Conductive Paste product page, https://estore.cadwell.com/PublicStore/product/Ten20-Conductive-Paste,77,79.aspx (date checked 2026-10-30)
- OpenBCI product page quoting product labeling, https://shop.openbci.com/products/ten20-conductive-paste-8oz-jar (date checked 2026-10-30; retailer-quoted)
