[holding answer 11 December 2006]: The rapid review panel (RRP) has reviewed 22 air decontamination products. From these 22 products:
Two were awarded a recommendation 2:
Basic research and development has been completed and the product may have potential value; in-use evaluations/trials are now needed in an national health service clinical setting.
Eight received a recommendation 3:
A potentially useful new concept but insufficiently validated; more research and development is required before it is ready for evaluation in practice.
Six received a recommendation 4:
Not a significant improvement on equipment/materials/products already available which claim to contribute to reducing health care associated infection; no further consideration needed or unlikely to contribute to the reduction of health care associated infection; no further consideration needed.
Five received a recommendation 5:
Insufficient clarity/evidence presented to enable full review of the product; and
One received a recommendation 6:
An already well established product that does not merit further consideration by the panel.