Coloplast Biatain Alginate Dressing — 85% Alginate/15% CMC, 18× Absorption, Silver-Free, 4 Sizes

The same 85% calcium alginate / 15% CMC formula as Biatain Alginate Ag — without silver. 18× absorption. Documented hemostatic effect. One-piece removal at full saturation. The cost-effective choice for moderate-to-heavily exuding wounds that do not require antimicrobial intervention. Coloplast Biatain Alginate (formerly SeaSorb Soft) is a sterile, highly absorbent non-silver alginate primary wound dressing built on the same proprietary 85/15 calcium alginate and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) matrix as the Biatain Alginate Ag — the same high-integrity gel formation, the same 18× absorption capacity, the same documented hemostatic effect, and the same one-piece removal at full saturation. The only difference is the absence of the ionic silver complex — making Biatain Alginate the clinically appropriate and cost-effective choice for moderate-to-heavily exuding wounds where infection control through silver is not indicated: clean granulating wounds, wounds transitioning out of the infected phase, wounds in low-bioburden environments, and any clinical situation where the prescribing protocol does not require antimicrobial dressing support. Available in four sizes including a 1" × 17½" rope for cavity and tunneling wounds. Compatible with compression bandaging.

✔ 85% Calcium Alginate / 15% CMC — CMC-Reinforced High-Integrity Gel    ✔ 18× Absorption — Locks Exudate, Prevents Leakage & Maceration    ✔ Silver-Free — For Clean or Low-Bioburden Wounds    ✔ Documented Hemostatic Effect — Arrests Minor Bleeding    ✔ One-Piece Removal — High Wet Strength Throughout Wear    ✔ Cut to Shape — Fits Any Wound Size, Shape & Depth    ✔ Compression Compatible — 4 Sizes Including Rope

Product Details & Available Sizes

Indicated For — Wound Types

• Moderately to heavily exuding partial and full thickness wounds — any etiology
• Leg ulcers — venous, arterial, mixed
• Pressure ulcers / pressure injuries — all stages with moderate-to-heavy exudate
• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Donor sites
• Traumatic wounds — lacerations, abrasions, skin tears with moderate drainage
• Second degree burns
• Sloughy wounds requiring absorption and autolytic debridement support
• Cavity wounds and tunneling wounds — use 1" × 17½" rope
• Clean granulating wounds with moderate-to-heavy exudate not requiring antimicrobial intervention
• Wounds transitioning out of the infected phase where silver is no longer clinically indicated
• Wounds under compression bandaging

Contraindications: Not for dry or lightly exuding wounds — insufficient exudate can cause dressing adherence. Not for heavy bleeding control. Not for patients with known sensitivity to alginate components. Not for third-degree burns.

Biatain Alginate vs. Biatain Alginate Ag — When to Choose Silver and When Not To

Biatain Alginate and Biatain Alginate Ag are the same dressing — identical 85/15 calcium alginate/CMC composition, identical absorption capacity, identical gel formation and integrity, identical hemostatic effect. The only difference is the presence or absence of Coloplast's patented ionic silver complex. This makes the choice between them a clinical infection-status decision, not a performance decision:

• Choose Biatain Alginate (this product — no silver) when: The wound is clean and granulating with moderate-to-heavy exudate but no signs of local infection or elevated bioburden. When the wound is transitioning out of an infected phase and silver is no longer clinically indicated. When the prescribing protocol reserves silver for infected or high-risk wounds only. When cost-per-dressing is a factor and antimicrobial protection is not required — Biatain Alginate is meaningfully less expensive per unit than Biatain Alginate Ag, and using silver where it is not needed adds cost without clinical benefit. When the patient has a known sensitivity to silver.
• Choose Biatain Alginate Ag (3755, 3760, 3765, 3780) when: The wound shows signs of local infection — increased pain, erythema, warmth, purulent exudate, or elevated bioburden confirmed clinically. When the wound is at elevated risk of infection — diabetic foot ulcers in high-risk patients, pressure injuries in immunocompromised patients, wounds in contaminated environments. When a 7-day continuous antimicrobial effect at the wound surface is indicated as part of the infection management protocol.

A common and evidence-supported practice is to begin with Biatain Alginate Ag during the infected or high-bioburden phase of wound management, then transition to Biatain Alginate (this product) once infection signs resolve and the wound moves into the clean granulation phase — maintaining the same dressing platform, absorption performance, and removal experience throughout the treatment course while eliminating silver once it is no longer clinically necessary.

The 85/15 Alginate/CMC Formula — What CMC Adds

Standard calcium alginate dressings are composed predominantly or exclusively of calcium alginate fibers. Biatain Alginate's 15% CMC content is the structural feature that differentiates it from standard single-component alginates and explains its superior performance at high exudate volumes.

Calcium alginate converts to gel through an ion exchange — sodium from wound fluid displaces calcium from the alginate fiber, softening it into a gel mass. This gel is effective at moderate saturation but becomes progressively less cohesive as the dressing approaches full saturation. Standard alginates without CMC can fragment at dressing change when fully saturated, leaving gel residue in the wound bed and requiring irrigation to clean. CMC forms its own stable hydrogel network that reinforces the alginate gel as saturation increases — maintaining structural integrity and wet strength through the full 18× absorption range. The dressing holds together and lifts cleanly in one piece at change even when completely saturated, with minimal residue left in the wound bed.

• 85% calcium alginate — primary absorptive and gel-forming component; moisture donation; exudate management
• 15% CMC — reinforces gel structure at high saturation; maintains wet strength; enables one-piece removal
• 18× absorption — significantly higher than standard single-component alginates
• High wet strength — dressing holds together at full saturation; no fragmentation
• One-piece removal — minimal residue, minimal irrigation needed at change
• Gel locks exudate in — absorbed fluid and bacteria trapped inside gel, cannot migrate back to wound surface under pressure
• Gel conforms to wound bed — fills surface contours and irregularities for complete contact
• Cut without compromise — may be trimmed to any shape while retaining full gel integrity

Documented Hemostatic Effect — Unlike Hydrofiber Dressings

Calcium alginate dressings have a documented hemostatic effect — the ability to arrest blood flow in minor bleedings — that is absent from hydrofiber (CMC fiber) dressings such as Aquacel. The mechanism is the calcium released during the sodium-calcium ion exchange that drives alginate gel formation. Free calcium ions released at the wound surface are a critical co-factor in the coagulation cascade — they support the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin and fibrinogen to fibrin, the two key reactions in clot formation. Localized calcium release from the alginate dressing at a bleeding or oozing wound surface actively supports and accelerates local hemostasis.

This hemostatic property makes Biatain Alginate particularly appropriate for wound types where minor bleeding at the wound surface is common: post-debridement wounds where sharp or enzymatic debridement has disrupted surface vessels, traumatic wounds with active ooze, fragile granulation tissue in vascular ulcers that bleeds on contact, and donor sites in the immediate post-harvest period. For these wound presentations, an alginate dressing provides both absorption and hemostatic support simultaneously — a combination a hydrofiber dressing alone cannot deliver.

• Documented hemostatic effect — calcium ions released during gel formation support local coagulation
• Arrests minor bleeding at wound surface — appropriate for post-debridement, traumatic wounds, and oozing vascular ulcers
• Not present in hydrofiber dressings — a documented clinical distinction between alginate and CMC fiber technology
• Works simultaneously with absorption — hemostatic and exudate management functions occur together from a single dressing

Cavity Filling — The Rope Format

The 1" × 17½" rope (3740) is designed for cavity wounds, tunneling wounds, and sinus tracts where a flat pad cannot access or adequately fill the wound depth. The rope format delivers the same 85/15 alginate/CMC composition through the full depth of the wound channel — providing complete gel coverage at the cavity wall rather than just at the wound opening. To use: fluff the rope and loosely layer back and forth into the wound cavity. Do not pack tightly — the dressing needs space to expand as it absorbs exudate and converts to gel. Leave a retrieval tail outside the wound entrance to facilitate clean one-piece removal at change. The high wet strength of the CMC-reinforced gel ensures the rope can be removed in one piece even from deep or irregular cavities.

Choosing the Right Size

• 3705 — 2" x 2": Small wounds, shallow pressure injuries, small diabetic foot wounds, minor skin tears — any moderate-to-heavily exuding wound where a compact dressing footprint is needed. Cut to smaller shapes as needed. Box of 10.
• 3710 — 4" x 4": Standard size — the most commonly used; typical pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, donor sites, and traumatic wounds of average dimension. The first-choice size for most moderate-to-heavy exudate wound presentations. Box of 10.
• 3715 — 6" x 6": Larger wounds requiring broader coverage — extensive pressure injuries, large venous ulcers, wide donor sites, and wounds where the 4x4 would not cover the wound with adequate margin overlap. Box of 10.
• 3740 — 1" x 17½" Rope: For cavity wounds, tunneling wounds, and sinus tracts. Loosely packed into the wound cavity — do not compress. Leave retrieval tail outside wound entrance. Box of 10.

Not sure which size fits your wound? Call 1-866-218-0902 — Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm EST

Application Instructions

1. Cleanse the wound with saline or wound cleanser per standard protocol and debride as indicated
2. Dry the surrounding periwound skin thoroughly
3. Cut the dressing to the appropriate shape and size if needed — cutting does not compromise gel integrity
4. Apply pad directly to the wound bed — either side may contact the wound
5. For cavity wounds: fluff rope and loosely layer into the wound cavity; leave a retrieval tail outside
6. Cover with an appropriate secondary dressing — absorbent secondary for high-drainage wounds; semi-occlusive for moderate drainage
7. For use under compression: apply Biatain Alginate as primary, then apply compression system per protocol

Change frequency: Up to 7 days maximum. Change when the secondary dressing reaches absorbent capacity, when clinical inspection is required, or as exudate levels warrant. As granulation progresses and exudate decreases, change frequency will reduce. When exudate falls to light levels, transition to a dressing appropriate for lightly exuding wounds. At change — lift secondary dressing, remove Biatain Alginate in one piece; irrigate wound with saline before applying a new dressing.

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Questions about Biatain Alginate or any of our alginate wound dressings? Call 1-866-218-0902 — our team is ready to help.