Keep NuPrep and Ten20 at room temperature in tightly closed containers. Protect Ten20 from prolonged cold and freezing. Check the original expiration date before use, and distinguish washing away residue from disinfecting reusable equipment.
Our NuPrep® Skin Prep Gel and Ten20® Conductive Paste have different roles at the electrode site. This guide focuses on what happens between uses and after the examination: checking stock, protecting the contents, and completing the right cleanup.
For application and product-role questions, start with our Ten20 vs. NuPrep comparison. Follow the instructions supplied with your product and your care team; do not remove an active monitoring setup just to clean off residue.
NuPrep and Ten20: handling differences at a glance
Scroll horizontally to view the full comparison.
| Handling question | NuPrep Skin Prep Gel | Ten20 Conductive Paste |
|---|---|---|
| Product role | Abrasive skin preparation; not an adhesive paste. | Adhesive conductive paste for non-gelled neurodiagnostic electrodes. |
| Formats on our product pages | 4 oz tubes, supplied as a three-pack. | 4 oz or 8 oz jars, supplied as three-packs. |
| Routine storage | Room temperature; keep the dispensing closure tight. | Room temperature; keep the lid tight and avoid prolonged cold or freezing. |
| Main cleanup distinction | Remove preparation residue as directed for the electrode type. | Remove adhesive paste from the skin or hair after authorized electrode removal. |
Storage guidance is documented in Weaver's NuPrep safety data sheet and Ten20 safety data sheet, both revised June 18, 2026. Package descriptions refer to our linked listings, not every presentation the manufacturer offers.
How long are NuPrep and Ten20 good after opening?
The three-year shelf life begins at manufacture, not at purchase or first opening. Weaver's product-usage statement for opened jars and tubes says that opening does not shorten that period when the product remains properly stored at room temperature and tightly closed between uses.
Opening also does not restart the clock. A container opened six months before its printed expiration does not gain three additional years. Record an opening date when your facility requires it, but retain the original expiration and lot information.
The after-opening statement is conditional. It is not permission to use expired, contaminated, damaged, or temperature-compromised stock. A facility may have additional handling requirements; do not use a general website summary to bypass them.
Single-use cups are different. The current NuPrep labeling summary and Ten20 labeling summary specify one patient after opening, followed by disposal, for their single-use presentations. Do not apply the multiple-use jar-and-tube rule to a cup or save its remainder for another patient.
Where should I look for the expiration and lot number?
Depending on the package, check the tube crimp, underside of the jar, and underside of the three-pack box. Weaver provides a lot-and-expiration label-location guide. Preserve readable identification when organizing supplies; an order date is not a substitute for the container's expiration.
When markings cannot be read, set the item aside and ask our product-support team to help identify the label. Send the product name, order reference, and clear container photographs without patient information.
Protect Ten20 from cold, and do not try to restore changed paste.
Ten20's instructions for jars and tubes specifically warn against prolonged cold or freezing. Do not refrigerate it to extend shelf life. Pay particular attention to deliveries, vehicles, and mobile equipment bags that may be left in cold conditions.
Weaver explains that cold exposure can produce small white concentrations and reduce adhesion and often conductivity. Remixing cold-affected Ten20 does not restore its expected quality, even when its appearance becomes more uniform. Appearance alone cannot diagnose contamination or confirm recovery.
Water for cleanup is not water for reformulating the contents. Do not add water, saline, gel, or another product to a container to alter its consistency. Do not microwave or heat it as a salvage method. Separate questionable stock from supplies available for use while its disposition is clarified.
| What you find | Next action | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Readable, in-date multiple-use container with an acceptable storage history | Follow the applicable instructions and facility handling process; close it promptly after dispensing. | That the printed date overrides damage or suspected contamination. |
| Suspected cold exposure or changed Ten20 texture | Hold the container out of use; retain the lot, expiration, and exposure details for review. | That thawing or stirring has restored performance. |
| Broken closure, foreign material, or uncertain handling history | Set aside for your facility or supplier to evaluate before further use. | That removing the visible affected portion makes the remainder suitable. |
| Expired or unidentified stock | Do not use pending resolution of the identity or expiry issue; follow the applicable disposition process. | That normal-looking paste confirms acceptability. |
| Remainder in a labeled single-use cup | Discard after use on its one patient, as directed. | That a lid or cover converts it into a multiple-use container. |
The table is a practical handling aid, not a laboratory assessment of product integrity. For a suspected problem with an order, contact us with the container and lot details before returning it to use.
Dispense without repeatedly entering the original container.
The NuPrep instructions describe dispensing onto a surface such as gauze; the Ten20 instructions describe a separate surface such as surgical tape. Set out the required amount, then close the original container.
As a facility handling practice, keep patient-contact applicators away from the supply opening, and do not return leftover dispensed material to the jar or tube. A clear separation between working material and stored stock makes the next user's handling history easier to understand.
How to remove Ten20 from hair and skin
After the care team has authorized removal and any electrodes or securing materials have been removed as instructed, Weaver's cleanup guidance recommends gently combing out larger Ten20 clumps and promptly rinsing with warm water.
- Release what comes away easily. Gently lift or comb out larger clumps without pulling the scalp or dragging a comb through resistance.
- Rinse promptly with comfortably warm water. Use gentle handling rather than forceful scraping. Keep product and rinse water away from the eyes.
- Ask about residue that does not release. Confirm with the testing team whether another securing material was used instead of escalating to a household solvent.
These steps address Ten20 paste, not every substance that might be called “EEG glue.” Routine warm-water product removal is not an instruction to dissolve an unknown adhesive, remove a dressing early, or cut hair to free an attached electrode.
What about clothing or linens?
Weaver recommends removing larger clumps and washing in very warm water. Respect the fabric's care instructions rather than assuming all textiles tolerate the same wash. In a clinic, the route used linens through the facility's laundry process; other contamination may require handling beyond removing a paste stain.
NuPrep residue: preparation cleanup is not aftercare.
The NuPrep tube instructions distinguish removal of excess gel for non-disposable electrodes from removal of all NuPrep with dry gauze before placing cardiac electrodes. That is a preparation instruction, not a reason to leave abrasive residue on the skin afterward.
For routine aftercare, wash the remaining product away gently with warm water. Do not use more NuPrep Skin Prep Gel to scrub off a residue: it is a preparation product, not an adhesive remover. Ask the clinical team about persistent soreness rather than repeating abrasion.
Cleaning a patient, an electrode, and a worktop are different tasks.
Visible paste removal does not establish that an electrode is ready for another patient. CDC distinguishes cleaning from subsequent disinfection or sterilization; the required process depends on the equipment and its intended use.
| Item | What must be resolved | Which instructions govern |
|---|---|---|
| Skin and hair | Release the product gently and respond to irritation; confirm that monitoring may end before removing the setup. | The product instructions and patient-specific aftercare directions. |
| Reusable cup electrode, lead, or accessory | Remove soil and complete the required reprocessing before reuse. Do not presume that immersion, alcohol, boiling, or autoclaving is allowed. | The exact electrode or equipment instructions and facility infection-prevention procedure. |
| Worktop or product spill | Remove bulk material, clean the residue, and complete any required surface disinfection. | The product SDS, surface/equipment compatibility instructions, and facility process. |
| Equipment that has completed reprocessing | Complete required rinsing and drying, then protect the item from recontamination before its next use. | The equipment instructions and the designated clean-storage procedure. |
CDC's core infection-prevention practices require appropriate reprocessing of reusable medical equipment before another patient uses it and separation of clean from soiled equipment. Store ready-to-use electrodes in the designated clean area, apart from used items; do not improvise indefinite storage in a soaking solution.
For spills, the Ten20 SDS describes wiping up the material and washing away residual product with warm water. Keep liquid out of equipment openings unless its instructions permit exposure. Use the facility's disposal rules for the actual waste, including any other contaminants present.
When routine cleanup needs a different response
Skin irritation or eye exposure
The Ten20 safety instructions direct prompt washing if an abnormal skin reaction occurs. Persistent redness, soreness, or swelling needs clinical evaluation. Do not keep adding paste or aggressively scrubbing a painful site.
For eye exposure, the formal instructions specify rinsing thoroughly with warm water for 10–15 minutes without rubbing. Seek medical attention if irritation continues. Address this promptly rather than waiting for routine post-examination cleanup.
An upcoming MRI
NuPrep contains insoluble material that can interfere with MRI imaging. Tell the MRI team about the recent electrode examination and follow its screening and removal instructions. The manufacturer calls for neurodiagnostic materials to be cleaned from the electrode sites before MRI; do not independently remove equipment that the clinical team is still using.
This is a handling guide, not an electrode-placement or treatment protocol. Both products' instructions exclude use with current-inducing electrodes. Do not treat leftover gel or paste as a substitute for a TENS or NMES accessory.
Plan replacements around usable stock.
Before reordering, distinguish unopened stock, properly stored opened containers, and items on hold. Keep that simple count with the product reference and expiration information. Our EEG and sleep-lab supply checklist covers the broader inventory plan.
For a change in container size, use our Ten20 package-size and cost comparison rather than buying a larger pack solely to lower its unit price. For an unchanged neurofeedback setup, our Ten20 reordering guide helps match the replacement to the original supply.
Which document should I use?
The instructions for use address application and product precautions. An SDS addresses handling, exposure, storage, and disposal. Neither replaces the electrode manufacturer's reprocessing instructions. Our summary links to each where it applies; the manufacturer's current safety-data-sheet library provides a central route to the available documents.
Keep the product, label, and next step together.
Close the container, retain readable identification, and resolve questionable conditions before use. After the examination, separate patient aftercare from equipment reprocessing instead of treating “the paste is gone” as the end of every task.
Review our NuPrep 4 oz tube three-pack and Ten20 4 oz and 8 oz jar options for current ordering details. For related preparation and purchasing questions, browse our EEG and ECG diagnostic supply guides.
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