Nanosonics : New international guidelines for High Level Disinfection

27 February, 2017

Company Announcements Office Australian Securities Exchange

Nanosonics (ASX: NAN) is pleased to announce the release of a number of important new guidelines that establish and reinforce the requirements for the High Level Disinfection (HLD) of semi critical ultrasound probes between every patient use.

New guidelines were released separately by:

1. The World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) - Guidelines for cleaning transvaginal ultrasound transducers between patients;

2. The Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM) / Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) - joint Guidelines for Reprocessing Ultrasound Transducers; and

3. Ireland's Health Service Executive's (HSE) -Guidance for Decontamination of Semi‐critical Ultrasound Probes; Semi‐invasive and Non‐invasive Ultrasound Probes.

The World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology has a membership that includes the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM), the European Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB), the Asian Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (AFSUMB), the Federation of Latin American Ultrasound Societies (FLAUS) and the Mediterranean and African Society of Ultrasound (MASU).

The new WFUMB guidance defines semi critical devices as those that pose a higher risk because of contact with non-intact skin or mucous membranes and recommends HLD for such probes. Notably the guidance identifies trophon, describing it as "very efficient, rapid (approximately 7 min), environmentally friendly and quality-ensured and disinfects the transducer handle."

ASUM (the leading multidisciplinary medical ultrasound society in Australia and New Zealand) and ACIPC (the peak body for Infection Prevention and Control professionals in the Australasian region) have worked in collaboration to establish nationally accepted guidelines for reprocessing ultrasound transducers.

The new guidelines place emphasis on applying HLD not just to intracavity probes, but also to all surface probes used in semi-critical procedures.They state that "If the transducer comes in direct contact with non-intact skin, blood or mucous membranes transducers should be cleaned [and undergo] HLD".

Irish guidance recommends HLD for semi-invasive (transvaginal and transrectal) probes and also states that HLD should be applied not only to intracavity probes but also to "non- invasive probes used on broken skin".

Further supporting the fundamentals for adoption of trophon, the Irish guidelines state that "internationally it is recognised that the use of an automated validated process for decontaminating … will provide enhanced risk reduction of infection transmission".

"The release of these three new guidelines clearly indicates the growing international recognition of the risks associated with the potential for cross contamination with ultrasound transducers and the importance of implementing strict controls to mitigate these risks, said Michael Kavanagh, CEO and President of Nanosonics. "Our trophon technology is ideally positioned to meet the requirements outlined in these new guidelines.

"Having the safety committee of World Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology release guidelines for ultrasound probe decontamination is an excellent reference point as we work with the various infection prevention and ultrasound associations across different markets as part of our geographical expansion strategy, said Mr. Kavanagh. "It is also particularly pleasing to see the collaboration between the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine and the Australasian College for Infection Prevention Control to develop a joint guideline for their respective members. This trend of collaboration between the Ultrasound and Infection Prevention societies is something we could expect to see more of in other markets around the world."

Michael Kavanagh, CEO / President or McGregor Grant, CFO, on (02) 8063 1600 Kyahn Williamson, Investor Relations, Buchan Consulting on (03) 9866 4722

Ben Walsh, Media Relations, Buchan Consulting on (03) 9866 4722.

Nanosonics Limited is developing a portfolio of decontamination products designed to reduce the spread of infection. The Company owns intellectual property relating to a unique disinfection and sterilisation technology which can be suited to a variety of markets. Initial market applications are designed for the reprocessing of reusable medical instruments. The Company's first product is designed to disinfect Ultrasound Transducers. For more information about Nanosonics please visitwww.nanosonics.com.au