10043009K | Zebra Z-Band UltraSoft Wristband — Soft, Antimicrobial Direct Thermal Patient ID Wristband
Zebra Z-Band UltraSoft is a direct thermal patient identification wristband built around a flexible, supple polypropylene material and a soft-feel coating designed specifically for patients with delicate skin. Where rigid wristbands can scratch or irritate sensitive skin, the UltraSoft's flexible construction is engineered to reduce that risk while still holding a scannable barcode for the duration of a typical hospital stay.
Independent laboratory testing found Z-Band wristbands up to four times more durable to hand sanitizers than the leading competitor, and Zebra reports more than 4 billion patients identified with its wristbands since 1998. For hospital IT and supply teams evaluating a patient ID wristband, that combination of soft-touch material and tested image durability addresses two requirements at once: caregiver comfort for the patient and first-scan reliability for staff.
Key Features & Patient Safety Benefits
- Flexible polypropylene material with soft-feel coating: Reduces instances of scratches or cuts for patients with delicate or fragile skin, compared with rigid wristband materials.
- Silver antimicrobial coating: Helps protect the wristband material from degradation over the course of a patient stay.
- Up to 4x more durable to hand sanitizers than the leading competitor: Reduces failed scans and the need for staff to reprint a faded band, per independent lab testing.
- Standard and bracelet shape options: The bracelet shape uses a removable carrier to reduce band size without shrinking the patient information area, improving comfort without sacrificing legibility.
- MR-Safe construction: Made of polypropylene and vinyl with no metal content, using leuco dye-based thermal imaging chemistry, UV varnishes, and water-based inks.
- BPA and latex free: Supports use with patients who have material sensitivities.
- Optimum image durability for narrow barcodes: Zebra's ISO 9001-certified, 23-point quality inspection process supports first-scan readability even on narrow-bar barcodes.
Wristband Material, Construction & Antimicrobial Coating
The facestock is a gloss White thermal imaging polypropylene, paired with a permanent rubber adhesive tab on a kraft liner, 90 microns ±10%. This construction is rated for indoor use and is cold-temperature compatible, with a service temperature range of -40°F to 140°F (-40°C to 60°C).
Zebra's durability testing printed a 5 mil narrow-bar, 16-digit Code 128 barcode on the wristband at recommended darkness and speed settings, then scanned it after exposure to solvents, abrasion, and water. Results: the wristband passed abrasion testing beyond 1,000 passes with a dry crocking cloth, withstood total immersion in 40°C water for up to six hours, passed 50 rubs with a soaked cotton applicator for both 91% and 70% IPA and for Purell, passed 100 rubs with Betadine, and withstood up to 45 pounds of tensile force before failure.
For sustainability-focused facilities, Zebra also offers an Environmentally Friendly Wristband Cartridge for use with the ZD510-HC and HC100 wristband printers, made from PET 1 material that can be recycled through standard curbside collection. The cartridge includes side openings that make it easier to thread the wristband through after a retraction error.
Technical Specifications
- Facestock: Gloss White thermal imaging polypropylene
- Adhesive tab: Permanent rubber adhesive on kraft liner
- Environment: Indoor use; cold-temperature compatible
- Service temperature range: -40°F to 140°F (-40°C to 60°C)
- Recommended storage conditions: 72°F/22°C at 50% RH
- Expected life span in application: Indoor use, short term only; test in application
- Shapes: Standard and bracelet (removable carrier)
- Coating: Silver antimicrobial coating
- Regulatory: BPA and latex free; MR-Safe
- Compatible printers: Zebra Cartridge printers
- Print technology: Direct thermal (no ribbon)
- ZPL printer settings: Darkness 22, print speed 50mm/sec (2 ips)
- EPL printer settings: Darkness 13, print speed 50mm/sec (2 ips)
- ZD510-HC/HC100 setting: Automatically programmed at 102mm/sec (2 ips)
Healthcare Applications & Positive Patient ID Use Cases
Z-Band UltraSoft is designed for safe, secure, positive patient identification in hospital settings, with particular suitability for patients with delicate skin — including pediatric, elderly, neonatal, and dermatologically sensitive patients where a rigid band could cause scratching or discomfort. Because the wristband is MR-Safe, it can also be used in and around MRI environments without introducing metal content.
Related Products
Pair with a compatible ZD510-HC or HC100 wristband printer → Zebra wristband printers, stock direct thermal patient ID labels → labels for companion charting needs, and keep printers running with genuine Zebra printer parts → printer parts.
FAQ
Is Z-Band UltraSoft safe for patients with sensitive or fragile skin?
Yes. It features a flexible polypropylene material with a soft-feel coating designed to reduce scratches or cuts compared with rigid wristbands.
How durable is the printed barcode against hand sanitizer exposure?
Independent laboratory testing found Z-Band wristbands up to four times more durable to hand sanitizers than the leading competitor, and the material passed 50 rubs with a Purell-soaked applicator in durability testing.
Is this wristband MR-Safe?
Yes. It's made of polypropylene and vinyl with no metal content, using leuco dye-based thermal imaging chemistry.
What shapes are available?
Standard and bracelet shapes. The bracelet shape uses a removable carrier to reduce band size without reducing the patient information area.
Is there an environmentally friendly cartridge option?
Yes, Zebra offers an Environmentally Friendly Wristband Cartridge made from curbside-recyclable PET 1 material for use with the ZD510-HC and HC100 printers.
Is this wristband BPA and latex free?
Yes, it is both BPA and latex free.
Product Family
Z-Band UltraSoft
MFG Part Number
10043009K
Product Type
Wristband
Print Method
Direct Thermal
Label Width
1"
Label Height
11"
Color
White
Labels Per Roll
175
Format
Cartridge
Finish
Gloss
Labels Across
1
Adhesive
Rubber
Perforation
Perforation between Labels
Outside Diameter
Cartridge
Material
Polyolefin
Coated Side
Coated Side Out (CSO)
Sold By
Case
Case Quantity
6
Compatible Printers
HC100, ZD510-HC
Zebra Z-Band UltraSoft Extended Stay Wristband Data Sheet.pdf
https://www.advanced-automationinc.com/content/product_downloads/zebra/Zebra Z-Band UltraSoft Extended Stay Wristband Data Sheet.pdf
Zebra Z-Band UltraSoft Wristband Fact Sheet.pdf
https://www.advanced-automationinc.com/content/product_downloads/zebra/Zebra Z-Band UltraSoft Wristband Fact Sheet.pdf
Zebra Healthcare Wristbands Solutions Guide.pdf
https://www.advanced-automationinc.com/content/product_downloads/zebra/Zebra Healthcare Wristbands Solutions Guide.pdf
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