Quickclot Combat Gauze Hemostatic Dressing

CoTCCC-Recommended Hemostatic Dressing — QuikClot by Teleflex

QuikClot® Combat Gauze® is the CoTCCC-recommended hemostatic dressing of choice for the U.S. Department of Defense — the first-line agent carried at point of injury across all branches of the U.S. military. A sterile, kaolin-impregnated Z-fold gauze (3″ × 4 yd) that accelerates the body's own clotting cascade without generating heat, in a vacuum-sealed 8-tear-point foil pouch.

A tourniquet stops a limb bleed. It does nothing for junctional and deep wounds — groin, axilla, deep cavities — where you have to pack the wound and make it clot. Plain gauze fills the hole; it doesn't accelerate the clot.

When the bleed is one you have to pack instead of clamp, is what you're packing with actually helping it clot?

Combat Gauze is the benchmark. Kaolin — an inert clay mineral with no animal or human proteins — activates Factor XII at the top of the intrinsic clotting cascade, driving thrombin and cross-linked fibrin to build a structurally robust clot, without the thermal injury of the old zeolite powders. It has held the DoD's CoTCCC-recommended hemostatic-of-choice status continuously since April 2008, validated by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research and the Naval Medical Research Center.

The Standard, Not An Alternative

Combat Gauze is the hemostatic the rest are measured against. Chitosan-based dressings were added to the guidelines in 2014 as acceptable options — particularly for anticoagulated or hypothermic patients — but Combat Gauze has held the DoD's primary recommendation continuously since 2008. Pack it tight to the bleeding source, hold firm pressure, and don't lift to peek.

Pack The Bleed. Build The Clot.

The DoD's hemostatic of choice since 2008, made in the USA. Shipped from a clinician-founded, veteran-led team.

When to Choose QuikClot Combat Gauze

• Junctional & Deep-Cavity Hemorrhage — When a tourniquet cannot be applied (groin, axilla, neck, shoulder), Combat Gauze is the CoTCCC-recommended first-line packing agent to drive hemostasis deep in the wound track.
• Military & Special Operations Medics — The issue hemostatic for the U.S. DoD since 2008; carried at point of injury across all branches. If your unit is running DoD protocols, Combat Gauze is the standard.
• Law Enforcement IFAK & Patrol Kits — Officers building a penetrating-trauma capable kit pair Combat Gauze with a tourniquet and chest seal. The 3″×4yd Z-fold fits every standard IFAK pouch.
• EMS & First Responder Wound Packing — When protocol calls for CoTCCC-compliant hemostatic wound packing on penetrating trauma, Combat Gauze is the benchmark product EMS medical directors recognize and authorize.
• Normothermic Patients With Normal Coagulation — Kaolin activates Factor XII in the intrinsic clotting cascade — full efficacy requires a functional cascade. For anticoagulated or hypothermic patients, chitosan alternatives may be preferred.

Combat Gauze vs. The Alternatives

• vs. ChitoGAUZE XR PRO (Chitosan): Both are CoTCCC-recommended. Combat Gauze uses kaolin (cascade-dependent); ChitoGAUZE uses chitosan (cascade-independent). For anticoagulated patients, patients with hypothermia, or trauma-induced coagulopathy, chitosan-based products maintain hemostatic efficacy where kaolin may not. For standard normothermic patients, both perform equivalently. Combat Gauze is the DoD primary; ChitoGAUZE is the CoTCCC-recognized alternative.
• vs. CELOX Gauze (Chitosan Granule): CELOX uses chitosan in a granule/coated format rather than kaolin. Similar cascade-independence advantages for anticoagulated patients. Combat Gauze has longer continuous CoTCCC primary-recommendation tenure (2008 vs. 2014 for chitosan class). Either is a valid choice per CoTCCC guidelines — Combat Gauze is the military's default.
• vs. Combat Gauze XL: The XL is the 4″×4yd double-ply version for large-cavity or high-volume hemorrhage where one standard 3″ gauze would be insufficient. For the majority of extremity and junctional wounds, the standard 3″ Combat Gauze is the right choice. Choose XL for blast injuries, large exit wounds, and MCI scenarios.
• vs. WoundClot (Oxidized Cellulose): WoundClot uses regenerated oxidized cellulose — resorbable and water-soluble. Combat Gauze requires removal at definitive care; WoundClot dissolves. For wounds where removal is impractical or where resorbability matters, WoundClot is an alternative. Combat Gauze has the broader military evidence base.

Frequently Asked Questions — QuikClot Combat Gauze

Q: Is QuikClot Combat Gauze the same as QuikClot powder?

A: No. The original QuikClot zeolite powder products (discontinued) generated significant heat during application. Combat Gauze uses kaolin — an inert clay mineral that activates the clotting cascade without generating heat. There is no thermal injury risk with the current Combat Gauze formulation.

Q: How long do I hold pressure after packing with Combat Gauze?

A: A minimum of 3 minutes of continuous, firm direct pressure — 5 minutes for suspected arterial injury. Do not lift to inspect. Remove hands only after the full pressure hold.

Q: Does Combat Gauze have a NSN for military procurement?

A: Yes. NSN: 6510-01-562-3325 (standard 3″). Combat Gauze is DAPA listed and procurement-eligible through standard military supply channels.

Q: Can Combat Gauze be used on patients taking blood thinners?

A: Combat Gauze is cascade-dependent (kaolin activates Factor XII). In anticoagulated patients, impaired coagulation may reduce efficacy. CoTCCC guidelines recognize chitosan-based hemostatics (ChitoGAUZE, CELOX) as preferred alternatives for patients on anticoagulants. For uncontrolled hemorrhage without anticoagulation history, Combat Gauze remains the primary recommendation.

Q: How do I remove Combat Gauze at definitive care?

A: Combat Gauze should be removed by the surgical team — not in the field. Irrigate the wound to loosen the gauze before removal. The radiopaque strip allows imaging to confirm complete removal. Do not remove in pre-hospital settings unless ordered by protocol.