This is something we already knew but it is a scientific study.
"...Results: Of 85 volunteers (170 possible sites per test region) screened to meet the US Food and Drug Administration baseline criteria on population densities of normal flora, 61 abnominal sites and 107 inguinal sites provided suitable data. Against chlorhexidine, the chlorous acid presurgical skin preparation produced superior but statistically equivalent reductions (P > .05) of each volunteer's normal flora at 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 6 hours after treatment. As many as 4 log reductions were achieved, and activity persisted as long as 6 hours. Compared with chlorhexidine, the chlorous acid product has the practical advantages of a shorter scrub time, less foam, air drying (instead of wiping), and no perceivable residue.
Conclusions: An activated chlorous acid product statistically matched the performance of chlorhexidine gluconate in reducing populations of resident flora on treated skin sites. With an easier and shorter application procedure and strong, long-term antimicrobial activity, this new halogenated antiseptic seems to be a useful and possible efficacious preoperative skin disinfectant. (AJIC Am J Infect Control 1998;26:406-412)"
