Any type of hard plastic harbors germs and pathogens. Simply sneezing in your hand then handling the card will introduce the pathogen to the surface, and it will grow for up to 72 hours on that surface, tucked away in a warm, dark, moist wallet....your card surface can actually increase the germs on the surface. No, the card must be made of another material in order to ensure it's efficacy as a germ reducer...using antimicrobial plastic ... the card will not allow germs and pathogens to thrive on the surface. see: www.antimicrobialcards.com for more info...or you can read about this at: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/could-your-credit-card-kill-you-1276.php