shown in fig1 and 5 the wristband 10 includes a face stock 13 a protective top coating 14 and a layer of antimicrobial coating 11 or u201c overvarnish u201d containing antimicrobial compounds as shown in fig5 as shown in greater detail below different embodiments of the identification devices of the present invention are designed to be compatible with various printing procedures such as direct thermal printing and thermal transfer printing as used herein the term u201c identification device u201d may also apply to other devices benefiting from or requiring printing through or on antimicrobial layers or components for example within the purview of the present invention are plaques plates and identification badges bearing the indicia 12 and the overvarnish 11 or other antimicrobial layer of protectant that allows for printing notably the identification device could be a component of an overall larger device especially a device benefiting from antimicrobial properties such as an implant or personalized article of clothing the term u201c facestock u201d as used herein denotes generally the type of material used to form the supporting structure of the wristband or other identification device and is capable of retaining the print indicia 12 in combination with the protective coating 14 without the antimicrobial overvarnish 11 the term u201c antimicrobial u201d as used herein denotes a substance with the ability to control the breeding growing and proliferation of microorganisms referring again to fig1 and 5 the face stock 13 of the wristband 10 includes a pair of long edges 16 a pair of short edges 17 a body portion.