Summary of Disinfectants

Last updated September 1, 2009 1:29:07 PM PDT

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Consult these charts for recommended disinfectants and their uses and requirements.

Important: These charts are intended for use by University of California, San Diego (UCSD) researchers only. Standards and requirements may differ at other institutions and businesses.

Select a topic:

Practical requirements
Important characteristics
Potential applications

Examples of proprietary disinfectants
Disinfectants available from STORE

Practical requirements:

Disinfectants	Practical requirements						Inactivates
Type	Category	Use dilution	Contact time		Temp (C)	Relative humidity	Vege– tative bacteria	Lipovirus	Nonlipid viruses	Bacterial spores
Type	Category	Use dilution	Lipovirus	Broad spectrum	Temp (C)	Relative humidity	Vege– tative bacteria	Lipovirus	Nonlipid viruses	Bacterial spores
Liquid	Quaternary ammonium compounds	0.1%–2.0%	10	Not effective			+	+
	Phenolics	1.0%–5.0%	10	Not effective			+	+	Variable results dependent on virus
	Chlorine compounds	500 ppm	10	30			+	+	+	+
	Iodphor	25–1600 ppm (available halogen)	10	30			+	+	+	+
	Alcohol, Ethyl	70%–85%	10	Not effective			+	+	Variable results dependent on virus
	Alcohol, isopropyl	70%–85%	10	Not effective			+	+	Variable results dependent on virus
	Formaldehyde	0.2%–8.0%	10	30			+	+	+	+
	Glutaraldehyde	2.0%	10	30			+	+	+	+
Gas	Ethylene oxide	8–23 g/cubic foot	60	60	37	30	+	+	+	+
Gas	Para– formaldehyde	0.3 g/cubic foot	60	60	gt;23	gt;60	+	+	+	+

Important characteristics:

Disinfectants		Important characteristics
Type	Category	Effective shelf life >1 week Protected from light and air	Corrosive	Flammable	Explosion Potential	Residue	Inacti– vated by organic matter	Compatible for optics* (Read special consider– ations).	Compat– ible for elec– tronics	Skin irritant	Eye irritant	Respi– ratory irritant	Toxic By skin or mouth, or both. Refer to manufacturer's literature and "The Merck Index."
Liquid	Quaternary ammonium compounds	+					+	+		+	+		+
	Phenolic compounds	+	+			+				+	+		+
	Chlorine		+			+	+			+	+	+	+
	Iodophor	+	+			+	+			+	+		+
	Alcohol, ethyl	+		+							+		+
	Alcohol, isoprophyl	+		+							+		+
	Formaldehyde	+				+				+	+		+
	Glutaraldehyde	+				+		+		+	+		+
Gas	Ethylene Oxide	N/A		+ Neither flammable nor explosive in 90% CO2, or fluorinated hydrocarbon, the usual form	+ Neither flammable nor explosive in 90% CO2, or fluorinated hydrocarbon, the usual form			+	+	+	+	+	+
Gas	Parafor- maldehyde	N/A		+ At concentrations of 7%-73% by volume in air, solid-exposure to open flame	+ At concentrations of 7%-73% by volume in air, solid-exposure to open flame			+	+	+	+	+	+
*Special considerations (compatible for optics): Usually compatible, but consider interferences from residues and effects on associated materials such as mounting. Return to top

Potential applications:

Disinfectants		Potential applications
Type	Category	Work surfaces	Dirty glass– ware	Large area decon	Air handling systems	Portable equip– ment surface	Portable equip– ment penetrat– ing decon	Fixed equip– ment surface	Fixed equip– ment penetrat– ing decon	Optical instru– ments	Electronic instru– ments	Liquids for discard	Books papers
Liquid	Quaternary ammonium compounds	+	+			+		+
	Phenolic Compounds	+	+					+
	Chlorine	+	+			+		+				+
	Iodophor	+	+			+		+
	Alcohol, ethyl	+	+			+		+
	Alcohol isoprophyl	+	+			+		+
	Formaldehyde	+	+			+		+
	Glutaraldehyde	+	+			+		+
Gas	Ethylene oxide						+			+	+		+
Gas	Parafor– maldehyde			+	+		+		+	+	+

Examples of proprietary disinfectants:

Disinfectants		Examples of proprietary disinfectants
Type	Category	Examples of proprietary disinfectants
Liquid	Quaternary ammonium compounds	A-33, CDQ, End-Bac, Hi-Tor, Mikro-Quat
	Phenolic compounds	Hil-Phene, Matar, Midro-Bac, O-Syl
	Chlorine compounds	Cholramine T, Chlorox, Purex
	Iodophor	Hy-sine, Ioprep, Mikroklene, Wescodyne
	Alcohol, ethyl	N/A
	Alcohol, isoprophyl	N/A
	Formaldehyde	Sterac
	Glutaraldehyde	Cidex
Gas	Ethylene oxide	Carboxide, Cryoxicide, Steroxicide
Gas	Parafomaldehyde	N/A

Disinfectants available from STORE:

Disinfectants available from STORE
Product	Description	Order number
Bleach	1 gallon liquid, household bleach	5021
Ethyl alcohol	5 gallons, 95% ethyl alcohol (190 proof)	0108
Isopropyl alcohol	16 ounces, 70% isopropyl	0232
Red Z	15 ounce biohazard encapsulator	7936

For more information, contact EH&S Biosafety, (858) 534-5366.

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