title: Inactivation of hepatitis B virus by intermediate-to-high-level disinfectant chemicals.
abstract: In five separate tests, hepatitis B virus in dried human plasma was exposed for 10 min at 20 degrees C to disinfectant chemicals having activity levels ranging from intermediate (e.g., 70% isopropyl alcohol) to high (e.g., 2% aqueous glutaraldehyde at pH 8.6). Five chimpanzees (one animal per disinfectant chemical) received treated material intravenously, and none showed signs of infection after post-inoculation periods of 9 months. Two animals were rechallenged with inoculum treated in the same manner, except that saline was used instead of a disinfectant chemical; both were infected within 4 weeks. Our results showed that hepatitis B virus was not as resistant to disinfectant chemicals as once thought and suggested that chemicals with similar activity levels (intermediate to high) might possibly be used on hepatitis B virus contamination with a margin of safety.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D002679:Pan troglodytes
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants