Many audiologists are asking which surface disinfectants are effective in killing COVID-19. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the specific coronavirus strain which causes COVID-19.1 In the absence of a current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test protocol to evaluate disinfectant efficacy for SARS-CoV-2, as of the date of this blog post, there is no EPA-registered disinfectant that bares a label claim against this coronavirus strain. On March 5, 2020, the EPA released a list of EPA-registered disinfectant products qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2.2 This list is referred to as List N: Disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2 or simply List N.
Per the EPA, a surface disinfectant is deemed qualified for use against COVID-19 if the surface disinfectant:
- bares an EPA-registration number AND appears on the EPA’s List N, OR
- bares an EPA-registration number AND lists “human coronavirus” as a target pathogen on the product label.3
Qualified Disinfectants on EPA List N:
The EPA registration number will appear on the label of a product, preceded by the phrase, “EPA Registration No.”, or “EPA Reg. No.”, and followed by two or more sets of numbers separated by hyphens (-). If the first two sets of a product’s EPA registration number appear on List N, the EPA considers the product qualified for use against COVID-19. For example, List N includes disinfectants with the EPA Reg. No. 1839-94. Since Audiologist’s Choice Ultrasonic Disinfectant Concentrate bares the EPA Reg. No. 1839-94-71111, it qualifies as effective against COVID-19.
Qualified Disinfectants NOT on EPA List N:
For EPA-registered products currently not appearing on List N, if the listed target pathogenkill on the product label or on a kill sheet on file with the manufacturer includes “human coronavirus”, the disinfectant qualifies as effective against COVID-19 (note: animal coronavirus claims do not qualify). If human coronavirus is not listed on the label or product kill sheet, the product does not qualify effective against COVID-19. For example, both Cavi-Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 4678-1) and Sani-Cloth Plus (EPA Reg No. 9480-6) disinfectant towelettes do not appear on List N. Cavi-Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 4678-1) kill sheet does list human coronavirus as a target pathogen and, per the EPA, qualifies as effective against COVID-19. In contrast, the Sani-Cloth Plus (EPA Reg. No. 9480-6) label does not list human coronavirus as a target pathogen and, therefore is not qualified effective against COVID-19.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Rely on EPA-registration numbers to determine product qualifications for COVID-19 as many products may be marketed and sold under different brand names
- Do not make assumptions based on brand name only; for example, while the red-top Sani-Cloth Plus (EPA Reg. No. 9480-6) does not meet EPA qualifications for use against COVID-19, Super Sani-Cloth (EPA Reg. No. 9480-4), Sani-Cloth Prime (EPA Reg. No. 9480-12), and Sani-Cloth AF3 (canister and individual wipes, EPA Reg. No. 9480-9) are qualified and appear on List N.
- EPA-registered disinfectants offer a wide spectrum of microbial kill; follow label directions for use, particularly dwell/contact times, to ensure safe and effective use
To view qualified disinfectants for use against COVID-19 specifically sold by Oaktree Products, view Oaktree’s Covid-19 Qualified Disinfectants resource page created to accompany this blog post.
NOTE: due to high demand from the COVID-19 pandemic, surface disinfectants are experiencing unanticipated shortages as manufactures have been instructed to direct supply to the most critical care facilities; Oaktree Products is working on acquiring inventory as quickly as possible.
References:
- EPA (2020). EPA expands COVID-19 disinfectant list. Available online: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-expands-covid-19-disinfectant-list
- EPA (2020). EPA releases list of disinfectants to use against COVID-19. Available online: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-list-disinfectants-use-against-covid-19
- EPA (2020). List N: disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2. Available online: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
