Evaluation of hypochlorite-releasing disinfectants against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Abstract Using a quantitative suspension test method, the antiviral activity of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was investigated. Viral suspensions were prepared containing 10 4 –10 5 syncitial forming units ml −1 in 0·9% saline or 0·9% saline containing 10% vv plasma to simulate clean and dirty conditions. A syncitial inhibition assay on C8166 lymphoblastoid line was used to determine viral titre. Results indicate that satisfactory disinfection (3–4 log reduction in 2 min) can be achieved using NaDCC and NaOCl at concentrations of 50 ppm and 2500 ppm available chlorine (AvCl 2 ) for clean and soiled conditions respectively. For treatment of blood spillages, the addition of NaDCC and NaOCl solutions (10 000 ppm) to equal volumes of contaminated blood (giving a final AvCl 2 concentration of 5000 ppm of blood) was sufficient to produce total kill within 2 min. For treatment of spillage material, chlorine-releasing powder formulations—which produce higher AVCl 2 concentrations and achieve containment of spillage material—offer an effective alternative.