Long-Term Efficacy of Disinfectants Against Ebola Virus and Nipah Virus for Use in Containment Level 4 Laboratories

Effective disinfectants are a requirement for safe operation within Containment Level 4 (CL4) laboratories. High-containment processes often demand that disinfectants remain effective over prolonged periods of time. Four candidate quaternary ammonium-based disinfectants were tested at room temperature for activity against Ebola virus and Nipah virus with a 5 min contact time when disinfectant was freshly prepared and again after disinfectants were aged for 26 weeks. The concentrations tested, based on manufacturer recommendations, were either 5% or 10%. Candidates that demonstrated long-term efficacy were also evaluated for viral breakthrough using reduced disinfectant concentration (1.25% or 2.5%) or reduced contact time (1 min). Breakthrough of Ebola virus was observed with one of the disinfectants using a reduced concentration compared to the manufacturer's recommendation.