Comparison of virucidal efficacy of sodium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, peracetic acid, and ethanol against hepatitis A virus by carrier and suspension tests.

A carrier (stainless steel disc as a default carrier) testing method is very needed for use in the actual food-processing fields by following the standard guideline. Here, we aimed to compare the virucidal efficacy of four commercial liquid disinfectants, including sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), chlorine dioxide (ClO), and peracetic acid (PAA) against hepatitis A virus (HAV) following the OECD guideline protocol based on the quantitative carrier testing method and compared carrier testing results with the suspension testing results. The OECD method specifies a test for establishing whether a chemical disinfectant or a microbicide has a virucidal activity on hard non-porous surfaces. The antiviral efficacy was evaluated by plaque assays, and disinfectants were considered effective if the virus reduction was greater than or equal to 3 log (99.9% decrease) for carrier or 4 log (99.99% decrease) for suspension tests. Results indicated that ClO above 500 ppm and 50% ethanol were effective in the carrier test method. In contrast, more than 200 ppm NaOCl and 50 ppm ClO for all exposure times and 70% ethanol with contact for more than 5 min were effective in suspension tests. Treatment with PAA (80-2500 ppm) were not effective in carrier or suspension tests. Therefore, we recommend the use of more than 500 ppm ClO or 50% ethanol with exposure for 10 min to disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated with HAV. Thus, these results could be effective in establishing official antiviral efficacy testing methods and basic data.