When disinfectants become scarce…

The approvals issued by genetic engineering facilities generally stipulate that no further proof of efficacy is required for disinfection measures in genetic laboratories using agents from the Robert Koch Institute's disinfectant list ("RKI list"). Conversely, this means that disinfectants listed on the RKI list can be used directly in genetic laboratories. If the responsible project manager prefers a different agent, this must be agreed upon with the responsible regulatory authority. If approval is given in the form of a written approval, the requested agent, which is not listed on the RKI list, can be used. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the supply of disinfectants has become problematic in various places, and even in laboratories, it has sometimes become difficult to obtain a suitable preparation. The RKI has now announced that isopropanol (70 vol%), which was previously only approved for hygienic hand disinfection for the A* range of activity, can now also be used for "limited virucidal" purposes. Isopropanol can be produced at this dilution, which can be a useful alternative in times of supply shortages. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a recipe for producing disinfectants. This also contains a small amount of glycerin, which serves as a skin protector and is particularly important for skin care under current conditions. Furthermore, this recipe contains a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, which has a highly toxic effect and is effective against many prokaryotes. However, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) sets out guidelines for the use of disinfectants in genetic engineering facilities, so if necessary, the RKI list and any necessary supplements must be used for applications in genetic engineering laboratories.

• Effective range A for killing vegetative bacteria including mycobacteria and fungi including fungal spores ** “limited virucidal” – effective against enveloped viruses