High-Level Disinfection

High-level disinfection kills all micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) except large numbers of bacterial spores.

High-level disinfectants (except chlorine bleach) must be approved by Health Canada on Medical Devices Active License Listing (MDALL).

When to Use

  • Use on semi-critical items.
  • Use on items that contact mucous membranes or non-intact skin but do not ordinarily penetrate them or enter normally sterile areas.
  • Use on items that hold, manipulate, or contact critical items

Remember the following:

  • The solution must be made fresh daily to preserve strength
  • The bottle must be labelled
  • Clean before applying the disinfectant
  • Follow the contact time
  • Household bleach is 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution

Active ingredients for this high-level disinfectant

Immersion contact times (approximate)

  • 10 minutes

Advantages

  • Inexpensive
  • Fast-acting

Disadvantages

  • Corrodes metal
  • May destroy adhesives with prolonged soaking
  • Solution is to be made daily

Active ingredient of this high-level disinfectant

  • Greater than or equal to 6% hydrogen peroxide (enhanced action formulation)

Immersion contact times (approximate)

  • 20 to 30 minutes
  • Follow manufacturer’s instructions

Advantages

  • Inexpensive
  • Fast-acting
  • Environmentally-friendly
  • No residue

Disadvantages

  • May be destructive to some metals

Active ingredient of this high-level disinfectant

  • 2% hydrogen peroxide (enhanced action formulation)

Immersion contact times (approximate)

  • Five to eight minutes
  • Follow manufacturer’s instructions

Advantages

  • Inexpensive
  • Fast-acting
  • Environmentally-friendly
  • Non-toxic

Disadvantages

  • May be destructive to some equipment/metals

Active ingredient of this high-level disinfectant

  • 0.55% ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA)

Immersion contact times

  • 10minutes
  • Follow manufacturer’s instructions

Advantages

  • Fast-acting
  • No mixing needed

Disadvantages

  • Stains proteins
  • Direct contact with the skin may cause temporary staining

More information