The National Institute of Health Guidelines for Recombinant DNA Research recommends 2% aqueous Wescodyne, an iodophore that is used in many hospitals and laboratories as a disinfectant, as a decontaminant for biological safety cabinets and 5% for a spill outside a cabinet. A contact time of 10 to 15 minutes was given for the 2% solution and 20 minutes was considered adequate for the 5% concentration. The results indicate: 1. Aqueous Wescodyne (5%) is ineffective when used for 80 minutes against poliovirus in a test mixture containing 8.5% bovine serum albumin (a mixture equivalent in protein concentration to the higher range in serum). 2. Wescodyne (10%) employed under the same conditions for 40 minutes is also ineffective. 3. Wescodyne (10% v/v) in 50% ethanol (w/w) was effective and this mixture, originally recommended for hand washing, should be considered for use in biohazard situations, particularly for decontamination of work surfaces and biological safety cabinets. These results are of significance for if a virucide cannot inactivate poliovirus one would be concerned about using the virucide against hepatitis B or SV40 viruses.
