Disinfectant Kill Claims - Does Yours Work Against COVID-19?

As the planet continues to try and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 many businesses have shuttered their facilities and instructed their employees to work from home. However, for some, that is not a viable option. The nature of the products or services they provide requires that they carry out operations within their normal work environments. For those operations, protecting employees from exposure to the COVID-19 virus is a critical mandate.In addition to stepping up the frequency and intensity of cleaning and disinfecting routines, it is also important to understand the potency of the disinfectant you are using. During this pandemic it is essential that you validate the disinfectant kill claims of those products. Fortunately, there is resource that can help you do that.

Verify Your Product Using "List N"

Not all disinfecting products are created equal. To complicate matters, not all disinfectant products carry certifications that verify their efficacy against viruses. This is especially true for the COVID-19 virus. To validate the effectiveness of your disinfectant against COVID-19 you can refer to the EPA's List N. The process is quick and simple.

1. Look for an EPA registration label on your disinfectant.
2. Enter the first two sets of digits into the EPA search tool.
3. If your product is found within List N that means it will be effective against COVID. If your product is not on List N you should switch to a product that is listed.

List N also provides other valuable information, including:

• Types of surfaces a particular disinfectant is best used for
• Whether or not a specific product is suitable for application via fogging
• Recommendations on where to use each product (facility type)
• A comprehensive FAQ section dealing specifically with the COVID virus

Each of the products on List N were certified by using the manufacture's application instructions. You will need to adhere to those instructions (application process, dwell time, etc.) to get the maximum impact from the disinfectant.

List N is being continuously updated by the EPA as new information becomes available. It will continue be a valuable source of information as we move through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taking the time to verify disinfectant kill claims via List N will help you safeguard your facility and your on-site employees.

Click on the link to learn more about SMO’s professional disinfecting services to help give peace of mind for your facility.