The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has aggregated and updated information from individual disinfectant lists to create a new list called the EPA-Registered Antimicrobial Products Effective Against Bloodborne Pathogens (HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C) [List S].
The agency’s freshly released list combines product information from the following former EPA disinfectant lists:
- List C: EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products Effective Against Human HIV-1 Virus
- List D: EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products Effective Against Human HIV-1 and Hepatitis B Virus
- List E: EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products Effective Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Human HIV-1, and Hepatitis B Virus
- List F: EPA’s Registered Disinfectants for use Against Hepatitis C.
These four individual lists are now deprecated and will be redirected to the new List S.
The revised list not only includes products that are effective against Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV, but it also specifies which products are not effective against one or more of these viruses.
How to Check if a Product is on EPA’s Bloodborne Pathogen List
- Find the EPA registration number on the product label. Look for “EPA Reg. No.” followed by two, as described on the List Landing Page.
- Supplemental distributor products are not included in the lists. For example, if EPA Reg. No. 12345-12 is on the lists, you can buy EPA Reg. No. 12345-12-2567 and know you’re getting an equivalent product.
- On the product list, search the registration number exactly as it appears on the label.
- Once you see the results on the product list, make sure to check that the product’s label includes directions for use as a disinfectant product against Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C under Use Directions for Disinfection.
- Regardless of whether you are using a primary registration product or a supplemental distributor product, always check the label has the corresponding directions for use for the relevant pathogen.
Products on the Bloodborne Pathogens List
The following products are registered for use against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
EPA has reviewed required laboratory testing data demonstrating that these products kill HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses, which are common bloodborne pathogens.
bloodbornecertification.com
EPA List March 2024
How to Use Products on the Bloodborne Pathogens List Effectively
A product’s effectiveness can change depending on how you use it. Disinfectants may have different directions for different pathogens. Follow the label directions for the specific bloodborne pathogen carefully including the contact time.
- The contact time is the time the product must be applied to the surface for it to be effective.
All three pathogens may appear on one label; however, each pathogen may have different contact times associated with their efficacy.
A product label on the list below may have all, two or only one of the three pathogens, please make sure you identify the product that suits your specific needs.
How Does this Impact Bloodborne Pathogens Certification?
As the updated list refers to specific products registered by specific manufacturers there is likely no impact to most OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Certification courses that will usually reference the type of product only.
We have updated all of our bloodborne pathogen courses to include a summary of the EPA update, the full current list, and links to further EPA resources. These can be found in the ‘Materials’ tab of all BBP and adjacent training courses including the bloodborne pathogen certification for tattoo artists.
