An in vitro study of the antiviral properties of an alginate impression material impregnated with disinfectant.

The antiviral properties of a new alginate impression material impregnated with a disinfectant (didecyldimethyl ammonium chloride) were evaluated in vitro against herpes simplex virus type I and poliovirus type I. The material was exposed to the virus suspension for periods of up to 60 min. The impregnated alginate material showed no clinically acceptable effect against either virus, although log reductions of 1.0 and 1.7 plaque-forming units of herpes virus were obtained after exposure to the material containing the disinfectant for 5 and 60 min, respectively.