Use of sodium dichloroisocyanurate granules for spills of body fluids.

The use of chlorine-containing granules for disinfecting body fluid spills has been evaluated by hospital trials and laboratory tests. Hospital trials were carried out by nurses using 'Presept' disinfectant granules according to a protocol. In general they preferred using granules to bleach and, in 50 tests using granules on natural and artificial spills in wards, no organisms were recovered from the floor by contact plates after using the granules. Laboratory tests were carried out on 'Haz-Tab' granules, 'Biospot' disinfectant powder, 'Presept' disinfectant granules, 'Virusorb' absorbent powder and 'Titan' Sanitizer SU 357 using a standardized surface test. Available chlorine levels varied from 57.8% to 1.0% and the performance of products in the surface test varied with the chlorine level present. Granules containing a relatively high level of chlorine have the advantages that spilled material is contained and that a contact time of only 2-3 min is required before the spill can be safely removed.