Effect of glutaraldehyde on the antigenicity and infectivity of hepatitis A virus

The effect of glutaraldehyde on the antigenicity and infectivity of hepatitis A virus (HAV) was examined. The CF 53 strain, adapted to human hepatoma PLC/PRF/5 cells, was treated with glutaraldehyde using three different concentrations, 0.02, 0.10, and 0.50%, for various periods of time, 3, 10, and 30 min, respectively. After the virucidal assays, glutaraldehyde and HAV were separated by gel filtration, then the antigen (radioimmunoassay) titer and the infectivity titer were determined. The greatest antigen titer reduction was about 80% after 30 min using 0.10% glutaraldehyde and within only 3 min using 0.50% glutaraldehyde. Glutaraldehyde is an effective disinfectant against HAV: the infectious virus titer decreased by more than 3 log10 after 30 min using 0.10% glutaraldehyde and within only 3 min using 0.50% glutaraldehyde. Statistical studies showed that the decrease of antigen or infectious virus titer was affected by both glutaraldehyde concentration and exposure time.