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Updated: Nov 17, 2025

Determining Viral Disinfection Efficacy of Hot Water Laundering
Published on: June 21, 2022
SARS-CoV-2 decontamination of skin with disinfectants active during and after application
R K Campos1, D Mirchandani2, G Rafael1
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
Background:
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in high levels of exposure of medical workers to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Hand decontamination is one of the actions recommended to reduce the risk of infection.
Aim:
Two disinfectants - BIAKŌS antimicrobial skin and wound cleanser (AWC) and AWC2 (Sanara MedTech, Fort Worth, TX, USA) - were tested to determine whether they can inactivate SARS-CoV-2 upon contact or as a coating applied before contact with the virus.
Methods:
The ability of AWC and AWC2 to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 was tested in liquid and dried form on plastic surfaces and porcine skin.
Findings:
AWC and AWC2 were effective in reducing the infectious titre of SARS-CoV-2 in liquid form during application and in dried form 4 h after application. Virus on skin was reduced up to 2 log10-fold and 3.5 log10-fold after treatment with AWC and AWC2, respectively.
Conclusion:
Application of AWC and AWC2 to skin reduces the level of SARS-CoV-2 and the risk of infection.
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