Effect of alkaline glutaraldehyde on hepatitis B virus antigens

The potential of alkaline 2% glutaraldehyde solutions, with and without surface active agents, to alter the antigenicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was analyzed and compared to the antigenic alternation capacities of 0.525% sodium hypochlorite and 2.02% formaldehyde solutions. After treatment of a hepatitis B surface antigen-positive plasma at room temperature for 10 min, there was a 51-67% reduction in surface antigen level and a 90-94% decrease in hepatitis B core antigenicity. Glutaraldehyde is proposed as an alternative to the more noxious hypochlorite and formaldehyde solutions for disinfection of HBV-contaminated articles.