EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products Effective as Sterilants [List A]
On this page:
- Products to Use as Sterilants
- What is a Sterilant Product?
- How to Use Products on this List Effectively
- How to Check if a Product is on the List of Sterilant Products
- Additional Information
Products to Use as Sterilants
EPA has reviewed required laboratory testing data demonstrating that these products can be used as sterilants.
What is a Sterilant Product?
- A substance, or mixture of substances, that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life in the inanimate environment, including all forms of vegetative bacteria, bacterial spores, fungi, fungal spores, and viruses.
- These products are commonly used in laboratories, pharmaceutical clean rooms, and similar environments where sterilization is necessary.
How to Use Products on this List Effectively
A product’s effectiveness can change depending on how you use it. Sterilants may have different directions for different pathogens. Follow the label directions carefully, including the contact time.
- The contact time is the time the product must remain on the surface for it to be effective.
How to Check if a Product is on the List of Sterilant Products
- First, find the EPA registration number on the product label. Look for “EPA Reg. No.” followed by two, as described on the List Landing Page.
- Supplemental distributer products are not included in the lists. For example, if EPA Reg. No. 12345-12 is on the lists, you can buy EPA Reg. No. 12345-12-2567 and know you’re getting an equivalent product.
- On the product list, search the registration number exactly as it appears on the label.
- Once you see the results on the product list, make sure to check that the product's label includes directions for use as a sterilant product under Use Directions for Sterilization.
- Regardless of whether you are using a primary registration product or a supplemental distributor product, always check the label has the corresponding directions for use for the relevant pathogen.
Additional Information
- Disinfectants List General Information
- EPA Product Performance Test Guideline (810.2100) for Sterliants
- FDA-Cleared Sterilants and High Level Disinfectants with General Claims for Processing Reusable Medical and Dental Devices
- FDA - Liquid Chemical Sterilization