J. clin. Path. (1966), 19, 318 A new disinfectant

SYNOPSIS Qualitative and quantitative tests have been carried out to assess the value of Cidexl, a glutaraldehyde solution, as a disinfectant. Most of the tests were qualitative and were carried out in conditions as closely resembling those found in hospital practice as possible. Recently used anaesthetic equipment, catheters, and a cysto-scope, which had been artificially contaminated with suspensions of Staph. aureus, Ps. pyocyanea, and Esch. coli, were used in the tests. The results show Cidex to be a useful disinfectant with a valuable potential in disinfecting hospital articles which, due to their perishable nature or the fragility of component parts, cannot be treated by physical means. This paper presents results of several tests done on Cidex, an activated glutaraldehyde solution, to assess its effectiveness as a disinfecting agent. Pre-vious work by Pepper and Chandler (1963) has shown it to have a sporicidal effect and Borick, Dondershine, and Chandler (1964) have published details of work done on its viricidal properties. These aspects have not been examined in the present study. The purpose here is to assess the ability of this agent to kill organisms which cause the most trouble in hospital cross-infection, notably Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudo-monas pyocyanea, under conditions resembling those found in day-to-day hospital practice. METHODS OF TESTING DISINFECTANTS That no single test to date is universally used is proof that no single test is completely satisfactory. In 1903 Rideal and Walker described their 'phenol coefficient ' method. This test is valid only for fluids resembling phenol and is misleading and inaccurate for others. The Chick Martin test has many similar dis-advantages