Does Your Disinfectant Knowledge Knock Microbes Dead?

Many facility workers may not be aware of some of the unique terms and terminology associated with disinfectant cleaning. Test your knowledge!

Disinfectants play a vital role in helping stop the spread of disease in virtually every type of facility cleaned by custodial workers. While they are aware of their proven benefits, many workers may not be aware of some of the unique terms and terminology associated with disinfectant cleaning.

disinfectant cleaning
(Credit: Natali_Mis/Getty Images)

To address this, Avmor has put together the following Disinfectant Quiz. (You can find the correct answers below.)

1. A disinfectant capable of killing a wide range of microbes is called?

  • A wide-range disinfectant.
  • A broad-range disinfectant
  • An EPA-registered disinfectant.

2. Some disinfectants continue to work after being applied to a surface. This effect is called?

  • The residue effect
  • Residue activity
  • Chemical residue activity

3. The removal of bioburden (bacteria) before disinfection is called?

  • Sanitizing
  • Sterilizing
  • Precleaning

4. Some surfaces become contaminated even though they may not be directly touched. These are called?

  • Transfer surfaces
  • Transition surfaces
  • Contaminated surfaces

5. Some EPA-registered disinfectants contain iodine and a surfactant that helps dissolve soils. These disinfectants are called?

  • No disinfectants contain iodine
  • Lodophors
  • An intermediate disinfectant

6. The key reason a surface should be cleaned before disinfecting is?

  • To remove soils that can reduce the efficacy of the disinfectant
  • Prevent quat-binding
  • To reduce the amount of disinfectant necessary for killing germs

7. A low-level disinfectant can be used for?

  • Destroying certain viruses
  • General housekeeping
  • Both of these

8. In Canada, a disinfectant with a DIN is similar to what?

  • An EPA registered disinfectant
  • A Green-certified disinfectant
  • A hospital-grade disinfectant

9. Which regulatory agency in the U.S. requires the use of certain disinfectants in medical facilities?

  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

How did you do? Check your answers below:

  1. A broad range disinfectant
  2. Residue activity
  3. Precleaning
  4. Transfer surfaces
  5. Lodophors
  6. To remove soils that can reduce the efficacy of the disinfectant
  7. Both of these
  8. An EPA-registered disinfectant
  9. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Regardless of how you scored, being aware of the meaning of these terms will help you choose the right products and use them knowledgeably in your facility.


1 COMMENT

  1. What a great quiz! Thanks for sharing it. Everyone in the cleaning industry should know and understand these basic answers.

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