This study focuses on the stability and effectiveness of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solutions used in disinfecting research animal environments, aiming to balance pathogen control with cost, safety, and practicality. Research animals, particularly immunocompromised ones, are vulnerable to infections that can spread rapidly and confound studies. The study evaluated whether bleach solutions, prepared according to Oregon Health & Science University protocols, remained effective under real-world conditions for up to six weeks.
The study utilized our 0-10,000 ppm chlorine test strip and stated “Semiquantitative methods include colorimetric strips that convert changes in free available chlorine (FAC) concentration to a visual color comparator. These strips are useful for nonregulatory reporting and for spot checking.” and “suggesting that colorimetric strips are a useful tool for a quick determination of adequate disinfection capacity of a given dilute solution. These strips may be a useful quality control tool for detecting the FAC of freshly prepared solutions, manufacturing changes in starting bleach concentrations, and errors in dilution. These events are not unlikely, as evidenced by the lower-than-expected starting concentration in the commercial bleach product used in this experiment.”