QuestSpecialty Offers Microbial Identification Chart for Proper Disinfecting

BRENHAM, TX – Are you using the proper disinfectant for your facility?  Just because a disinfectant has an EPA registration, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will kill the microorganisms you are most concerned with eliminating. In order to properly disinfect a facility, it is imperative to know the bacteria, viruses, and fungi involved and to use an EPA-registered disinfectant effective against those particular microorganisms.

The EPA registers a disinfectant based on tests which prove the product’s effectiveness on named viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Once effectiveness is verified for particular microorganisms, the manufacturer lists those organisms on the product’s label. Then, it is up to the user to determine if the disinfectant will address the disinfecting need, which is done by matching the listing on the disinfectant’s label with the particular microbe targeted for elimination.

However, matching the scientific names on the product label with the actual microorganism to be eliminated can be a challenge to those who do not hold a scientific degree.

To the rescue is QuestSpecialty’s free Microbial Identification Chart, which lists the most common scientific names for microbes found on disinfectant labels and their association with commonly known infections or the more commonly known names of the microorganisms.

For example, if you are concerned with the spread of pneumonia, you would need a disinfectant with Klebsiella pneumoniae listed on its label. A product that instead lists Canine parvovirus would not be helpful, as that virus is associated with CPV, a highly contagious viral illness affecting dogs.

“It is imperative to use the proper disinfectant to address a facility’s disinfecting needs; however, we noticed many facility managers had difficulty in properly matching the scientific name of a microorganism with the threat they wanted to address,” points out Alex Pratt, lead chemist for QuestSpecialty Corporation. “Many people will use a product that appears to have the most number of claims, thinking it will address any problem they may have.  However, that boils down to using guesswork to eliminate a particular microbial threat.  This chart helps eliminate the guesswork.”

The QuestSpecialty Microbial Identification Chart is available for free download at www.questspecialty.com.

About QuestSpecialty Corporation
QuestSpecialty Corporation, headquartered in Brenham, TX, is a trusted manufacturer of industrial specialty chemicals including aerosols, liquids, powders and wipes for use in sanitary supply, building maintenance, industrial specialties, foodservice and automotive industries. The company manufactures over 400 different products.

Featured

  • California Middle School Completes Two New Academic Buildings

    Sunnyvale Middle School in Sunnyvale, Calif., recently announced that construction is complete on two new classroom buildings of two stories each, according to a district news release. The new wing will house seventh- and eighth-grade students and is part of a larger campus modernization project.

  • Ancient Resilience: How Indigenous Intelligence Shapes the 4Roots Education Building

    As climate change intensifies, educational spaces must evolve beyond basic sustainability toward true resilience – we must design environments that can adapt, respond, and thrive amid shifting, and intensifying, climate hazards. Drawing on indigenous wisdom and nature-based strategies, integrating resilient design offers a path to create learning environments that are not only functional but deeply in tune with their natural surroundings.

  • ECM Technologies Wins ‘Most Innovative Business of the Year’ Award

    HVAC preventative maintenance and efficiency solutions provider ECM Technologies was recently named the “Most Innovative Business of the Year” at the 2025 Champions of Change Awards, according to a news release. The program recognizes Arizona business leaders and organizations taking steps to make a positive impact on the state through innovative thinking and philanthropy.

  • New eBook Shares Guidelines on Building CTE Centers

    Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum and resources provider iCEV recently announced the publication of a new eBook sharing guidance and insights on building new CTE facilities, according to a news release.

Digital Edition