Virus inactivation

Viruses can be inactivated by physical (heat/radiation) or chemical (disinfectant) measures. The resistance of viruses very much depends on whether they have an envelope (lipophilic characteristics) or whether they are nonenveloped (mostly hydrophilic characteristics).

A preparation's activity against viruses can be tested by using the DVV test method (human medicine) and the DVG test method (veterinary medicine).

(See also "Testing and Labelling of Disinfectant Activity against Viruses [English Translation]. Statement by the Working Group at the Robert Koch-Institute (RKI) as well as by the "Virus Disinfection" Expert Committee of the German Association for the Control of Viral Diseases (DVV) and the Disinfectants Commission of the German society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM)") ("German version")