Trifectant

Trifectant is a brand name for a powerful, multi-purpose disinfectant. The solution is used in many areas, including hospitals, laboratories, nursing homes, funeral homes, medical, dental and veterinary facilities, and anywhere else where control of pathogens is required. It is typically used for cleaning up hazardous spills, disinfecting surfaces, disinfecting fabrics, and soaking equipment. ^[1]

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Trifectant has a remarkable spectrum of activity against viruses, fungi, spores and bacteria, including mycobacteria such as tuberculosis. It is also effective against SARS^[2] and Avian influenza. However, for full effectiveness it must be sprayed liberally on a surface and allowed to sit for at least two minutes before being wiped off, or items must be soaked in it for at least two minutes.

Ingredients

Trifectant's ingredients are:

• potassium peroxymonosulfate (21.5%) — disinfecting/cleansing agent
• sulphamic acid — disinfecting/cleansing agent
• malic acid — disinfecting/cleansing agent
• sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate — detergent
• sodium chloride (1.5%) — disinfecting/cleansing agent
• sodium hexametaphosphate — buffering agent
• Amaranth dye — an indicator colour
• Lemon extract — odorant

The disinfecting agents and detergents work synergistically to attack pathogens.

Preparation and use

It is most often sold as yellow tablets or powder which dissolve readily in water. It is intended to be mixed with water to form a 1% to 3% solution (by weight, i.e. 10g to 30g per litre). The yellow colour is useful in that in helps gauge the concentration when preparing the Trifectant, and importantly, as the Trifectant ages it discolours, making it obvious when it needs to be replaced. The prepared solution is generally stable for five to seven days.

Trifectant has a faint lemon odor, but the scent is still considered unpleasant by some. It is relatively safe in terms of skin contact, but can cause eye damage and should not be used as a hand-washing liquid.

When ordered in bulk, Trifectant costs about 35 US cents per litre to produce, which is comparable to most bleaches. Nevertheless, some facilities prefer to produce their own alternative disinfectants to save costs.

Trifectant is a registered trademark of Antec International, a subsidiary of DuPont.

References