Researcher explores disinfectant strength, contact time against viruses

Cleaning products, alcohol-based sanitizers and other common chemicals are all being used on surfaces to try to kill the virus that causes COVID-19, but knowing how much to use and how long to use it for is unknown, according to Craig Meyers, MS, PhD, distinguished professor of microbiology and immunology and obstetrics and gynecology, College of Medicine, Penn State, who is looking at testing these chemicals to find out.

Rapid-response seed grant funding from the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, aimed at research across the University to address COVID-19, will allow Meyers and his team to test three groups of chemicals for their efficacy against a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate.

The team – consisting of Meyers; Rena Kass, MD, associate professor of surgery and medicine; David Goldenberg, MD, founding chair and Steven and Sharon Baron Professor of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery; Janice Milici, research technician in microbiology and immunology; and Samina Alam, research associate in microbiology and immunology – will test the substances against a human coronavirus that causes 10% of common colds.

While not identical to the virus that causes COVID-19, it is an appropriate first step.

Read more in this Penn State News story.

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