Ozone as a disinfectant in laboratory surfaces against the SARS-cov-2 coronavirus

Abstract

Introduction: The treatment of surfaces with ozone has become important due to the ease of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to reach places where it is not normally disinfected with chemical treatments. Ozone can be supplied from two sources: ozone generators and electrostatic air purifiers, both of which leave no residues that damage the environment. Ozone is highly effective against bacteria, fungi, mold, and virus inactivation. The objective of this work was to investigate the disinfection of surfaces naturally contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 and bacteria by using ozone plasma. Material and methods: We examined the disinfection capacity of ozone plasma against the SARS-CoV-2 and bacteria, through a study of natural contamination in situ. Amplification of specific genes by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of SARS-CoV-2 and microbiological culture of bacteria was performed before and after the disinfection process. Results: SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in all assays; bacteria were not cultivable after disinfection with ozone plasma. Conclusion: Disinfection with ozone plasma technology can be an alternative for their use in a shortage situation of others disinfects. Implications for the use of disinfection technologies of surfaces lab’s and the safety of laboratory personnel are discussed.