Question

Which of the following concentrations of bleach solution should a medical assistant use as a disinfectant in a clinical setting?

1) 1% bleach solution
2) 5% bleach solution
3) 10% bleach solution
4) 20% bleach solution

Answer 1

A medical assistant should use a 10% bleach solution as a disinfectant in a clinical setting, derived from typical household bleach concentrations of 5-7.4% sodium hypochlorite by mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate concentration of bleach solution to be used as a disinfectant in a clinical setting is typically a 1:10 dilution of bleach, according to safety guidelines for handling potentially contaminated materials. This would equate to roughly a 10% bleach solution when considering a starting bleach concentration of around 5.28% (w/v), which is derived from typical household bleach that has a concentration of sodium hypochlorite around 5-7.4% by mass. Therefore, a medical assistant should use a 10% bleach solution as a disinfectant in clinical settings.

Consumer products, such as bleach, often display the concentration of their active ingredients in mass percentages. For example, a liquid bleach bottle might list its sodium hypochlorite content at 7.4% by mass. This concentration level can be used as a reference for creating the diluted solution needed in medical environments.

In clinical practices, it is also important to ensure that disinfectant solutions are used correctly, following protocols that include using the proper concentrations for effective disinfection while maintaining safety standards.