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How much bleach does it take to kill hepatitis B?

User Rayees AC
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Final answer:

To kill hepatitis B virus (HBV), a 10% bleach solution is recommended. Standard household bleach usually contains 7.4% sodium hypochlorite, and the amount must be adjusted to achieve the effective concentration for disinfection.

Step-by-step explanation:

To effectively disinfect surfaces and kill hepatitis B virus (HBV), health care workers are recommended by the CDC to use a solution of 10% bleach. This is because HBV can remain infectious on surfaces for up to seven days.

In healthcare settings, preventing HBV infection is crucial, hence following the proper protocol for disinfection is of utmost importance. The standard liquid bleach usually contains a sodium hypochlorite concentration of 7.4%. To achieve the 10% concentration necessary for killing the virus, it's important to adjust the amount based on the original strength of the bleach solution.

For instance, a solution with a 7.4% concentration of sodium hypochlorite will require more than 7.4g per 100g of water to reach the recommended 10% solution. Specific calculations should be done to ensure that the resulting mixture has the correct sodium hypochlorite concentration to be effective against HBV without causing excessive damage to the surfaces or equipment being disinfected.

User Nicorellius
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