LATHAM, New York-Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats) will soon receive approval from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be used against hepatitis B.

The approval will also allow quats to be used under OSHA bloodborne pathogen regulations. 

The two companies that are expected to have received approval are Stepan Co. of Northfield, Illinois, and Lonza Group of Switzerland. There are several disinfectants currently being used in healthcare centers that could now also be used to fight hepatitis B. 

EPA Broadens Disinfectant Approval