Hep C virus can remain viable for months in a liquid environment at low temperatures. Sandra Ciesek and colleagues looked at the infectivity, environmental stability, and susceptibility to chemical disinfectants of HCV grown in laboratory cell cultures. HCV infectivity in a liquid environment was detectable for up to 5 months at lower temperatures. Different alcohols and commercially available antiseptics reduced HCV to undetectable levels. Diluting hand disinfectants reduced their virucidal activity. The researchers noted that the risk of HCV infection may not be accurately gauged by determining HCV RNA levels, since viral infectivity and viral load copy numbers did not directly correlate. The results, they suggested, "should be useful in defining rigorous disinfection protocols to prevent nosocomial transmission of HCV" in healthcare settings. The study was published in Journal of Infectious Diseases (15 June 2010). CLICK HERE TO GO TO ORIGINAL NEWS SOURCE>>