Lash Lab Vault

Free Reference · By Ms. Hood

Disinfectant
Reference Guide

EPA-registered disinfectants commonly used in the beauty industry. Always follow the manufacturer's label — contact times, reuse periods, and testing requirements vary by product and intended use.

⬇ Download the Printable Chart
ProductEPA Reg.FDA ClearedDisinfectant Level Active IngredientContact / SoakSteril. TimeReplace SolutionCommon Uses
Barbicide® Concentrate (Blue) ✓✗ Intermediate-Level Hospital Disinfectant Quaternary Ammonium10 minN/ADaily Combs, brushes, tweezers, shears, clips, manicure tools
Barbicide® TB ✓✗ Intermediate-Level Tuberculocidal Disinfectant Quaternary Ammonium10 minN/ADaily Metal implements and salon tools
Lucas-Cide® / Lucasol® ✓✗ Intermediate-Level Hospital Disinfectant Quaternary Ammonium10 minN/APer manufacturer's directions Salon implements
Mar-V-Cide® ✓✗ Intermediate-Level Hospital Disinfectant Quaternary Ammonium10 minN/ADaily Salon implements
CaviCide® ✓✗ Intermediate-Level Hospital Disinfectant Quats + Isopropyl Alcohol3 minN/AReady-to-use Hard surfaces, trays, equipment, some non-porous implements (per label)
CaviCide1® ✓✗ Intermediate-Level Hospital Disinfectant Quats + Alcohol1 minN/AReady-to-use Treatment surfaces and equipment
OPTIM® 33TB ✓✗ Intermediate-Level Hospital Disinfectant Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide5 minN/AReady-to-use Beds, counters, equipment
PREempt™ CS20 ✓✓ High-Level Disinfectant / Chemical Sterilant 7% Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide20 min20 min (per label claim)Up to 14 days (test before reuse) Heat-sensitive reusable implements
MetriCide® ✓✓ High-Level Disinfectant / Chemical Sterilant 2.5–2.6% Glutaraldehyde45 min10 hrs14 days Medical & advanced reusable instruments
MetriCide® 28 ✓✓ High-Level Disinfectant / Chemical Sterilant 2.5% Glutaraldehyde90 min10 hrs28 days Heat-sensitive reusable instruments

← swipe the table sideways to see every column →

Key: Understanding Disinfectants

EPA Registered vs. FDA Cleared

EPA Registered

Regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Required for disinfectants used on environmental surfaces and salon implements. Oregon HLO requires the use of EPA-registered disinfectants.

FDA Cleared

Regulated by the Food & Drug Administration. Required when a product claims to perform high-level disinfection or sterilization of reusable medical devices. FDA clearance is an additional clearance for medical-device reprocessing claims — not a replacement for EPA registration.

Low / Intermediate-Level

  • Kills most bacteria, fungi, and viruses on non-porous implements and surfaces.
  • Used for combs, brushes, tweezers, shears, clips, manicure implements, and work surfaces.
  • Examples: Barbicide®, Lucas-Cide®, Mar-V-Cide®, CaviCide®, OPTIM® 33TB.

High-Level

  • Kills all microorganisms except high numbers of bacterial spores.
  • Used for reusable heat-sensitive instruments that require a much higher level of microbial destruction.
  • Examples: PREempt™ CS20, MetriCide®, MetriCide® 28.
Why is Barbicide® TB "intermediate," not "high-level"? A tuberculocidal (TB) claim sounds like the top tier, but it's actually the ceiling for intermediate-level disinfection. The benchmark exists because mycobacteria are hard to kill, so passing it proves the product also handles less-resistant germs. What defines high-level is killing bacterial spores — and quats like Barbicide® TB aren't sporicidal. Only chemical sterilants (glutaraldehyde, accelerated hydrogen peroxide) reach that tier, which is why the PREempt and MetriCide rows are the only High-Level ones.
🎓 Oregon Exam Tip Remember this sequence: 1. Clean → 2. Rinse & Dry → 3. Disinfect → 4. Store Properly. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant according to the label for the full contact time, and store disinfected implements in a clean, dry, covered container until use.

Sanitation Done Right, Live

Proper disinfection is a core part of Lash Lab training — you'll learn the protocols hands-on, the way Oregon expects them done.

See Why Students Choose Ms. Hood →

Always follow the manufacturer's label. This guide is for educational reference and does not replace product instructions or Oregon HLO/OHA requirements.