Which statement best describes disinfection in the presence of organic material for HPAI and vND?

• A. Use specialized disinfectants only
• B. Use widely available disinfectants regardless of organic material
• C. Use widely available disinfectants as long as organic material does not interfere
• D. Do not disinfect surfaces with organic material

Answer: (C)

Organic matter can interfere with how well disinfectants work, so you can’t rely on disinfection if surfaces are heavily soiled. The practical approach is to use readily available disinfectants, but only after reducing or removing organic material so it doesn’t block the disinfectant’s action. This is why the best statement is that you can use widely available disinfectants as long as organic material does not interfere (i.e., you clean first or choose products proven to work in the presence of some organic load). In the real-world protocol, cleaning to remove debris precedes disinfection, ensuring the disinfectant can contact and inactivate the pathogens effectively.