Sterilant composition
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
     This is a divisional application of continuation application Ser. No. 08/164,002, filed Dec. 8, 1993, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,838 on Sep. 6, 1994, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/866,010, filed Apr. 9, 1992, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 758,400, filed Aug. 27, 1991, which has matured into U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,359, granted Jun. 23, 1992 which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 210,626 filed Jun. 23, 1988 which has matured into U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,899, granted May 8, 1990, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 139,166 filed Dec. 22, 1987 now abandoned which is a continuation of Ser. No. 906,557 filed Sep. 8, 1986; now abandoned which is a continuation of Ser. No. 776,479 filed Sep. 16, 1985, now abandoned which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 692,776 filed January 18, 1985 now abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a broad-spectrum biocidal composition effective for the rapid killing of a wide variety of bacteria, spores, fungi, and viruses on a wide variety of nonabsorbent surfaces such as metals, plastics, resins, woods, rubbers, ceramics, and glasses. The composition of the present invention kills so many organisms on such a wide variety of surfaces that it may be termed a sterilant. 
     Some of the articles which may be sterilized by the composition of the present invention are counters, floors, sheets, catheters, dialysis machine tubing, anesthetic breathing bags, surgical instruments, dental bite blocks, saliva-draining tubes, respirator equipment, and environmental surfaces in general. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the past in medical and dental circles, steam sterilization or treatment with ethylene oxide in a closed apparatus have been considered ideal ways of sterilizing equipment. But for many types or parts of apparatus, steam sterilization is impractical because of the size or number of items to be sterilized. For parts of equipment which actually come in contact with the patient, such as dental bite blocks, anesthetic breathing bags, respirators, etc. it is impermissible for ethylene oxide to be used because residual trace amounts might harm the patient. 
     Hence, a stable, benign, broad-spectrum sterilant effective at a wide range of pH&#39;s is greatly desired by the medical/dental profession for environmental use, especially on nonabsorbent surfaces. 
     A disinfectant is generally considered to be an agent which destroys bacterial organisms which are growing, but not bacterial spores. Germicide and bactericide are approximately synonymous with disinfectant. An antiseptic inhibits the growth of microorganisms. A sporicide kills spores of fungi molds, and bacteria. Since spores are more resistant than bacteria, sporicides are generally considered sterilizing agents. Biocides kill all living microorganisms, hence also are sterilizing agents. A virucide kills viruses; a fungicide kills fungi. The novel sterilant of this invention kills bacteria, spores, fungi and viruses. Hence, it may be termed a biocide or a sterilant. 
     The Hamilton U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,936, discloses combining a broad range of quaternary amines as germicides and foaming agents in recirculation type toilets. 
     The Halley U.S. Pat. No. 3,785,971, is directed to a waste treatment material for a storage holding tank in which paraformaldehyde and an alkali carbonate or hydroxide are combined. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,390, granted Aug. 29, 1961 to Hamilton and U.S. Pat. No. 3,107,216, granted Oct. 15, 1963 to Hamilton, disclose a recirculating toilet fluid which contains a quaternary ammonium salt. 
     &#34;Quaternary Ammonium Salts as Germicidals. Nonacylated Quaternary Ammonium Salts Derived from Aliphatic Amines,&#34; Shelton, R. S. et al., Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 68, pp. 753-55 (1946), reported that alkyl quaternary ammonium salts have germicidal powers and N-benzyl substitutes do not affect this germical activity. 
     It was reported in Gardner, J. Disinfection, Sterilization &amp; Preservation, p. 900, S. S. Block, ed., Lea &amp; Febiger, 2nd ed. (1977) to include chelating agents with phenols and certain quaternary ammonium salts for enhanced activity against Gram-negative bacteria. 
     The Schattner U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,001 discloses an aqueous mixture of phenol, sodium tetraborate, and sodium phenate solution to which is added aqueous glutaraldehyde in order to kill some bacteria and bacterial spores. This mixture cannot be used against fungi or viruses. 
     The Stonehill U.S. Pat. No. 3,282,775 discloses a mixture of dialdehydes and a cationic surface active agent, plus a lower alcohol, which kills four spore-forming bacteria, but not fungi or viruses. 
     The Pepper U.S. Pat. No. 3,016,328 discloses that simple dialdehydes plus a lower alkanol to the extent of about 60 to 70% and an alkalinizing agent to yield a pH range of about 8 to 9.5 kill four spore-forming bacteria, two of which are the same as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,282,775. 
     Borick, et al in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 53, No. 10 at p. 1273 disclose that glutaraldehyde alkalinized with sodium bicarbonate kills eight nonspore-forming bacteria, four spore-forming bacteria, one fungus, and nine viruses, but that this alkaline solution was stable only for about two weeks. 
     French Patent 2,321,300 discloses that a mixture of aldehyde and quaternary ammonium compound has antiseptic properties by reducing the growth of five bacteria of interest to the food industry. 
     British Patent 1,443,786 discloses that a mixture of glutaraldehyde, a lower alcohol, and a highly ionizable salt at acidic pH ranges kills four sporulating bacteria by ion-exchange with the calcium in the walls of the bacterial spores. 
     The Wagner U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,312 discloses a disinfectant mixture of a strong formaldehyde solution, plus minor amounts of glyoxal and glutaraldehyde, plus a quaternary ammonium salt, methanol to stabilize the formaldehyde, a nonionic wetting agent, optionally some alcohol or glycol, and a scent, all at a neutral pH in order to avoid corrosion of aluminum toilets (or minimize corrosion of magnesium toilets) in aircraft. 
     The Mandt U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,785 discloses a disinfecting solution for soft contact lenses against two nonsporulating bacteria comprising a very low concentration of 1,5 pentanedial at neutral pH compatible with the human eye. 
     The Schaeufele U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,147 discloses a germicidal composition comprising quaternary ammonium chlorides, plus builder salts, which are useful for disinfection against bacteria. 
     Canadian Patent No. 1,154,555 discloses a bactericide composition containing formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and a quaternary ammonium ingredient. 
     French Patent No. 2,145,444 discloses a bactericide composition containing formaldehyde and a quaternary ammonium compound. 
     The Lockwood U.S. Pat. No. 3,505,690 relates to a disinfectant dispersing system. 
     The Buchalter U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,252 discloses a chemical disinfecting composition comprising a dialdehyde and an alkali metal salt of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid and optionally an alcohol. 
     The Goldhaft U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,911 discloses a disinfectant composition comprising three essential active ingredients, namely a dimethyl quaternary ammonium halide salt, a phenol or derivative thereof, and formaldehyde. 
     Oshchepkova and Kochkin in the Proceedings of the First All-Union Conference on Biocorrosion, Biodamage, and Marine Encrustation (1975), C.A.91:69799p report that a mixture of organotin fumarates or acryloyloxy stannate mixed with N-alkyl pyridinium salts or tetraalkylammonium salts protect wood samples in water from two common bacteria--A.niger and P. purpureum. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a stable, benign, nonodorous, solution which kills a broad-spectrum of bacteria, spores, fungi, and viruses rapidly at a wide range of pH. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a broad-spectrum sterilant which will remain an active solution for at least several weeks. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a sterilant which is effective on hard, nonabsorbent, &#34;environmental&#34; surfaces such as anesthetic breathing bags, dialysis tubing, respirators, dental bite blocks, saliva-draining tubes, and the like for which sterilization by steam or ethylene oxide is either impractical or physiologically disfavored. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilant composition effective for killing rapidly individual microorganisms or a combination of several different kinds of microorganisms, such as bacteria, spores, fungi and/or viruses. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a sterilant for a wide variety of hard surfaces such as metals, plastics, resins, rubbers, ceramics, and glasses. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sterilant which is effective in the presence of high concentrations of blood, sputum, feces, urine, vomitus, and other animal exudates. 
     Other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Surprisingly, a broad-spectrum sterilant capable of rapidly killing bacteria, sporulating bacteria, spores, fungi, and viruses can be achieved by combining in an aqueous solution an effective amount of at least one quaternary ammonium compound, at least one aliphatic dialdehyde having from two to six carbon atoms, and at least one aliphatic hydroxyl compound having from one to eight carbon atoms. 
     Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of the novel sterilant on &#34;hard&#34; or &#34;environmental&#34; surfaces (nonabsorbing) such as medical or dental equipment for which previously steam sterilization or treatment with ethylene oxide were employed. 
     The sterilant of the present invention relates to a liquid composition which is effective for rapidly killing at least one microorganism or any combination of two or more different microorganisms such as bacteria, spores, fungi and viruses. 
     For still another aspect of the invention, the novel sterilant is employed over a wide range of pH and is stable for several weeks after having been compounded. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention arises from its efficacy in the presence of high concentrations of blood, sputum, urine, feces, vomitus or other bodily liquids or suspensions. 
     A further aspect of the present invention is its efficacy in sterilizing hard surfaces of metals, plastics, rubbers, resins, wood, ceramics, or glasses. 
     A typical embodiment of the invention comprises: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
Component               Weight %                                          
______________________________________                                    
Alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride                                      
                        0.1                                               
Cetyldimethylethylammonium bromide                                        
                        0.1                                               
Glutaraldehyde          2.6                                               
Isopropyl alcohol       0.2                                               
Propylene glycol        0.16                                              
Sodium nitrite          0.11                                              
Tetrasodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate                                  
                        0.015                                             
Water                   balance                                           
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     Processes for employing these sterilant compositions are also disclosed herein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As discussed above, the prior art discloses individual compounds or mixtures of compounds which kill or inhibit the growth of a narrow range of organisms such as some bacteria, spores, fungi, or viruses. The synergistic combination of the seven components of the present invention unexpectedly kills all types of the names organisms, hence it is a sterilant. Among the classes of organisms killed by the composition of the present invention alone or admixed together are Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, algae, protozoa, Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria, fungi, and many types of viruses. 
     Among the many typos of viruses killed by the composition of the present invention are: 
     orbiviruses, orthomyxoviruses, papovaviruses, paramyxoviruses, parvoviruses, picornaviruses, poxviruses, coronaviruses, flaviviruses, herpesviruses, adenoviruses, arenaviruses, bunyaviridae, caliciviruses, reoviruses, retioviruses, rhabdoviruses, rotaviruses, togaviruses, and various unclassified viruses, plus plant viruses. 
     In addition to the bacteria, spores, protozoa, algae, fungi, and viruses categorized above, the composition of the present invention can kill alone or in combination with the other organisms typified above various miscellaneous organisms from the Chlamydia Coxiella, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Rochalimaea, Wolbachia, and Thai tick typhus. 
     It is to be emphasized that the composition of the present invention is a sterilant which can kill any or all of the types of organisms described here alone or in any combination. 
     At the end of the Examples of this specification and before the claims, several hundred representative specific organisms are listed in Tables I to VII on which the synergistic composition of the present invention is effective. 
     The cationic, quaternary salts useful in the present invention may contain either or both of aliphatic and aromatic moieties. Although quaternary ammonium salts are preferred, cationic phosphonium, or sulfonium, or any other positive nonmetallic nuclei may be selected. Some of the aliphatic or alicyclic substituents for the quaternary ions are alkyl groups containing one to 30 carbon atoms both linear and branched, alkoxy groups also containing one to 30 carbon atoms both linear and branched, alicyclic groups such as cyclohexyl and its alkylated or alkyloxylated derivatives, and halogenated alkyl, halogenated alicyclic, or halogenated alkyloxy derivatives. 
     Aromatic moieties, which may themselves be substituted by aliphatic, alicyclic, alkyloxy groups, useful as substituents for the quaternary cationic salts of the present invention are benzyl, tolyl, xylyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, benzal, quinolyl and the like. 
     More specifically, some aliphatic quaternary ammonium salts which are useful in the present invention are: 
     tetramethyl ammonium halide, trimethylethyl ammonium halide, dimethyldiethyl ammonium halide, methyltriethyl ammonium halide, tetraethyl ammonium halide, cetyldimethylethyl ammonium halide, trimethyln-propyl ammonium halide, dimethyldin-propyl ammonium halide, methyltrin-propyl ammonium halide, tetran-propyl ammonium halide, methylethyln-propyln-butyl ammonium halide, ethyln-propyln-pentyl ammonium halide, trimethylallyl ammonium halide, dimethyldiallyl ammonium halide, methyltriallyl ammonium halide, tetraallyl ammonium halide, N,N,N,N&#39;,N&#39;,N&#39;-hexaethyl-1,2-ethylene diammoniumhalide, N,N,N,N&#39;,N&#39;,N&#39;-hexaethyl-1,4-butylenediammonium halide, N,N,N&#39;-dibenzyl-N,N,N&#39;,N&#39;, tetramethyl-1,2-ethylene diammonium halide, N,N&#39;-di(4-chlorobenzyl)-N,N,N&#39;,N&#39;-tetramethyl-1,2-ethylenediammoniumhalide, N,N,N&#39;-tetraethyl-N,n&#34;-dioctadecyl-1,2-ethylene diammonium halide, N,N,N&#39;,N&#39;-tetraethyl-N,N&#39;-dihexadecyl-1,4-butylene diammonium halide, octadecyltrimethyl ammonium halide, dioctadecyldimethyl ammonium halide, trioctadecylmethyl ammonium halide tetraoctadecyl ammonium halide, hexadecyltriethyl ammonium halide, hexadecyldimethylethyl ammonium halide, hexadecyldiethylmethyl ammonium halide, didecyldioctyl ammonium halide, didecyldihexyl ammonium halide, and hexyloctyldecyldodecyl ammonium halide. 
     Some representative useful quaternary ammonium salts containing an aromatic moiety include: 
     benzylodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, o-tolyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, m-tolyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, p-tolyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 2,3-xylyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 2,4-xylydodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 2,5-xylyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 3,4-xylyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 3,5-xylyldodecyldimethyl ammoniuim halide, 2-chlorobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 3-chlorobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 4-chlorobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 2,3-dichlorobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 2,4-dichlorobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 2,5-dichlorobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 2,6-dichlorobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 3,4-dichlorobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 3,5-dichlorobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 2-nitrobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 3-nitrobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 4-nitrobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 2,4-dinitrobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 3,5-dinitrobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 2-sulfobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 3-sulfobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 4-sulfobenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 2-carboxybenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 3-carboxybenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, 4-carboxybenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, benzylhexyldimethyl ammonium halide, benzyloctyldimethyl ammonium halide, benzyldecyldimethyl ammonium halide, benzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium halide, benzyltetradecyldimethyl ammonium halide, benzylhexadecyldimethyl ammonium halide, benzyloctadecyldimethyl ammonium halide. 
     Some representative, useful quaternary ammonium salts containing heterocyclic, aromatic moieties include: 
     n-hexylpyridinium halide, n-octylpyridinium halide, n-decylpyridinium halide, n-dodecylpyridinium halide, n-tetradecylpyridinium halide, n-hexadecylpyridinium halide, n-hexyllutidinium halide, n-octyllutidinium halide, n-decyllutidinium halide, n-dodecyllutidinium halide, n-tetradecyllutidinium halide, n-hexadecyllutidinium halide, n-hexylpicolinium halide, n-octylpicolinium halide, n-decylpicolinium halide, n-dodecylpicolinium halide, n-tetradecylpicolinium halide, n-hexadecylpicolinium halide, n-hexylquinolinium halide, n-octylquinolinium halide, n-decylquinolinium halide, n-dodecylquinolinium halide, n-tetradecylquinolinium halide, n-hexadecylquinolinium halide, n-hexylisoquinolinium halide, n-octylisoquinolinium halide, n-decylisoquinolinium halide, n-dodecylisoquinolinium halide, n-tetradecylisoquinol inium halide, n-hexadecylisoquinolinium halide, n-hexylquinazolinium halide, n-octylquinazolinium halide, n-decylquinazolinium halide, n-dodecylquinazolinium halide, n-tetradecylquinazolinium halide, n-hexadecylquinazolinium halide, n-hexylquinoxalinium halide, n-octylquinoxalinium halide, n-decylquinoxalinium halide, n-dodecylquinoxalinium halide, n-tetradecylquinoxalinium halide, n-hexadecylquinoxalinium halide, n-hexylpyridopyridinium halide, n-octylpyridopyridinium halide, n-decylpyridopyridinium halide, n-dodecylpyridopyridinium halide, n-tetradecylpyridopyridininum halide, and n-hexadecylpyridopyridinium halide. 
     The preferred counter ions for the quaternary cationic salts are halides, especially chloride and bromide. Particularly useful for practicing the present invention are alkylbenzyldimethyl ammonium chlorides, wherein the alkyl groups contain between 10 and 18 carbon atoms, and cetyldimethylethyl ammonium bromide. The useful range of quaternary cationic salts in an effective amount of sterilant is from about 0.05% to 3% in actual use by weight. 
     Other counter ions, anions, useful in the practice of the present invention to neutralize the positive charge of the ammonium, phosphonium, sulfonium, or other positive moieties can be found in the following list bicarbonate, bisulfite, fluoride, borate, carbonate, nitrite, nitrate, phosphite, phosphate, sulfite, sulfate, chloride, hypochlorite, chlorite, chlorate, perchlorate, hydroxide, fluoborate, iodide, iodate, periodate, and bromate. 
     The solubility of the various solutes in the novel sterilant of the instant invention is improved by using small amounts of alkanols having from one to six carbon atoms and/or glycols having from two to four carbon atoms. These alkanols and glycols also have concomitant and peripheral biocidal effect. Especially useful alkanols are methanol, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol. Especially useful polyols are glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, as well as glycerine. In the diluted solution for actual use, the effective amount for the alkanol is from about 0.1% to 3% by weight, and the effective amount for the polyol or glycol is from about 0.1% to 3% by weight. 
     Other alcohols having eight or less carbon atoms useful in the practice of the present invention are: 
     1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol, 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, 3-pentanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, 2-methyl-3-butanol, 2-methyl-4-butanol, 2,2-dimethyl-1-propanol, 1-hexanol, 2-hexanol, 3-hexanol, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butanol, 2,2-dimethyl-4-butanol, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butanol, 2-methyl-1-pentanol, 2-methyl-2-pentanol, 2-methyl-3-pentanol, 2-methyl-4-pentanol, 2-methyl-5-pentanol, 3-methyl-1-pentanol, 3-methyl-2-pentanol, 3-methyl-3-pentanol, 2,2-diethyl-1-ethanol, 1-heptanol, 2-heptanol, 3-heptanol, 4-heptanol, 2,2,3-trimethyl-3-butanol, 2,3-dimethyl-3-pentanol, 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanol, 3-ethyl-1-pentanol, 3-ethyl-2-pentanol, 3-ethyl-3-pentanol, 4-ethyl-1-pentanol, 4-ethyl-2-pentanol, 4-ethyl-3-pentanol, 2-ethyl-1-pentanol, 2-methyl-1-hexanol, 2-methyl-2-hexanol, 2-methyl-3-hexanol, 2-methyl-4-hexanol, 3-methyl-1-hexanol, 4-methyl-1-hexanol, 5-methyl-1-hexanol, 3-methyl-2-hexanol, 4-methyl-2-hexanol, 3-methyl-3-hexanol, 3-methyl-4-hexanol, 1-octanol, 2-octanol, 3-octanol, 4-octanol, 2-methyl-1-heptanol, 3-methyl-1-heptanol, 4-methyl-1-heptanol, 5-methyl-1-heptanol, 5-methyl-1-heptanol, 6-methyl-1-heptanol, 2-methyl-2-heptanol, 3-methyl-2-heptanol, 4-methyl-2-heptanol, 5-methyl-2-heptanol, 6-methyl-2-heptanol, 2-methyl-3-heptanol, 3-methyl-3-heptanol, 4-methyl-3-heptanol, 5-methyl-3-heptanol, 6-methyl-3-heptanol, 2-methyl-4-heptanol, 3-methyl-4-heptanol, 4-methyl-4-heptanol, 5-methyl-4-heptanol, 6-methyl-4-heptanol, 2,2-dimethyl-1-hexanol, 3,3-dimethyl-1-hexanol, 4,4-dimethyl-1-hexanol, 5,5 -dimethyl-1-hexanol, 2,3-dimethyl-1-hexanol, 2,4-dimethyl-1-hexanol, 2,5-dimethyl-1-hexanol, 3,4-dimethyl-1-hexanol, 3,5-dimethyl-1-hexanol, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 3-ethyl-1-hexanol, 4-ethyl-1-hexanol, and 5-ethyl-1-hexanol. 
     Other glycols having eight or less carbon atoms useful in the practice of the present invention are: 
     1,2-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2-methyl-1,2-propanediol, 2,methyl-1,3-propanediol, 1,2-pentanediol, 1,3-pentanediol, 1,4-pentanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 2-methyl-1,2-butanediol, 2-methyl-1,3-butanediol, 2-methyl-1,4-butanediol, 2-methyl-2,3-butanediol, 2-methyl-3,4-butanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,3-hexanediol, 1,4-hexanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 2-methyl-1,2-pentanediol, 2-methyl-1,3-pentanediol, 2-methyl-1,4-pentanediol, 2-methyl-1,5-pentanediol, 2-methyl-2,3-pentanediol, 2-methyl-2,3-pentanediol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, 2-methyl-2,5-pentanediol, 2-methyl-3,4-pentanediol, 2-methyl-3,5-pentanediol, 2-methyl-4,5-pentanediol, 2,3-dimethyl-1,2-butanediol, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butanediol, 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-butanediol, 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-butanediol. 
     Certain salts with anions at less than full oxidation state, such as nitrite, bisulfite, or chlorite, may be optionally employed in the novel sterilant solution of the instant invention to prevent corrosion, as well as for their biocidal activity. 
     Also useful in the practice of the present invention are cations wherein the metal oxidation state is lower than its chemically possible maximum. 
     Some useful compounds with less than full oxidation states are found in the following salts first some with reduced anions and then some salts with less oxidized cations, as follows: 
     sodium phosphite, sodium sulfite, sodium hypochlorite, sodium chlorite, sodium chlorate, sodium selenite, sodium arsenite, sodium hypobromite, sodium bromite, sodium bromate, sodium stannite, sodium antimonite, sodium tellurite, sodium ferrocyanide, sodium manganite, sodium manganate, potassium phosphite, potassium, sulfite, potassium hypochorite, potassium chlorite, potassium chlorate, potassium selenite, potassium arsenite, potassium hypobromite, potassium bromite, potassium bromate, potassium stannite, potassium antimonite, potassium tellurite, potassium ferrocyanide, potassium manganite, potassium manganate, lithium phosphite, lithium sulfite, lithium hypochlorite, lithium chlorite, lithium chlorate, lithium selenite, lithium arsenite, lithium hypobromite, lithium bromite, lithium bromate, lithium stannite, lithium antimonite, lithium antimonite, lithium tellurite, lithium ferrocyanide, lithium manganite, lithium manganate, rubidium nitrite, rubidium phosphate, rubidium sulfite, rubidium hypochlorite, rubidium chlorite, rubidium chlorate, rubidium selenite, rubidium arsenite, rubidium hypobromite, rubidium bromite, rubidium bromate, rubidium stannite, rubidium antimonite, rubidium tellurite, rubidium ferrocyanide, rubidium manganite, rubidium manganate, cesium nitrite, cesium phosphite, cesium sulfite, cesium hypochlorite, cesium chlorite, cesium chlorate, cesium selenite, cesium arsenite, cesium hypobromite, cesium bromite, cesium bromate, cesium stannite, cesium antimonite, cesium telurite, cessium ferrocyanide, cesium manganite, cesium manganate, ferrous ferrocyanide, ferrous ferricyanide, cuprous chloride, 
     ferrous phosphate, stannous chloride, ferrous sulfate, manganous sulfate, plumbous sulfate, and chromous chloride. 
     Particularly useful are sodium, potassium, lithium, and ammonium salts of nitrite, bisulfite, and chlorite; especially useful is sodium nitrite. These optional salts may be employed in the range from 0.05% to about 2.0% by weight of the actual solution employed. 
     A chelating agent may be optionally employed in the broad-spectrum sterilant of the present invention from 0% to 0.025% by weight to aid in solubility of the other components, to counteract any deleterious effects from diluting concentrated commercial strengths with hard water for use, and to help break down the coatings of spores, which have a high concentration of multivalent ions. The preferred chelating agent to practice the current invention may range from 0% to 0.025% by weight and is ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). Partial esters or salts of EDTA may also be used. An example of a salt of EDTA is tetrasodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate. 
     Other useful chelating agents may be found in the following acids, full salts, or partial salts of: 
     oxalic acid, malonic acid, oxaldihydrixamic acid, diaminoglyoxime, dithiomalonic acid, glyoxime, maleic acid, fumaric acid, oxalacetic acid, diglycolic acid, tartaric acid, oxalenediuramidoxime, thiodiglycolic acid, iminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, dimethylglyoxime, hydrazine-N,N&#39;-diacetic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, 2,4-pentanedione, glutaric acid, N-methyliminodiacetic acid, glutamic acid, aconitric acid (trans), gluconic acid, 1,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N,N&#39;-tetraacetic acid (cis&amp;trans), 1,2-ethylenediamine-N,N,N&#39;,N&#39;-tetraacetic acid, N&#39;-benzylethylenediamine-N,N,N&#39;-triacetic acid, diethylenetriamine-N,N,N&#39;,N&#34;,N&#34;-pentaacetic acid, hexamethyldiamine-N,N,N&#39;,N&#39;-tetraacetic acid, 2,2&#34;-ethylenedioxybis(ethyliminodiacetic acid), 2,2&#39;-oxybis (propyliminodiacetic acid), triethylenetetraminehexaacetic acid, 1,3,5-triaminocyclohexanehexaacetic acid, and ethyl acetoacetate. 
     A dialdehyde containing up to six carbon atoms is a component of the broad-spectrum sterilant of the present invention. Dialdehydes include malonaldehyde, succinaldehyde, oxaldehyde (glyoxal), adipaldehyde, and preferably glutaraldehyde. Alternatively, these compounds may be termed aliphatic dials, e.g. 1,5 pentanedial. By themselves, these compounds are effective germicides to some degree, at high pH, but they fail to have the wide breadth and speed of killing of the mixture of the current invention. This is especially true for the killing of the sporulent bacteria, where the dialdehydes alone can take up to ten hours to kill spores, and for many viruses, where dialdehydes are ineffective. In the final dilution as used, in the present invention, an effective amount of the dialdehyde is from about 0.5% to about 7% by weight. A concentration of dialdehyde of about 2.6 to 5 weight % is preferred and a concentration of dialdehyde of 3.2  weight % is especially preferred. 
     Some useful dialdehydes in the practice of the present invention are the following compounds and their mixtures: 
     1,2-ethanedial, 1,3-propanedial, 1,4-butanedial, 1,5-pentanedial, 2-methyl-1,4-butanedial, 2-methyl-1,3-propanedial, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanedial, 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-butanedial, 2,2-dimethyl-1,4-butanedial, 1,6 hexanedial, 2-methyl-1,5-pentanedial, 3-methyl-1,5-pentanedial, 2-ethyl-1,3-propanedial, and Z-N-propylpropanedial. Some examples of heterocyclic dialdehydes are 
     furan-2,5-dialdehyde, furan-3,4-dialdehyde, thiophene-2,5-dialdehyde, thiophene-3,4-dialdehyde, pyrrole-2,5-dialdehyde, pyrrole-3,4-dialdehyde, imidazole-4,5-dialdehyde, pyrazole-3,4-dialdehyde, 1,2,3-triazole-4,5-dialdehyde, pyrazine-2,3-dialdehyde, pyrimidine-4,5-dialdehyde, pyridazine-3,4-dialdehyde, pyridazine-4,5-dialdehyde. Aliphatic dialdehydes are preferred, but heterocyclic dialdehydes such as those named above may also be employed. 
     As a practical matter, it is preferred to produce the broad-spectrum sterilant of the present invention in the form of one or more concentrated solutions prior to transport and storage. The concentrations of these solutions would be 50 to 100-fold higher strength than the actual use-strengths given above. After transport and storage, the user, normally a medical or dental technician, will dilute the concentrate to produce an effective amount at the ultimate dilution and then add the dialdehyde. 
     In concentrated form, a preferred embodiment of the sterilant concentrate of the present invention would have the following approximate concentrations by weight: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
                       Weight %                                           
______________________________________                                    
Alkyl*benzyldimethylammonium chloride                                     
                         7                                                
*50% C-12, 30% C-14, 17% C-16, 3% C-18                                    
Cetyldimethylethylammonium bromide                                        
                         7                                                
Isopropyl alcohol        14                                               
Propylene glycol         12                                               
Sodium nitrite           7                                                
EDTA                     1.5                                              
Water, balance up to 100%                                                 
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     In actual practice, the user will have prepared a desired quantity of the diluted sterilant concentrate by diluting the sterilant concentrate with distilled or tap water. This resulting solution will serve, further, as the diluent for the dialdehyde concentrate then to be added thereto. 
     The diluted sterilant solution after combination is an exceptionally broad-spectrum sterilant on a wide variety of metal, plastic, cross-linked resin, rubber, composite, coated, painted or natural wood, ceramic, or glass non-adsorbent surfaces, exemplified by but not limited to the following: stainless steels (various), steels, not stainless (various), galvanized iron, copper, brass, aluminum, chromium plated metals, tinned plating metals, enameled metals, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylics, polyacetals, nylons, &#34;epoxy resin&#34;-coated wood, polyurethane-coated wood, alkyd resin painted wood, alkyd resin-coated metal, oil-based painted wood, phenol-formaldehyde resin laminates (&#34;Formica&#34; type), polyvinyl chloride-based furniture surfaces (&#34;Naugahyde&#34; type), gum rubber surgical/dental adjuncts (dental dam, tubing, catheters, gloves), hard rubber devices (bite blocks), water-based, latex-painted wood, glazed porcelain and other ceramics and various types of glass such as lime, flint, and borosilicates. 
     The present invention will now be described by reference to the following examples, which are not to be deemed limitative of the present invention in any manner thereof. 
     EXAMPLE A 
     This example illustrates the preparation of an effective sterilizing amount of a final user solution of the sterilant composition of the invention. 
     A 15 ml ampule of the above sterilant concentrate was diluted with distiled water to a final volume of 1 liter. This was a dilution ratio of about 66.7:1. To this solution was added 50 ml of an aqueous 50% by weight solution of glutaraldehyde concentrate. On a weight basis, the concentration of glutaraldehyde will be about 2.6% in the final user solution. 
     Thus in the final user solution, the concentrations of the various components in the diluted sterilant will be as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
                      Wt. %                                               
______________________________________                                    
Alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride                                      
                        0.1                                               
Catyldimethylethylammonium bromide                                        
                        0.1                                               
Isopropyl alcohol       0.2                                               
Propylene glycol        0.16                                              
Sodium nitrite          0.1                                               
EDTA                    0.02                                              
Dialdehyde, esp. glutaraldehyde                                           
                        2.6                                               
Water                   balance                                           
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     The diluted sterilant composition of the present invention may be employed over a wide, useful pH range from about pH 4 to about pH 9. The preferred range for use is from about pH 5 to about pH 8. This is in marked contrast to the use of alkalinized dialdehydes alone, which are effective only from about pH 7 to about pH 8.5. Although buffers may optionally be employed to keep the sterilant of the instant invention within a narrow pH range, no buffer is necessary to practice this invention. 
     EXAMPLE B 
     This example illustrates the preparation of an effective sterilizing amount of a final user solution of the sterilant composition of the invention. 
     A 15 ml ampule of the above sterilant concentrate was diluted with distilled water .to a final volume of 750 ml. This was a dilution ratio of about 50:1. To this solution was added 50 ml of an aqueous 50% by weight solution of glutaraldehyde concentrate. On a weight basis, the concentration of glutaraldehyde will be about 3.2% in the final user solution. 
     Thus, in the final user solution, the concentrations of the various components in the diluted sterilant will be as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
                      Wt. %                                               
______________________________________                                    
Alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride                                      
                        0.15                                              
Catyldimethylethylammonium bromide                                        
                        0.15                                              
Isopropyl alcohol       0.25                                              
Propylene glycol        0.20                                              
Sodium nitrite          0.15                                              
EDTA                    0.025                                             
Dialdehyde, esp. glutaraldehyde                                           
                        3.2                                               
Water                   balance                                           
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     The diluted sterilant composition of the present invention may be employed over a wide, useful pH range from about pH 4 to about pH 9. The preferred range for use is from about pH 5 to about pH 8. This is in marked contrast to the use of alkalinized dialdehydes alone, which are effective only from about pH 7 to about pH 8.5. Although buffers may optionally be employed to keep the sterilant of the instant invention within a narrow pH range, no buffer is necessary to practice this invention. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     This example illustrates the effectiveness of the sterilant composition of EXAMPLE A for nonsporulating bacteria. 
     The novel sterilant of the present invention was prepared with 400 ppm hard water as the diluent for test purposes: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
                      Wt. %                                               
______________________________________                                    
Alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride                                      
                        0.1                                               
Catyldimethylethylammonium bromide                                        
                        0.1                                               
Isopropyl alcohol       0.2                                               
Propylene glycol        0.16                                              
Sodium nitrite          0.11                                              
EDTA                    0.02                                              
Glutaraldehyde          2.60                                              
Water                   balance                                           
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     Employing the Use-Dilution Method of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) 60 ring carriers were tested on three batchs each for efficacy against the following organisms (US EPA Procedure DIS/TSS-1 and 2 of January 1982); Salmonella choleraesius ATCC 10708 (Gram-negative), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 (Gram-positive), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 (Gram-positive, nosocomial pathogen). 
     All these microorganisms were killed within 10 minutes at 20 degrees C. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     This example illustrates the efficacy of the broad-spectrum sterilant of the present invention for killing sporulating bacteria. 
     The novel sterilant solution was prepared as in EXAMPLE 1 for testing against Gram-positive, sporulating bacteria Bacillus subtilus ATCC 19659 and Clostridium sporogenes ATCC 3584 employing US EPA Procedure DIS/TSS-9 of April 1981 (AOAC Sporicidal Test). Sixty carriers for each type of surface, porcelain penicylinders and silk suture loops, for each of three samples for each of three batches involved a total of 720 carriers. 
     As required, all microorganisms were killed on all carriers in about 5 hours, less than 6 hours at 20 degrees C. 
     In a similar test alkalinized glutaraldehyde can meet this standard only after 10 hours of contact. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     This example illustrates the efficacy of the broad-spectrum sterilant of the present invention for killing fungi and fungal spores. 
     The novel sterilant solution was prepared as in EXAMPLE 1 for testing against pathogenic fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 27289 according to the AOAC Fungicidal Test by EPA procedure DIS/TSS-6 of August 1981. For this fungus two batches were used for two samples each killing all organisms within 10 minutes at 20 degrees C. 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     This example illustrates the efficacy of the broad-spectrum sterilant of the present invention in killing viruses, some of which none of the components of the novel sterilant can kill individually under the same conditions. 
     The novel sterilant solution was prepared as in EXAMPLE 1 for testing against the following viruses: Herpes Simplex I and II, Coxsackie virus B1, Coxsackie virus A9, Vaccinia Virus, Influenza virus A, Adenos virus II, Poliovirus I, Rhino virus, Cytomegalo virus, and Corona virus, all according to EPA procedure DIS/TSSD-7. For two batches each, four replicates were carried by ten-fold dilution and measured to three-log diminution. After incubation, the samples were recovered after adsorption time on mammalian cell monolayers. 
     The novel sterilant inactivated all the viruses within 10 minutes at 20 degrees C. It is known that alkalinized glutaraldehyde fails to inactivate at least Coxsackie virus and Poliovirus I under these conditions. 
     EXAMPLE 5 
     This example illustrates the effectiveness of the sterilant composition of EXAMPLE B for nonsporulating bacteria. 
     The novel sterilant of the present invention was prepared with 400 ppm hard water as the diluent for test purposes: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
                      Wt. %                                               
______________________________________                                    
Alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride                                      
                        0.15                                              
Catyldimethylethylammonium bromide                                        
                        0.15                                              
Isopropyl alcohol       0.25                                              
Propylene glycol        0.20                                              
Sodium nitrite          0.15                                              
EDTA                    0.025                                             
Glutaraldehyde          3.2                                               
Water                   balance                                           
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     Employing the Use-Dilution Method of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) 60 ring carriers were tested on three batchs each for efficacy against the following organisms (US EPA Procedure DIS/TSS-1 and 2 of January 1982); Salmonella choleraesius ATCC 10708 (Gram-negative), Staphyllococcus aureus ATCC 6538 (Gram-positive), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 (Gram-positive, nosocomial pathogen). 
     All these microorganisms were killed within 10 minutes at 20 degrees C. 
     EXAMPLE 6 
     This example illustrates the efficacy of the broad-spectrum sterilant of the present invention for killing sporulating bacteria. 
     The novel sterilant solution was prepared as in EXAMPLE 5 for testing against Gram-positive, sporulating bacteria Bacillus subtilus ATCC 19659 and Clostridium sporogenes ATCC 3584 employing US EPA Procedure DIS/TSS-9 of April 1981 (AOAC Sporicidal Test). Sixty carriers for each type of surface, porcelain penicylinders and silk suture loops, for each of three samples for each of three batches involved a total of 720 carriers. 
     As required, all microorganisms were killed on all carriers in about 5 hours, less than 6 hours at 20 degrees C. 
     In a similar test alkalinized glutaraldehyde can meet this standard only after 10 hours of contact. 
     EXAMPLE 7 
     This example illustrates the efficacy of the broad-spectrum sterilant of the present invention for killing fungi and fungal spores. 
     The novel sterilant solution was prepared as in EXAMPLE 5 for testing against pathogenic fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 27289 according to the AOAC Fungicidal Test by EPA procedure DIB/TSS-6 of August 1981. For this fungus two batches were used for two samples each killing all organisms within 10 minutes at 20 degrees C. 
     EXAMPLE 8 
     This example illustrates the efficacy of the broad-spectrum sterilant of the present invention in killing viruses, some of which none of the components of the novel sterilant can kill individually under the same conditions. 
     The novel sterilant solution was prepared as in EXAMPLE 5 for testing against the following viruses: Herpes Simplex I and II, Coxsackie virus B1, Coxsackie virus A9, Vaccinia Virus, Influenza virus A, Adenos virus II, Poliovirus I, Rhino virus, Cytomegalo virus, and Corona virus, all according to EPA procedure DIS/TSSD-7. For two batches each, four replicates were carried by ten-fold dilution and measured to three-log diminution. After incubation, the samples were recovered after adsorption time on mammalian cell monolayers. 
     The novel sterilant inactivated all the viruses within 10 minutes at 20 degrees C. It is known that alkalinized glutaraldehyde fails to inactivate at least Coxsackie virus and Poliovirus I under these conditions. 
     The sterilant composition of the present invention has the advantages of being effective to kill a broad spectrum of microorganisms very rapidly with low concentrations of the active ingredients. The sterilant composition as a combination of ingredients is more effective against several microorganisms together at the same time than would be possible by using each active ingredient separately against the combination of microorganisms. 
     The sterilants of the disclosure above exemplified by the preferred embodiments of the various Examples are effective against a wide variety of microorganisms such as those of Tables I through VII. 
     
                       TABLE I                                                     
______________________________________                                    
        VIRUSES                                                           
______________________________________                                    
        ADENOVIRUSES                                                      
        Avian adenovirus Types 1-10                                       
        Marble spleen disease virus                                       
        Bovine adenovirus Types 1-8                                       
        Canine adenovirus                                                 
        Infectious canine hepatitis                                       
        Human adenovirus Types 1-41                                       
        Mouse adenovirus                                                  
        Swine adenovirus                                                  
        Baboon adenovirus                                                 
        Chimpanzee adenovirus                                             
        Simian adenovirus                                                 
        Types 1-39                                                        
        ARENAVIRUSES                                                      
        Anapari                                                           
        Junin                                                             
        Latino                                                            
        Lymphocytic                                                       
        choriomeningitis                                                  
        Bolivian Hemorrhagic Fever                                        
        Parana                                                            
        Pichinde virus                                                    
        Tacaribe virus                                                    
        Tamiami virus                                                     
        BUNYAVIRIDAE                                                      
        Anopheles Group                                                   
        Bunyamwera Super Group                                            
        Bwamba Group                                                      
        California Group                                                  
        Capim Group                                                       
        Gamboa Group                                                      
        Guama Group                                                       
        Koongol Group                                                     
        Patois Group                                                      
        Simbu Group                                                       
        Tete Group                                                        
        Turlock Group                                                     
        Phleboviruses                                                     
        Nairoviruses                                                      
        Hantaviruses                                                      
        CALICIVIRUSES                                                     
        Feline conjunctivitis                                             
        Feline picornavirus                                               
        Feline stonatitis                                                 
        CORONAVIRUSES                                                     
        Calf diarrheal coronavirus                                        
        Canine coronavirus                                                
        Feline infectious                                                 
        peritonitis                                                       
        Hemagglutinating                                                  
        encephalomyelitis                                                 
        Human coronavirus                                                 
        Infectious bronchitis                                             
        Mouse hepatitis virus                                             
        Rabbit coronavirus                                                
        Rat coronavirus                                                   
        Sialodacryoadenitis virus                                         
        Transmissible                                                     
        gastroenteritis                                                   
        Turkey enteritis                                                  
        coronavirus                                                       
        FLAVIVIRUSES                                                      
        Banzi                                                             
        Bukalasa                                                          
        Bussuquara                                                        
        Cowbone ridge                                                     
        Dakar bat                                                         
        Dengue Types 1-4                                                  
        Edge Hill                                                         
        Entebbe bat                                                       
        Ilheus                                                            
        Japanese encephalitis                                             
        Kokobera                                                          
        Kyasanur                                                          
        Louping III                                                       
        Modoc                                                             
        Montana myotis                                                    
        leukoencephalitis                                                 
        Murray Valley encephalitis                                        
        Ntaya                                                             
        Powassan                                                          
        Rio Bravo                                                         
        Russian spring-summer                                             
        encephalitis                                                      
        Sepik                                                             
        Simian hemorrhagic fever                                          
        St. Louis encephalitis                                            
        Stratford                                                         
        Tenbusu                                                           
        Uganda S                                                          
        West Nile                                                         
        Yellow fever                                                      
        Zika                                                              
        HERPESVIRUSES                                                     
        Avian laryngotracheitis                                           
        Duck enteritis                                                    
        Falcon herpesvirus                                                
        Lake Victoria cormorant                                           
        Marek&#39;s disease                                                   
        Parrot herpesvirus                                                
        Pigeon herpesvirus                                                
        Turkey herpesvirus                                                
        Bovine herpesvirus                                                
        Infectious bovine                                                 
        rhinotracheitis                                                   
        Canine herpesvirus                                                
        Equine cytomegalovirus                                            
        Equine herpesvirus                                                
        Feline herpesvirus                                                
        Feline rhinotracheitis virus                                      
        Channel catfish                                                   
        Herpesvirus salmonis                                              
        Guinea pig herpes-like virus                                      
        Guinea pig salivary gland                                         
        virus                                                             
        Guinea pig X virus                                                
        Burkitt&#39;s lymphoma                                                
        Cytomegalovirus                                                   
        Herpes simplex Types 1 &amp; 2                                        
        Varicella                                                         
        Varicella-Zoster                                                  
        B Virus                                                           
        Hepatitis A, B &amp; C virus                                          
        Herpesvirus aotus                                                 
        Herpesvirus ateles                                                
        Herpesvirus saguinus                                              
        Herpesvirus saimiri                                               
        Monkey cytomegalovirus                                            
        Simian herpesvirus 2 &amp; 3                                          
        Squirrel monkey                                                   
        cytomegalovirus                                                   
        Pseudorabies                                                      
        Caprine herpesvirus                                               
        Frog Virus 4                                                      
        Mouse Salivary Gland Virus                                        
        Rabbit herpesvirus                                                
        ORBIVIRUSES                                                       
        Bluetongue all types                                              
        Changuinola                                                       
        Colorado tick fever                                               
        Corriparta                                                        
        Epizootic hemorrhagic                                             
        disease of deer                                                   
        Ieri                                                              
        Irituia                                                           
        Lebombo                                                           
        Tribec                                                            
        Wad Medani                                                        
        ORTHOMYXOVIRUSES                                                  
        Avian Influenza                                                   
        Horse Influenza A                                                 
        Human Influenza                                                   
        A, B &amp; C                                                          
        Swine Influenza                                                   
        Thogoto                                                           
        PAPOVAVIRUSES                                                     
        Human polyoma                                                     
        Bovine papilloma                                                  
        Human papilloma                                                   
        JC virus                                                          
        K-virus                                                           
        Lymphotropic Papovavirus                                          
        Papilloma                                                         
        Polyoma                                                           
        Simian Papovavirus                                                
        SV-40                                                             
        PARAMYXOVIRUSES                                                   
        Bluegill                                                          
        Bovine morbillivirus-like                                         
        Bovine respiratory                                                
        syncytial virus                                                   
        Canine distemper                                                  
        Canine parainfluenza                                              
        Fer de Lance virus                                                
        Measles                                                           
        Mumps                                                             
        Nariva                                                            
        Newcastle disease                                                 
        Parainfluenza                                                     
        Pneumonia virus of mice                                           
        Respiratory syncytial                                             
        Simian paramyxovirus                                              
        Subacute sclerosing                                               
        panencephalitis                                                   
        Yucaipa                                                           
        PARVOVIRUSES                                                      
        Adeno-associated virus                                            
        Aleutian disease                                                  
        Avian adeno-associated                                            
        Bovine parvovirus                                                 
        Canine parvovirus                                                 
        Feline panleukopenia                                              
        Hemorrhagic encephalopathy                                        
        Porcine parvovirus                                                
        PICORNAVIRUSES                                                    
        Poliovirus 1, 2 &amp; 3                                               
        Coxsackievirus, all types                                         
        Echovirus, all types                                              
        Enterovirus, all types                                            
        Human rhinovirus, all types                                       
        Avian encephalomyelitis                                           
        Baboon enterovirus                                                
        Bovine enterovirus,                                               
        all types                                                         
        Bovine rhinovirus,                                                
        all types                                                         
        Encephalomyocarditis                                              
        Mouse encephalomyelitis                                           
        Porcine enterovirus,                                              
        all types                                                         
        Rat encephalomyelitis                                             
        Simian picornavirus,                                              
        all types                                                         
        POXVIRUSES                                                        
        Alastrim (Variola minor)                                          
        Bovine papular stomatitis                                         
        Canary pox                                                        
        Cotia                                                             
        Cowpox                                                            
        Embu                                                              
        Fibroma                                                           
        Fowlpox                                                           
        Milker&#39;s nodule virus                                             
        Monkeypox                                                         
        Myxoma                                                            
        Rabbit fibroma                                                    
        Rabbitpox                                                         
        Raccoonpox                                                        
        Smallpox                                                          
        Swine pox pox                                                     
        Tanapox                                                           
        Vaccinia                                                          
        Yabu tumor poxvirus                                               
        REOVIRUSES                                                        
        Avian reovirus, all types                                         
        Feline reovirus                                                   
        Reovirus, all types                                               
        Turkey enteric reovirus                                           
        RETROVIRUSES                                                      
        Avian leukosis-sarcoma                                            
        complex                                                           
        Avian reticuloendotheliosis                                       
        group                                                             
        Feline leukemia group                                             
        Murine leukemia-sarcoma                                           
        group                                                             
        Bovine syncytial virus                                            
        Caprine arthritis-                                                
        encephalitis virus                                                
        Feline syncytia-forming                                           
        Human T-cell lukemia virus                                        
        Human immunodeficiency                                            
        virus                                                             
        Mouse mammary tumor                                               
        Simian foamyvirus                                                 
        Squirrel monkey retrovirus                                        
        Syncytium-forming virus                                           
        of Marmosets                                                      
        Visna virus                                                       
        RHABDOVIRUSES                                                     
        Aruac                                                             
        Bovine paralytic rabies                                           
        Chaco                                                             
        Chandipura                                                        
        Cocal virus                                                       
        Hart virus                                                        
        Infectious hematopoietic                                          
        necrosis                                                          
        Jurona                                                            
        Kern Canyon                                                       
        Klamath                                                           
        Kwatta                                                            
        Lagos bat                                                         
        March                                                             
        Mokola                                                            
        Mossuril                                                          
        Mount Elgon bat                                                   
        Navorro                                                           
        Piry virus                                                        
        Rabies                                                            
        Sawgrass                                                          
        Timbo                                                             
        Vesicular stomatitis                                              
        ROTAVIRUSES                                                       
        Bovine rotavirus                                                  
        Calf rotavirus                                                    
        Human rotavirus                                                   
        Porcine pararotavirus                                             
        Porcine rotavirus                                                 
        Rhesus rotavirus                                                  
        Simian rotavirus                                                  
        TOGAVIRUSES                                                       
        Alphavirus group                                                  
        Pestiviruses                                                      
        Rubeviruses                                                       
        UNCLASSIFIED VIRUSES                                              
        Anaplasma marginale                                               
        Creutzfeldt-Jakob                                                 
        Duck hepatitis                                                    
        Eretmapodites                                                     
        Equine infectious anemia                                          
        virus                                                             
        Frog virus 3                                                      
        Golden shine virus                                                
        Grunt fin agent                                                   
        Hepatitis A virus                                                 
        Hepatitis B virus                                                 
        Ichampadi                                                         
        Infectious bursal disease of                                      
        chickens                                                          
        Infectious pancreatic                                             
        necrosis of trout                                                 
        Infectious pancreatic                                             
        necrosis virus                                                    
        Kuru                                                              
        Lymphocystis                                                      
        Matucare                                                          
        Nodamura virus                                                    
        Quaranfil                                                         
        Tadpole edema virus                                               
        Tembe                                                             
        Venkatapuram                                                      
        Wanowrie                                                          
        PLANT VIRUSES                                                     
        Agropyron Mosaic                                                  
        Alfalfa Mosaic                                                    
        Apple Chlorotic                                                   
        Apple Mosaic                                                      
        Artichoke Latent                                                  
        Barley Stripe Mosaic                                              
        Barley Yellow Dwarf                                               
        Bean Common Mosaic                                                
        Bean Golden Mosaic                                                
        Bean Pod Mottle                                                   
        Bearded Iris Mosaic                                               
        Beet Curly Top                                                    
        Beet Mosaic                                                       
        Beet Western Yellows                                              
        Belladonna Mottle                                                 
        Bidens Mottle                                                     
        Broad Bean                                                        
        Broccoli Necrotic                                                 
        Carnation Mottle                                                  
        Cherry Leaf Rool                                                  
        Chrysanthemum Aspermy                                             
        Citrange Stunt                                                    
        Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle                                           
        Desmodium Yellow Mottle                                           
        Elm Mosaic                                                        
        Glycine Mottle                                                    
        Grapevine Fanleaf                                                 
        Henbane Mosaic                                                    
        Lettuce Mosaic                                                    
        Lychnis Ringspot                                                  
        Maize rough Dwarf                                                 
        Myrobalan Latent Ringspot                                         
        Nasturtium Ringspot                                               
        Oat Blue Dwarf                                                    
        Onion Yellow Dwarf                                                
        Pangola Stunt                                                     
        Panicum Mosaic                                                    
        Passionfruit Woodiness                                            
        Peanut Stunt                                                      
        Plantago Mottle                                                   
        Poa Semilatent                                                    
        Pokeweed Mosaic                                                   
        Prunus Necrotic Ringspot                                          
        Raspberry Bushy Dwarf                                             
        Scophularia Mottle                                                
        Tobacco Mosaic                                                    
        Tomato Aspermy                                                    
        Tulip Breaking                                                    
        Watermelon Mosaic                                                 
        White Clover Mosaic                                               
        Wound Tumor                                                       
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE II                                                    
______________________________________                                    
          MISCELLANEOUS ORGANISMS                                         
______________________________________                                    
          Chlamydia psittaci                                              
          Chlamydia trachomatis                                           
          Coxiella burneti                                                
          Ehrlichia risticii                                              
          Rickettsia akari                                                
          Richettsia canada                                               
          Rickettsia conori                                               
          Rickettsia montana                                              
          Rickettsia mooseri                                              
          Rickettsia prowazeki                                            
          Rickettsia rickettsii                                           
          Rickettsia sennetsu                                             
          Rickettsia tsutsugamushi                                        
          Rochalimaea quintana                                            
          Rochalimaea vinsonii                                            
          Thai tick typhus                                                
          Wolbachia persica                                               
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE III                                                   
______________________________________                                    
GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIA                                                    
______________________________________                                    
Acetobacter acet  Flavobacterium                                          
Acholeplasma laidlawii                                                    
                  meningosepticum                                         
Achromobacter viscosus                                                    
                  Francisella tularensis                                  
Acidiphilium cryptum                                                      
                  Fusobacterium necrophorum                               
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus                                               
                  Gardnerella vaginalis                                   
Acinetobacter anatratus                                                   
                  Haemophilus aegyptius                                   
Acinetobacter lwoffii                                                     
                  Hafnia alvei                                            
Actinomyces bovis Klegsiella oxytoca                                      
Actinomyces israelii                                                      
                  Klebsiella pneumoniae                                   
Actinomyces pyogenes                                                      
                  Legionella cherrii                                      
Actinoplanes violaceus                                                    
                  Legionella feelei                                       
Aeromonas hydrophila                                                      
                  Legionella pneumophila                                  
Aeromonas salmonicida                                                     
                  Leptospira biflexa                                      
Agrobacterium tumefaciens                                                 
                  Moraxella phenylpyruvica                                
Alcalicenes denitrificans                                                 
                  Morganella morganii                                     
Alcaligenes faecalis                                                      
                  Mycoplasma canis                                        
Anaerorhabdus furcosus                                                    
                  Mycoplasma hyorhinis                                    
Aquaspirillum anulus                                                      
                  Mycoplasma pneumoniae                                   
Arachnia propionica                                                       
                  Neisseria gonorrhoea                                    
Arthrobacter ilicis                                                       
                  Neisseria meningitidis                                  
Azotobacter beijerinckii                                                  
                  Oligella urethralis                                     
Bacteroides bivius                                                        
                  Pasteurella multocida                                   
Bacteroides fragilis                                                      
                  Proteus mirabilis                                       
Bacteroides levii Proteus vulgaris                                        
Bdellovibrio solpii                                                       
                  Providencia rettgeri                                    
Beggiatoa alba    Providencia rustigianii                                 
Beijerinckia indica                                                       
                  Providencia stuartii                                    
Bifidobacterium boum                                                      
                  Pseudomonas aeruginosa                                  
Bordetella bronchiseptica                                                 
                  Pseudomonas avenae                                      
Bordetella pertussis                                                      
                  Pseudomonas cepacia                                     
Borrelia burgdorferi                                                      
                  Pseudomonas pseudomallei                                
Brucella abortus  Pseudomonas putida                                      
Cannylobacter coli                                                        
                  Salmonella choleraesuis                                 
Campylobacter jejuni                                                      
                  Salmonelia typhi                                        
Campylobacter pylori                                                      
                  Salmonelia typhimurium                                  
Chlamydia psittaci                                                        
                  Serratia liquefaciens                                   
Chlamydia trachomatis                                                     
                  Serratia marcescens                                     
Chromobacterium violaceum                                                 
                  Shigella boydi                                          
Citrobacter freundii                                                      
                  Shigella dysenteriae                                    
Comamonas terrigena                                                       
                  Shigella flexneri                                       
Deleva aesta      Shigella sonnei                                         
Deleva venusta    Thiobacillus thiooxidans                                
Dermatophilus congolensis                                                 
                  Treponema hyodysenteriae                                
Edwardsiella tarda                                                        
                  Treponema pallidum                                      
Eikenella corrodens                                                       
                  Ureaplasma gallorale                                    
Enterobacter aerogenes                                                    
                  Veillonella caviae                                      
Enterococcus avium                                                        
                  Vibrio cholerae                                         
Enterococcus faecalis                                                     
                  Wolinella succinogenes                                  
Enterobacter cloacae                                                      
                  Xanthobacter flavus                                     
Erwinia citreus   Xanthomonas campestris                                  
Escherichia coli  Yersinia pestis                                         
Ewingella americana                                                       
                  Zymomonas mobilis                                       
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE IV                                                    
______________________________________                                    
GRAM POSITIVE BACTERIA                                                    
______________________________________                                    
Deinococcus erythromyxa                                                   
                  Mycobacterium bovis                                     
Deinococcus proteolyticus                                                 
                  Mycobacterium fortuitum                                 
Erysipelothrix insidiosa                                                  
                  Mycobacterium                                           
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae                                              
                  intracellulare                                          
Eubacterium aerofaciens                                                   
                  Mycobacterium leprae                                    
Eubacterium angustum                                                      
                  Mycobacterium tuberculosis                              
Eubacterium combesii                                                      
                  Norcardia asteroides                                    
Eubacterium eligens                                                       
                  Norcardia brasiliensis                                  
Eubacterium fossor                                                        
                  Paracoccus denitrificans                                
Jonesia denitrificans                                                     
                  Pediococcus dextrinicus                                 
Kurthia gibsonii  Peptostreptococcus                                      
Lactobacillus agilis                                                      
                  asaccharolyticus                                        
Lactobacillus brevis                                                      
                  Peptostreptococcus micros                               
Lactobacillus buchneri                                                    
                  Phormidium sp                                           
Lactobacillus carnis                                                      
                  Planococcus citreus                                     
Lactobacillus casei                                                       
                  Propionibacterium acnes                                 
Lactobacillus divergens                                                   
                  Propionibacterium                                       
Lactobacillus helveticus                                                  
                  freudenreichii                                          
Lactobacillus jensenii                                                    
                  Rhodococcus equi                                        
Lactobacillus kefir                                                       
                  Rhodococcus erythropolis                                
Lactobacillus xylosis                                                     
                  Sarcina maxima                                          
Lactococcus garviae                                                       
                  Staphylococcus aureus                                   
Lactococcus lactis                                                        
                  Staphylococcus epidermidis                              
Lactococcus plantarum                                                     
                  Staphylococcus hominis                                  
Leptothrix buccalis                                                       
                  Staphylococcus warneri                                  
Leuconostoc lactis                                                        
                  Stomatococcus                                           
Leuconostoc mesenteroides                                                 
                  mucilaginosus                                           
Leuconostoc oenos Streptobacillus                                         
Listeria grayi    moniliformis                                            
Listeria innocua  Streptococcus dysgalactiae                              
Listeria monocytogenes                                                    
                  Streptococcus equi                                      
Micrococcus agilis                                                        
                  Streptococcus equisimilus                               
Micrococcus cryophilus                                                    
                  Streptococcus faecalis                                  
Micrococcus halobius                                                      
                  Streptococcus pyogenes                                  
Micrococcus luteus                                                        
                  Streptomyces albulus                                    
Mycobacterium aurum                                                       
                  Streptomyces vulgaris                                   
Mycobacterium avium                                                       
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE V                                                     
______________________________________                                    
GRAM POSITIVE SPORE FORMING BACTERIA                                      
Bacillus            Clostridium                                           
______________________________________                                    
acidocaldarium      acetobutylicum                                        
alcalophilus        acidiurici                                            
alvei               aerotolerans                                          
aminoglucosidicus   barkeri                                               
aneurinolyticus     beijerinckii                                          
anthracis           bifermentans                                          
badius              botulium                                              
brevis              cadaveris                                             
capitovalis         carnis                                                
cereus              cellulolyticum                                        
chitinosporus       chauvoei                                              
circulans           clostridiiforme                                       
cirroflagellosus    coccoides                                             
coagulans           collagenovorans                                       
epiphytus           cylindrosporum                                        
fastidiosus         difficile                                             
filicolonicus       durum                                                 
firmus              flavum                                                
freudenreichii      formicoaceticum                                       
fructosus           haemolyticum                                          
globigii            hastiforme                                            
globisporus         histolyticum                                          
gordonae            indolis                                               
implexus            kaneboi                                               
insolitus           kluyveri                                              
laevolacticus       lentoputrescens                                       
larvae              limosum                                               
laterosporus        lortetii                                              
lentimorbus         perfringens                                           
lentus              putrificum                                            
licheniformis       septicum                                              
megaterium          sordellii                                             
mycoides            sporogenes                                            
pumilus             tetani                                                
schlegelii          tetanomorphum                                         
stearothermophilus  thermocellum                                          
subtilis            thermolacticum                                        
thuringiensis       tyrobutyricum                                         
xerothermodurans    villosum                                              
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE VI                                                    
______________________________________                                    
FUNGI                                                                     
______________________________________                                    
Absidia blakesleeana                                                      
                  Entonaema liguescens                                    
Achaetomium luteum                                                        
                  Epidermophyton floccosum                                
Achlya hyrogyna   Filobasidiella neoformans                               
Aciculoconidium aculeatum                                                 
                  Fonsecaea pedrosoi                                      
Acladium castellanii                                                      
                  Fusarium solani                                         
Acemoniella lutzi Geotrichum candidum                                     
Acrodontium salmoneum                                                     
                  Gibberella baccata                                      
Actinodendron verticillatum                                               
                  Gymnosporangium globosum                                
Actinomucor elegans                                                       
                  Histoplasma capsulatum                                  
Acytostelium elipticum                                                    
                  Kluyveromyces wickerhamii                               
Agaricus abruptibulbus                                                    
                  Madurella mycetomi                                      
Agaricus campestris                                                       
                  Melampsora medusae                                      
Akenomyces costatus                                                       
                  Microsporum canis                                       
Alternaria alternata                                                      
                  Mucor hiemalis                                          
Alternaria citri  Nectriella pironii                                      
Armillaria limonea                                                        
                  Neurospora tetrasperma                                  
Arthrobotrys oligospora                                                   
                  Paecilomyces lilacinus                                  
Arthroderma benhamiae                                                     
                  Penicillium aurantiogriseum                             
Arthroderma gypseum                                                       
                  Phialophora richardsiae                                 
Arthroderma incurvatum                                                    
                  Phycomyces nitens                                       
Articulospora tetracladia                                                 
                  Pichia membranaefaciens                                 
Aspergillus carneus                                                       
                  Pityrosporium ovale                                     
Aspergilius fischeri                                                      
                  Pseudallescheria boydii                                 
Aspergillus fumigatus                                                     
                  Puccinia graminis                                       
Asperaillus niger Pyrenophora trichostoma                                 
Aureobasidium mansonii                                                    
                  Rhizoctonia repens                                      
Basidiobolus hantosporus                                                  
                  Rhizomucor pusillus                                     
Blastobotrys aristata                                                     
                  Rhizopus microsporus                                    
Blastomyces dermatitidis                                                  
                  Rhodotorula rubra                                       
Blastoschizomyces capitatus                                               
                  Rhynchosporium secalis                                  
Botrytis squamosa Saccharomyces cerevisiae                                
Byssochlamys fulva                                                        
                  Sclerotium rolfsii                                      
Candida albicans  Sporothrix schenckii                                    
Candida tropicalis                                                        
                  Sporotrichum thermophile                                
Cephalosporium deformans                                                  
                  Stemphylium botryosum                                   
Ceratocytis ulmi  Torula thermophila                                      
Chaetomium globosum                                                       
                  Torulopsis pintolopesii                                 
Chrysosporium pannorum                                                    
                  Trichoderma polysporum                                  
Cladosporium carrophilum                                                  
                  Trichophyton mentagrophytes                             
Cladosporium resinae                                                      
                  Trichophyton rubrum                                     
Coccidioides immitis                                                      
                  Ulocladium botrytis                                     
Cronartium fusiforme                                                      
                  Uromyces phaseoli                                       
Cryptococcus neoformans                                                   
                  Verticillium nigrescens                                 
Curvularia prasadii                                                       
                  Xylohypha bantiana                                      
Dictyostelium discoideum                                                  
                  Yarrowia lipolytica                                     
                  Zygosaccharomyces bailii                                
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE VII                                                   
______________________________________                                    
PROTISTS - ALGAE/PROTOZOA                                                 
______________________________________                                    
Acanthamoeba astronyxis                                                   
                  Leishmania hertigi                                      
A. castellanii    Leishmania mexicana                                     
A. culbertsoni    Leishmania tropica                                      
A. hatchetti      Leptomonas pyrrhocoris                                  
A. lenticulata    Lingulamoeba leei                                       
A. polyphaga      Lohomonas piriformis                                    
A. royreba        Monocercomonas colubrorum                               
Babesia microti   Muriella aurantiaca                                     
Botrydium cystosum                                                        
                  Naegleria australiensis                                 
Cephaleuros virescens                                                     
                  Naegleria fowleri                                       
Chlamydomonas dorsoventralis                                              
                  Naectieria gruberi                                      
Chlorella protothecoides                                                  
                  Naectieria jadini                                       
Chlorella saccharophilia                                                  
                  Nosema necatrix                                         
Chlorella sorokiniana                                                     
                  Ochromonas malhamensis                                  
Chlorella variegata                                                       
                  Paramecium primaurelia                                  
Chlorella xanthella                                                       
                  Paramecium                                              
Chlorella zopfingiensis                                                   
                  multimicronucleatum                                     
Chlorogonium elongatum                                                    
                  Pentatrichoimonas hominis                               
Crithidia fasciculata                                                     
                  Plasmadium brasilianum                                  
Dientamoeba fragilis                                                      
                  Plasmodium coatneyi                                     
Dunaliella tertiolecta                                                    
                  Plasmodium cynomolgi                                    
Entamoeba coli    Plasmodium falciparum                                   
Entamoeba gingivalis                                                      
                  Plasmodium vivax                                        
Entamoeba histolytica                                                     
                  Prototheca wickerhamii                                  
Euglena gracilis  Tetracystis disociata                                   
Giardia intestinalis                                                      
                  Tetrahymena borealis                                    
Giardia lamblia   Tetrahymena thermophila                                 
Haematococcus lacustris                                                   
                  Trichomonas gallinae                                    
Hartmannella limax                                                        
                  Trichomonas vaginalis                                   
Herpetomonas mariadeanei                                                  
                  Tritrichomonas foetus                                   
Leishmania braziliensis                                                   
                  Trypanosoma brucei                                      
Leishmania donovani                                                       
                  Trypanosoma cruzi                                       
______________________________________