Quaternary Ammonium (Quat) Cleanroom Disinfectants

Everyday, broad-spectrum surface control for critical environments.

Quats are one of the most widely used disinfectant chemistries in cleanrooms because they deliver reliable daily microbial control without harsh residues. In simple terms, quaternary ammonium compounds are positively charged disinfectants that bind to microorganisms and disrupt their cell membranes, causing rapid inactivation. In cleanroom practice, this makes quats effective against vegetative bacteria and many fungi and viruses, which is why they are commonly validated as the routine disinfectant step on hard, non-porous surfaces.

Facilities typically use quat disinfectants for daily or frequent wipe-downs of benches, carts, equipment exteriors, doors, pass-throughs, and other high-touch surfaces in ISO/GMP areas. They’re also popular because they work at low active concentrations and are generally surface-friendly when used as directed, helping reduce corrosive wear compared with oxidizers or chlorine-based chemistries. A key cleanroom point: quats are not sporicidal, so regulators and best practice expect them to be used as part of a disinfectant rotation program (often paired with alcohols for rapid turns and a periodic sporicide for resistant organisms). As with any disinfectant, confirm material compatibility and validated contact time on your facility surfaces per Annex 1/USP expectations.

Browse quat cleanroom disinfectants below to match the right daily disinfectant to your cleanroom class, surface set, and rotation strategy.