Which disinfectant is most commonly used in clinical laboratories?

Bleach is the most commonly used disinfectant in clinical laboratories primarily due to its powerful antimicrobial properties and effectiveness against a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient in household bleach, is a strong oxidizer that leads to the rapid inactivation of many microorganisms.

In laboratory settings, bleach is often diluted to an appropriate concentration, typically around 10% for routine disinfection, making it both efficient and cost-effective for maintaining a sterile environment. It's particularly valuable for disinfecting surfaces and equipment that may come into contact with potentially infectious materials, ensuring a safer workspace for laboratory personnel.

The other disinfectants listed, while effective in certain applications, are not as commonly utilized across all clinical laboratories. For instance, formalin is mainly used for tissue fixation rather than routine disinfection, glutaraldehyde has a specific use primarily in sterilization of heat-sensitive instruments due to its high toxicity, and alcohol is effective for skin disinfection but is generally not as broad-spectrum as bleach when it comes to environmental surfaces.