Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
Short answer: EPA List Q is the agency’s list of disinfectant products with emerging viral pathogen (EVP) claims. A product appears on it when its two-part EPA registration number qualifies it for use against EVPs, and you confirm a product by matching that number and then reading the label’s directions for the pathogen named on the list. It covers viruses only, not bacteria or fungi.
General information about product registration and label reading, not medical advice or an infection-control protocol.
What EPA List Q is
The page is titled “Disinfectants for Emerging Viral Pathogens (EVPs): List Q”. EPA states that products on it “have emerging viral pathogen claims.” It is one of several pathogen-specific lists in EPA’s overview of selected registered disinfectants, and it is organised around categories of viruses (tiers) rather than a single named organism. The page has filters for tier, surface type, formulation and pathogen. Because the list changes, check the date shown on EPA’s own page rather than relying on a count quoted elsewhere.
How a product gets on the list
EPA describes the emerging viral pathogen guidance as voluntary. Manufacturers submit efficacy data, and EPA triggers the guidance for a specific virus during a qualifying outbreak. The list is not an endorsement: EPA states that inclusion on the list “does not constitute an endorsement by EPA.”
The three tiers
List Q sorts viruses by how hard they are to inactivate, and the tier is a filter on the list.
| Tier | Virus type (EPA wording) | Examples EPA gives |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Enveloped viruses, the easiest to inactivate | Hantavirus, Marburg, Ebola (including Sudan virus), mpox, SARS-CoV-2 and variants |
| Tier 2 | Large, nonenveloped viruses encased in protein capsids | EPA’s pathogen table names no examples; EPA describes these as intermediate in difficulty to inactivate |
| Tier 3 | Small, nonenveloped viruses, the hardest to inactivate | RHDV2, which EPA notes “does not impact human health” |
How to check a product against List Q
The virus name will usually not be on the label, so the order of checks matters. EPA says emerging viral pathogen claims may appear only in technical literature, health-care and public-health communications, “1-800” consumer services, social media and company websites, and that “these statements shall not appear on marketed product labels.” You therefore verify through the registration number, not by looking for a virus name on the bottle.
- Find the “EPA Reg. No.” on the label.
- A two-part number (for example 12345-12) qualifies if it is on the list. A three-part number qualifies if its first two parts are on the list; the third part identifies a distributor. EPA’s example: 12345-12-2567 matches 12345-12. Search the list with the first two sets of numbers.
- In the list’s “Follow directions for the following pathogen(s)” column, note the pathogen named for that product.
- Check that the label includes directions for use against that pathogen. EPA says to always check this.
- Keep the surface visibly wet for the full contact time, as EPA directs.
Which EPA list covers which organism
People searching for “norovirus disinfectant”, “MRSA disinfectant”, “C diff disinfectant”, “EPA list N” or “Candida auris disinfectant” are asking about different EPA lists, not List Q. From EPA’s overview page (page last updated August 24, 2026; checked 2026-10-30):
| EPA list | Covers |
|---|---|
| List G | Norovirus (feline calicivirus used as the surrogate) |
| List H | MRSA and/or VRE |
| List K | Clostridioides difficile spores |
| List N | SARS-CoV-2 |
| List P | Candida auris |
| List Q | Emerging viral pathogens |
| List S | Bloodborne pathogens (HIV, hepatitis B and C) |
EPA’s overview also lists A (sterilizers), B (M. tuberculosis), J (medical waste treatment), L (Ebola), M (avian influenza) and O (RHDV2). Lists C, D, E and F were retired and consolidated into List S, so any procedure that still cites them is out of date.
Where it matters for labs and clinics
EPA says users must read and understand the label, and that a product is qualified only if its label has disinfection directions for the pathogen. If a label omits a pathogen, EPA has not reviewed data for it. For a facility, that means a product found on a pathogen list still has to be matched to the label and the contact time. See surface disinfectant selection for contact time and material compatibility, types of disinfectants for chemical classes, and terminal cleaning for how the lists appear in a discharge workflow. Related background: antimicrobial surfaces and EPA claims, bleach concentration and quaternary ammonium.
Common misunderstandings
- “The label should name the virus.” For EVP claims it may not; the claim is made outside the marketed label.
- “List Q covers every pathogen.” It covers viruses only.
- “Being on the list means EPA endorses it.” EPA states it does not.
- “A three-part number is not listed, so it is not covered.” Only two-part numbers appear on EPA’s lists; three-part supplemental distributor numbers are not listed but have the same composition and efficacy.
- “Spray and wipe is enough.” Contact time is how long the surface must stay visibly wet. If it dries early, EPA says to reapply; its example is a 10-minute contact time with a surface that dries at 5 minutes, which needs more product.
FAQ
What is EPA List Q?
EPA’s list of disinfectant products with emerging viral pathogen claims, organised by virus tier.
How do I know if my product is on List Q?
Take the EPA Reg. No. from the label, search the list with its first two number sets, then confirm the label has directions for the pathogen shown in the list.
Is List Q the same as List N?
No. List N is the SARS-CoV-2 list. SARS-CoV-2 is also a Tier 1 virus on List Q.
Which list covers norovirus, MRSA, C. diff and Candida auris?
Lists G, H, K and P respectively.
Does List Q include bacteria or fungi?
No, it is for viruses.
Sources
- U.S. EPA, Disinfectants for Emerging Viral Pathogens (EVPs): List Q, date checked 2026-10-30; page shows its own update date.
- U.S. EPA, Selected EPA-Registered Disinfectants, page last updated August 24, 2026; date checked 2026-10-30.
