Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
An enzymatic cleaner is a detergent that contains enzymes, usually proteases, to break down the protein in soil on reusable instruments and equipment. It is a cleaning product, not a disinfectant: it comes before disinfection or sterilization in a reprocessing workflow and does not replace either one. Clinic staff, sterile processing technicians, endoscopy and laboratory staff, and the buyers who stock them use it.
What an enzymatic cleaner is
The CDC’s disinfection and sterilization guideline describes the product this way: “Enzymes, usually proteases, sometimes are added to neutral pH solutions to assist in removing organic material.” The enzymes “attack proteins that make up a large portion of common soil (e.g., blood, pus).” The CDC also states plainly that “Enzymatic cleaners are not disinfectants, and proteinaceous enzymes can be inactivated by germicides.”
The purpose is narrow. Cleaning removes the organic soil that would otherwise shield microorganisms from a later disinfection or sterilization step, and the CDC notes that thorough cleaning is required before high-level disinfection and sterilization. For where that step sits in a full workflow, see high-level disinfection and the Spaulding classification.
How it works: the enzymes in the formulation
Enzymes are added to neutral pH solutions (CDC), and some products pair them with surfactants. The CDC notes that neutral pH detergent solutions containing enzymes are compatible with metals and other materials. One manufacturer describes its product as protease enzymes with surfactants, with a mild pH formulation that “reduces the likelihood of corrosion” (ASP, ENZOL product page).
Different enzymes act on different kinds of soil, which is why some products blend several.
| Enzyme class | Acts on | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Protease | Proteins, a large part of common soil such as blood and pus | CDC cleaning guideline |
| Lipase | Fats | CDC cleaning guideline |
| Amylase | Starches | CDC cleaning guideline |
| Polysaccharidase | Listed among the enzyme types tested in cleaners for biofilm removal | Stiefel et al. 2016, tested among 13 enzymes including proteases, lipases and DNases |
| DNase | Listed among the enzyme types tested in cleaners for biofilm removal | Stiefel et al. 2016 |
Enzymatic cleaner uses
The common use is as a pre-soak and cleaner before high-level disinfection or sterilization of reusable instruments and endoscopes. Manufacturer instructions for one product list use in endoscope reprocessors, ultrasonic cleaners and washer sterilizers/decontaminators, as the equipment maker allows. The same cleaning step appears in endoscope reprocessing, in the supplies listed in the endoscopy center supply checklist, and in sterile processing department equipment purchasing.
- Pre-soak: immersing used items promptly so soil does not dry on.
- Manual cleaning: a working solution made up to the label dilution and applied for the labelled contact time.
- Ultrasonic cleaning and automated washers: only where the equipment manufacturer’s instructions allow the product.
Instructions vary by product
The CDC states that enzyme solutions should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, “which include proper dilution of the enzymatic detergent and contact with equipment for the amount of time specified on the label.” Two manufacturers’ instructions show why no single dilution can be given for the whole class.
| Item | ASP ENZOL | Covetrus Instrument Cleaner Enzymatic Concentrate |
|---|---|---|
| Dilution | 1 oz (one pump) per gallon of water; 2 oz per gallon and/or warm water for dried-on matter | Per label; water up to 40 C |
| Application | Soak immediately after use for at least 1 minute; flush through all channels | Wet all surfaces and cavities |
| Solution life | Discard after each use; no reuse | Renew according to soiling; the label cites at least every working day |
| Rinse and dry | Rinse all equipment and channels with water; rough dry before HLD or sterilization | Rinse (demineralised water preferred) and dry |
| Mixing | Read the full IFU | Do not mix with other cleaners or disinfectants |
The two products differ in dilution method, contact time and how long a working solution lasts. Both columns are taken from the manufacturers’ own product pages, checked 2026-10-29; the product’s own label governs.
Enzymes and biofilm: what laboratory evidence shows
A 2016 study in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (Stiefel et al.) tested 13 enzymes in cleaner formulations on biofilms in a 96-well plate model. Adding enzymes to the base formulation “had a clear beneficial effect on the efficiency of biofilm removal.” For S. aureus, “a small amount of protease alone was sufficient to completely remove” the biofilm, while for P. aeruginosa “single enzymes added to the formulation were not sufficient.” The final formulation, with four enzymes at 1 to 2 percent each, removed 95 percent of S. aureus and 90 percent of P. aeruginosa biofilm in that model. This is a laboratory result, not a clinical one, and the authors are affiliated with the cleaner’s developer. It supports the idea that enzyme blends can matter, not that any given product will perform the same way on a real instrument.
How to choose
These criteria come from the CDC guideline and the manufacturer instructions cited below.
- Follow the label. Dilution and contact time come from the manufacturer’s instructions (CDC).
- Check the product against the equipment. Compatibility with an endoscope reprocessor, ultrasonic cleaner or washer-decontaminator is set by the equipment maker (ASP product page).
- Check what it is not. The product is not a sterilant or a disinfectant (CDC; ASP). A disinfection or sterilization step must still follow.
Safe use and handling basics
- Rinse the enzyme off the equipment: “As with all chemicals, enzymes must be rinsed from the equipment” (CDC).
- Do not assume a germicide and an enzyme can share a solution; proteinaceous enzymes can be inactivated by germicides (CDC), and one label says not to mix with other cleaners or disinfectants (Covetrus).
- Use ventilation and personal protective equipment and read the full instructions for use (ASP).
- Prepare fresh solution as the label directs; one label says to discard after each use (ASP).
Common mistakes
- Treating the cleaner as a disinfectant. The CDC says it is not one.
- Using a generic dilution or soak time instead of the one on the product’s label.
- Skipping the rinse, leaving enzyme on the equipment.
- Mixing the cleaner with germicides, which can inactivate the enzymes.
- Reusing a working solution that the label says to discard.
FAQ
What is an enzymatic cleaner used for?
It removes organic soil, such as blood, from reusable instruments and equipment before high-level disinfection or sterilization. Typical uses are pre-soaking and manual, ultrasonic or automated cleaning, where the equipment maker allows.
Is an enzymatic cleaner a disinfectant?
No. The CDC states that enzymatic cleaners are not disinfectants. A disinfection or sterilization step follows cleaning.
Does an enzymatic cleaner need to be rinsed?
Yes. The CDC states that enzymes must be rinsed from the equipment, and product labels give rinse and drying directions.
Sources
- CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities: Cleaning, checked 2026-10-29.
- ASP, ENZOL enzymatic detergent product page, checked 2026-10-29 (one manufacturer example).
- Covetrus, Instrument Cleaner Enzymatic Concentrate product page, checked 2026-10-29 (a second manufacturer example).
- Stiefel P et al., Enzymes Enhance Biofilm Removal Efficiency of Cleaners, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2016;60(6):3647-3652, checked 2026-10-29.
