MB-10 Disinfectant Tablets | The Simplest Way to Make Pure Chlorine Dioxide
Chlorine dioxide tablets engineered for broad-spectrum efficacy, material compatibility, and animal welfare. Proven superior to bleach and peroxide-based competitor formulations in published studies.
Disinfectant Selection Is More Complex Than Many Research Facilities Realize
A disinfectant that damages your equipment or alters your animals' behavior isn't just a maintenance problem. It's a variable you didn't account for. Pitting and fissuring in acrylic and polycarbonate create harborage areas where bacteria survive cleaning cycles. Aversive residues change how animals interact with their environment in ways that don't show up until they show up in your data.
MB-10 and Vimoba ship as dry tablets — a fraction of the weight and storage footprint of liquid disinfectants. Each tablet dissolves to a precise concentration, no measuring, no splashing, no spill risk. The chemistry that doesn't become part of the experiment, in a format that doesn't take over your supply closet.
Published Evidence from UC San Diego and UCLA
Two peer-reviewed studies evaluated disinfectants across efficacy, material compatibility, and behavioral effects in laboratory animal settings. The findings establish chlorine dioxide tablets as the most effective option when all three factors are considered. View UC San Diego study | View UCLA study
UC San Diego Gnotobiotic Core Facility Study
Moody et al., Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 2019
- Chlorine dioxide tablets (MB-10/Vimoba) maintained equal or superior efficacy against spores as against vegetative bacteria
- Peroxide-based competitor formulations lost 80- to 100-fold efficacy against spores and showed zero sporicidal activity at tested concentrations
- Bleach and the tested peroxide-based product caused visible pitting and fissuring in acrylic after 3-month field testing
- Vimoba Tablets caused no visible material damage to acrylic, vinyl, or metals
Note: The study tested a surfactant-enhanced hydrogen peroxide formulation. Material compatibility issues are believed to result from surfactant additives rather than hydrogen peroxide itself. Standard hydrogen peroxide solutions without surfactant enhancement show different material compatibility profiles.
UCLA Behavioral Aversion Study
Campagna et al., Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 2016
- Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) created statistically significant aversion across all three mouse strains tested (P < 0.001)
- Peroxide-based competitor formulation also created statistically significant aversion
- Vimoba Tablets showed no significant aversion in any strain
- The competitor product's aversive component was undetectable to human observers but consistently avoided by mice
- Pre-exposure reduced but did not eliminate aversion—animals did not develop tolerance
Note: The tested product was a surfactant-accelerated hydrogen peroxide formulation. Aversive effects are believed to result from surfactant or other proprietary additives rather than hydrogen peroxide itself.
Broad-Spectrum Activity Across Pathogens of Concern
MB-10 and Vimoba Tablets are EPA-registered against the organisms most relevant to laboratory animal facilities, biomedical research, and veterinary settings. All claims listed below are verified through EPA's Antimicrobial Testing Program.
Viruses (100 ppm)
- Avian Influenza A (H3N2)
- Canine Parvovirus
- Foot & Mouth Disease
- Hantavirus
- Infectious Bursal Disease (IBDV)
- Influenza A (Hong Kong)
- Marek's Disease (MDV)
- Minute Virus of Mouse (MVM-i, MVM-p)
- Mouse Hepatitis Virus (MHV-A59, MHV-JHM)
- Murine Parainfluenza Type 1 (Sendai)
- Porcine Circovirus Type 2
- Porcine Respiratory & Reproductive Syndrome (PRRSV)
- Sialodacryoadenitis Virus (SDAV)
- Theiler's Mouse Encephalomyelitis (TMEV)
- Vaccinia
Viruses (200 ppm)
- Feline Panleukopenia
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- HIV-1
- Human Coronavirus
- Newcastle Disease
- Norovirus
- Poliovirus Type 1
- Pseudorabies
- SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
- Swine Influenza A
- Transmissible Gastroenteritis
Bacteria (Disinfectant)
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Corynebacterium bovis
- Enterococcus faecalis (VRE)
- Escherichia coli O157:H7
- Helicobacter pylori
- Mycobacterium bovis (tuberculocidal)
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Salmonella enterica
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Bacteria (Sanitizer - 25 ppm)
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Salmonella enterica
Sterilant (1000 ppm)
EPA-registered sterilant for BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and laboratory equipment requiring complete microbial elimination. One-hour contact time.
Designed for Research, Veterinary, and Biomedical Settings
Laboratory Animal Facilities
Cages, coops, crates, kennels, floors, walls, counters, biosafety hoods, instruments, transfer equipment, gnotobiotic isolators
Animal Rearing & Research Facilities
Hard non-porous surfaces, equipment, glassware, stainless steel, plastics, epoxy floors
Food-Contact Surface Sanitizer
Processing equipment, utensils, dishes, countertops (25 ppm, 60 sec contact time)
Healthcare & Veterinary Facilities
Hospitals, clinics, ambulances, medical/dental offices, surgical instruments
Commercial & Institutional
Office buildings, food plants, schools, hotels, transportation vehicles
Surface Sterilization
BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities, pharmaceutical manufacturing, laboratory equipment (1000 ppm, 1 hour)
Dosing Reference
| Application | Concentration | Contact Time | Tablet Dosing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanitizer (food contact) | 25 ppm | 60 seconds | 1 tablet per 20 gallons |
| Disinfectant (general) | 100 ppm | 1–10 minutes* | 1 tablet per 5 gallons |
| Disinfectant (higher level) | 200 ppm | 5–30 minutes* | 1 tablet per 2.5 gallons |
| Sterilant | 1000 ppm | 60 minutes | 1 tablet per 0.5 gallons |
*Contact time varies by pathogen. See EPA master label for specific claims.
No Damage to Equipment, Caging, or Surfaces
Unlike bleach and peroxide-based competitor formulations, chlorine dioxide tablets do not cause pitting, cracking, or corrosion to materials commonly used in research facilities. This difference has been documented in published field testing.
Important: The tested product was a surfactant-enhanced hydrogen peroxide formulation. Standard hydrogen peroxide solutions (such as Quip Labs' HaloMist) do not exhibit the same material compatibility issues, as damage appears to result from surfactant additives in accelerated formulations.
Comparison of Material Effects
| Material | MB-10 / Vimoba | Bleach | Peroxide-Based Competitor* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic (isolator ports) | Greatly reduced risk of damage | Pitting, fissuring | Severe pitting, cracking |
| Polysulfone caging | Compatible when used properly | Compatible | Clouding, cracking |
| Stainless steel | Compatible | Corrosive | Compatible |
| Vinyl (isolator film) | Compatible | Slight effects | Thick residue |
| Soft metals | Compatible** | Highly corrosive | Variable |
*Surfactant-enhanced formulation tested in published studies. Standard hydrogen peroxide products show different compatibility profiles.
**Vimoba contains buffering agent for enhanced soft metal compatibility
Field Testing Results
In a three-month field test using actual gnotobiotic isolator ports in routine use, the tested accelerated hydrogen peroxide formulation caused severe material compatibility issues. Chlorine dioxide tablets caused no visible damage. (UC San Diego study, 2019)
No Behavioral Aversion—A Critical Advantage for Research
The Problem
Disinfectant residues can create aversive odors that animals perceive but humans cannot detect. When animals avoid treated surfaces, facilities introduce an uncontrolled variable into housing, handling, and behavioral testing—one that protocols don't account for.
UCLA Study Results
Statistically significant aversion across all three mouse strains (Swiss Webster, C57Bl/6, BALB/c). P < 0.001.
Statistically significant aversion. The tested product's aversive component was undetectable to human observers—no noticeable odor, no visible residue—but mice consistently avoided treated surfaces.
The aversive effects are believed to result from surfactant or other proprietary additives in the accelerated formulation, not from hydrogen peroxide itself.
No significant aversion in any strain. No pre-exposure conditioning needed.
Mice pre-exposed to the competitor disinfectant for 15 minutes daily for three consecutive days still showed aversion. The effect persists—animals do not develop tolerance.
Implication for Research
If animals avoid contact with treated surfaces due to sensory perception researchers can't detect, behavioral observations change without documentation. Vimoba Tablets eliminate this confounding variable.
Working with Soft Metals?
Vimoba Tablets deliver the same research-backed efficacy as MB-10, with enhanced buffering for maximum compatibility with brass, copper, and aluminum components.
- Same EPA registration and pathogen coverage as MB-10
- Buffered formulation for soft metal compatibility
- No animal aversion, no material damage
- Superior sporicidal activity vs. peroxide-based competitors
Why Leading Research Facilities Choose MB-10 / Vimoba
| Factor | MB-10 / Vimoba | Bleach | Peroxide-Based Competitor* | Peracetic Acid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sporicidal Efficacy | Superior | Effective | Zero activity (UC San Diego study) | Effective |
| Material Compatibility | No damage | Corrosive to metals, damages acrylic | Severe acrylic damage, polysulfone clouding | Variable |
| Animal Aversion | None | Significant (P<0.001) | Significant (P<0.001) | Not tested |
| Odor | Minimal | Strong, offensive | Typically mild to humans** | Strong, vinegar-like |
| pH Stability | Effective across wide pH range | Loses activity in acidic conditions | Variable | Variable |
| Organic Load Challenge | Maintains activity | Inactivated by organics | Inactivated by organics | Better than bleach |
| EPA Sterilant Option | Yes (1000 ppm) | No | Limited formulations | Yes (some formulations) |
*Surfactant-enhanced hydrogen peroxide formulation tested in referenced studies. Standard hydrogen peroxide products (such as Quip Labs' HaloMist) show different performance characteristics.
**Aversive to mice despite being imperceptible to humans, believed to result from surfactant additives.
Technical Documentation
UCLA Behavioral Study
Factors in the Selection of Surface Disinfectants for Laboratory Animal Settings
Read StudyMaterials Compatibility Study
Sensible Science: Compatibility benefits of MB-10 with 304 stainless steel
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