Published: August 5, 2026
Q: We are a large city police department forensic lab. I know Alconox, LLC from previous analytic lab work. Our tasks are general labware cleanup, removal of proteinaceous residues like blood and bodily fluids, and destruction of DNA residues. What are the fewest detergents we would need?
A: We’ve been fighting crime like you for many decades, used in forensic labs across the globe. Many detergents can handle multiple tasks, so a great question is can one detergent handle everything….?
We’ll start with the most challenging: DNA. Cleaning and destruction of DNA often requires an acidic detergent like Citranox® Liquid Acid Cleaner and Detergent, although we have received anecdotal evidence here and there that Detergent 8® Low-Foaming Ion-Free Detergent will work as well. The Detergent * cleaner has the added benefit of being low foaming so it can be used in washers and spray system. If the more “traditional” acidic route is is desired for a low foaming applcaition: Citrajet® Low-Foaming Liquid Acid Cleaner/Rinse,
In all cases 2% warm solutions will be the path forward.
For general lab cleaning, our flagship Alconox® Powdered Precision Cleaner and Liquinox® Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent are the mainstays.
For removal of proteinaceous residues, Tergazyme® Enzyme-Active Powdered Detergent is the answer. Even being featured on TV (Bones Season 10 Episode 4). We go with warm 1-3% solutions in those cases. Because Tergazyme is not just a fantastic enzymatic detergent, but also a powerful emulsifier of organic and oily residues, you could certainly consider using it for both general labware cleaning and protein removal.
So back to the original request, the two would be Citranox and Tergazyme detergents.
Thank you for your service and back to fighting crime!
Citranox is a phosphate free, concentrated cleaner and metal brightener for high performance removal of metal oxides, scale, salts and inorganic residues in manual and ultrasonic cleaning. Corrosion inhibited and free rinsing for reliable results and no interfering residues. Ideal for trace metal analysis. USDA authorized. Dilute 2:100. pH 2.5
Detergent 8 is a nonionic detergent for labware washers, PC board washers, power-spray systems, ultrasonic and manual cleaning. Removes oils, resins, rosins, and fluxes from PC circuit boards, electronic parts, phosphate sensitive labware and nuclear contaminated equipment with no interfering conductive residues. Excellent replacement for solvent cleaning. Dilute 3:100. pH 11
Alconox is a concentrated, anionic detergent for manual and ultrasonic cleaning. Free rinsing to give you reliable results without interfering residues. Ideal for cleaning contaminants from glassware, metals, plastics, ceramic, porcelain, rubber and fiberglass. Excellent replacement for corrosive acids and hazardous solvents. USDA authorized. Dilute 1:100. pH 9.5
Liquinox is a concentrated, anionic detergent for manual and ultrasonic cleaning. Free rinsing to give you reliable results without interfering residues. Extremely mild and completely soluble in hard and soft water. USDA authorized. Dilute 1:100. pH 8.5
Tergazyme is a concentrated, anionic detergent with protease enzyme for manual and ultrasonic cleaning. Excellent for removal of proteinaceous soils, tissue, blood and body fluids from glassware, metals, plastic, ceramic, porcelain, rubber and fiberglass with no interfering residues. Ideal as a cleaning agent in Reverse Osmosis and Ultra-Filtration Systems. USDA authorized. Dilute: 1:100. pH 9.5
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