Disinfection is a reduction of the concentration of microorganisms to a level that is no longer considered to be an infectious disease risk. Disinfection must be performed:

• After completing procedures involving biological materials.
• When a surface becomes contaminated or a potentially infectious spill occurs.
• At the end of a work shift.

More specifically,

• You must disinfect any work surface and items within arm's reach of the work surface where specimen materials were manipulated.
• If bench paper was in use where biologically-active materials are manipulated, it must be removed and the bench underneath disinfected at the conclusion of the procedures or end of the work shift.
• Disinfection must include any equipment that was part of the material manipulation.

Bench paper must be removed and the bench area disinfected after manipulating viable biological materials (including body fluids). Also, bench paper should NOT be used to record data.