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Recently Irgasan DP 300 (DP) has been widely used as an inactivator of HBs antigen. Although some literatue reports negative opinions on the effect of the agent, it must be practically used as an antiseptic in HBs antigen positive patients, because there is no other suitable inactivator which may directly contact the skin. In Nagasaki Chuo Hospital, it was suspected that many inpatients had dermatitis after use of 0.5% DP in 70% ethanol. Hence, the investigation was held in the liver disease ward, and the following three kinds of alcohol solutions were used as antiseptics for 50 inpatients for 2 weeks to replace 30 % isopropanol: a) 70% ethanol, b) 0.3% DP alcohol, c) 0.5% DP alcohol. DP was studied in terms of thin-layer chromatography (TLC), pH and UV spectrum. The results were as follows: 1) The usage of 0.3% DP in the ward caused dermatitis in 8 patients and 0.5% DP in 4 patients. The patch test revealed 1 positive patienst DP. But it was impossible to distinguish the irritation potential of 0.3% DP alcohol from that of 0.5%. 2) The pH value of 0.5% DP alcohol showed not a remarkable change after exposure to sunlight. The TLC and UV spectrum also produced no change. It is reported that DP does not cause severe irritation in the skin, but the results of these studies do not support such view so far as alcohol solution of DP is concerned. Hence, the application of DP alcohol must be carefully controlled; particularly it should not be applied to the skin for a long period.