We consider 2-positive almost order zero (disjointness preserving) maps on C*-algebras. Generalizing the argument of M. Choi for multiplicative domains, we give an internal characterization of almost order zero for 2-positive maps. It is also shown that complete positivity can be reduced to 2-positivity in the definition of decomposition rank for unital separable C*-algebras.
Comment: 21 pages, the first main theorem improved, minor corrections