How long will acid glutaraldehyde function as a sporicidal?

Acid glutaraldehyde is a widely used high-level disinfectant known for its efficacy in killing bacteria, viruses, and spores. When considering its function as a sporicidal agent, it is essential to understand the required contact time to achieve complete sporicidal activity.

The correct answer indicates that acid glutaraldehyde will function effectively as a sporicidal agent for 1 hour. This time frame is supported by guidelines indicating that exposure to glutaraldehyde for this duration will ensure reliable sterilization of instruments or surfaces contaminated with spores.

In practice, glutaraldehyde requires a minimum contact time to ensure that resistant spores, such as those of spores-forming bacteria, are adequately destroyed. While studies and manufacturer recommendations may provide varying times for specific applications, the consensus supports that 1 hour is the established standard for achieving complete sporicidal action.

Other durations, such as 30 minutes, 2 hours, and 4 hours, either fall short of effective sporicidal action or exceed what's typically necessary, which does not align with general clinical practices regarding disinfection protocols using acid glutaraldehyde.