How long does it take for Cidex to effectively disinfect?

Cidex, which is a brand name for a solution containing glutaraldehyde, is used as a high-level disinfectant for medical instruments. The effectiveness of Cidex in disinfecting surfaces or instruments is typically achieved in a relatively short time frame.

For high-level disinfection, Cidex is recognized to be effective after a 10-minute exposure period at proper concentrations and conditions. This rapid action is beneficial in a medical setting, where time is often critical in maintaining instrument sterility between procedures or in between patient uses.

Longer exposure times, such as 30 minutes, 1 hour, or even 10 hours, would exceed the necessary duration and could potentially lead to instrument damage or reduced efficacy of the solution, as well as being impractical in fast-paced healthcare environments. Thus, a 10-minute contact time is the widely accepted standard for ensuring effective disinfection with Cidex.