What is the soaking time required for glutaraldehyde to achieve high level disinfection up to mycobacterium level?

Study for the Sterile Processing Technician Exam. Review flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each question. Prepare for your certification exam!

The required soaking time for glutaraldehyde to achieve high-level disinfection up to Mycobacterium level is indeed typically 30 minutes. Glutaraldehyde is a potent chemical agent that is commonly used for high-level disinfection, particularly for heat-sensitive medical instruments. When instruments are immersed in a glutaraldehyde solution, it requires adequate contact time to effectively kill a broad range of microorganisms, including Mycobacterium, which is more resistant than some other pathogens.

In practice, a 30-minute exposure to glutaraldehyde at the appropriate concentration has been shown to be effective in achieving the high-level disinfection needed. Therefore, this is crucial for sterile processing technicians to understand, as it ensures that medical instruments are properly disinfected before use to prevent infection transmission.

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