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Contact time (wet time)
Also called: dwell time, kill time
How long a disinfectant must stay wet on a surface to work.
Every disinfectant label gives a contact time: the number of minutes the surface must stay visibly wet. If the product dries sooner, the germs on the label may not all be killed. The TB contact time is often different from the time for other germs.
How to spot it
- In the directions section of the label, often next to each germ or under the TB claim.
What it is used for
- Apply enough product to keep the surface wet; reapply if it dries before the time is up.
Related
Sources: EPA. List B: EPA's Registered Tuberculocide Products Effective Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)