Final answer:
The minimum dwell time for sterilization with chemicals like renalin is not provided, but effectiveness is typically gauged through use-dilution tests, with standard exposure times for autoclaves being at least 20 minutes for moist-heat sterilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The minimum dwell time required for sterilization using a chemical agent like renalin is not explicitly provided in the information you've shared. However, the AOAC International standards indicate that disinfectants must achieve a certain level of effectiveness, which is often validated through use-dilution tests. These tests involve exposing a cylinder coated with the target microorganism to the disinfectant for a specified amount of time before incubating it in a fresh medium to check for bacterial growth. Sterilization effectiveness is closely associated with the time of exposure to high temperatures in autoclaves, which is typically at least 20 minutes for moist-heat sterilization, at 121 °C or 132 °C and 15 to 20 psi.
Dry-heat sterilization requires longer exposure times at temperatures up to 170 °C, which also emphasizes the importance of sufficient time for effective sterilization. When considering the phenol coefficient, the effectiveness of a disinfectant can be compared to that of phenol based on a specific contact time, usually 7.5 minutes, as was historically done.