What is the recommended time stated by a manufacturer for a sanitizer to effectively reduce pathogenic bacteria?

The term that accurately describes the recommended time stated by a manufacturer for a sanitizer to effectively reduce pathogenic bacteria is contact time. This specific term refers to the duration that a sanitizer must remain in contact with a surface or item to achieve its intended antimicrobial effect. Ensuring that the sanitizer is allowed to sit for the appropriate contact time is crucial, as insufficient time can result in incomplete sanitization, allowing harmful bacteria potentially to survive.

Retention time, exposure time, and application time do not clearly convey the requirement for the duration that the sanitizer must be allowed to act on surfaces to achieve effective bacteria reduction, making contact time the precise and correct terminology in this context.