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Methods of forming germicidal aromatic dialdehydes by hydrolyzing acetals are disclosed. Compositions and kits including both germicidal aromatic dialdehydes and acetals that are capable of being converted to germicides are disclosed. In one aspect, an acetal may be converted to germicide gradually

Methods of forming germicidal aromatic dialdehydes by hydrolyzing acetals are disclosed. Compositions and kits including both germicidal aromatic dialdehydes and acetals that are capable of being converted to germicides are disclosed. In one aspect, an acetal may be converted to germicide gradually in a deployed germicidal solution to accommodate for loss of the germicide or otherwise to modify the germicidal efficacy of the deployed germicidal solution.

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What is claimed is: 1. A method comprising: adding an acetal to a germicidal solution; forming a dialdehyde by gradually hydrolyzing the acetal within the germicidal solution over at least 48 hours after the germicidal solution has been deployed; and contacting medical equipment with the germicidal

What is claimed is: 1. A method comprising: adding an acetal to a germicidal solution; forming a dialdehyde by gradually hydrolyzing the acetal within the germicidal solution over at least 48 hours after the germicidal solution has been deployed; and contacting medical equipment with the germicidal solution including the acetal. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising hydrolyzing the acetal gradually over a lifetime of the germicidal solution. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising hydrolyzing the acetal at a rate that is sufficient to substantially offset losses in germicidal efficacy and maintain the germicidal solution at a substantially constant germicidal efficacy. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said forming the dialdehyde, storing the acetal for at least a week, and wherein said hydrolyzing the acetal is initially performed at an intended time of use of the germicidal solution to kill the germs. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said adding the acetal comprises adding a powder or liquid of the acetal, and wherein the germicidal solution includes water and a germicidal aromatic dialdehyde. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said forming the dialdehyde comprises forming a germicidal aromatic dialdehyde that is selected from the group consisting of orthophthalaldehyde (OPA), isophthalaldehyde (IPA), terephthalaldehyde (TPA), 4-halo-phthalaldehydes, phenyl-propanedial, 3-(1-formyl-2-oxoethyl)-2-nitro-benzoic acid, 4-pyrimidinyl-propanedial, 2-benzoxazolyl-propanedial, (4-methoxyphenyl)-propanedial, and 2-pyridinyl-propanedial. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said forming the germicidal aromatic dialdehyde comprises forming one or more of OPA and IPA. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the solution initially includes a germicide before said hydrolysis. 9. A composition comprising: a germicidal aromatic dialdehyde; an acetal that is capable of hydrolyzing to form a germicidal compound; and a corrosion inhibitor, wherein the composition has a pH of at least 7.2. 10. The composition of claim 9, wherein the germicidal aromatic dialdehyde is selected from the group consisting of orthophthalaldehyde (OPA), isophthalaldehyde (IPA), terephthalaldehyde (TPA), 4-halo-phthalaldehydes, phenyl-propanedial, 3-(1-formyl-2-oxoethyl)-2-nitro-benzoic acid, 4-pyrimidinyl-propanedial, 2-benzoxazolyl-propanedial, (4-methoxyphenyl)-propanedial, and 2-pyridinyl-propanedial. 11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the germicidal aromatic dialdehyde comprises one or more of OPA and IPA. 12. The composition of claim 9, wherein the acetal comprises an aromatic acetal that is capable of hydrolyzing to form a germicidal aromatic dialdehyde. 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the acetal comprises a 1,3-dialkoxyphthalalan. 14. The composition of claim 9, wherein the acetal comprises a solubility enhancing polymeric moiety. 15. The composition of claim 9, wherein the acetal is pegylated. 16. The composition of claim 9, further comprising: a pH adjuster; a chelating agent; and a surfactant. 17. The composition of claim 16, further comprising: a buffer; a corrosion inhibitor; a fragrance; and a coloring agent. 18. A method comprising killing microorganisms by applying the composition of claim 9 to the microorganisms. 19. A kit comprising: a germicidal aromatic dialdehyde; an acetal that is capable of hydrolyzing to form a germicidal compound; at least two compartments to contain the germicidal aromatic dialdehyde and the acetal. 20. The kit of claim 19, wherein the germicidal aromatic dialdehyde is included in a first compartment with water, and wherein the acetal is included substantially dry in a second compartment. 21. The kit of claim 19, further comprising a mechanism to mix the contents of the at least two compartments. 22. The kit of claim 19: wherein the germicidal aromatic dialdehyde is selected from the group consisting of orthophthalaldehyde (OPA), isophthalaldehyde (IPA), terephthalaldehyde (TPA), 4-halo-phthalaldehydes, phenyl-propanedial, 3-(1-formyl-2-oxoethyl)-2-nitro-benzoic acid, 4-pyrimidinyl-propanedial, 2-benzoxazolyl-propanedial, (4-methoxyphenyl)-propanedial, and 2-pyridinyl-propanedial; and wherein the acetal comprises an aromatic acetal that is capable of hydrolyzing to form a germicidal aromatic dialdehyde. 23. The kit of claim 19, further comprising at least six components selected from the group consisting of a pH adjuster, a chelating agent, a surfactant, a buffer, a corrosion inhibitor, a fragrance, a coloring agent, which are included in the at least two compartments. 24. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said contacting the medical equipment with the germicidal solution: adding additional acetal to the solution that was used to contact the medical equipment; and forming additional germicidal aromatic dialdehyde by hydrolyzing the additional acetal. 25. The method of claim 1, wherein said forming the dialdehyde comprises forming an aromatic dialdehyde. 26. The method of claim 1, wherein said forming the dialdehyde comprises forming a germicidal dialdehyde. 27. The method of claim 1, further comprising hydrolyzing the acetal within the deployed germicidal solution gradually over at least 120 hours. 28. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the dialdehyde comprises forming the dialdehyde in a solution having a pH of from 7.2 to 7.7. 29. The method of claim 1, wherein the acetal comprises a solubility enhancing polymeric moiety. 30. The method of claim 1, wherein the acetal is pegylated. 31. The composition of claim 9, wherein the composition has a pH of from 7.2 to 7.7. 32. The kit of claim 19, wherein the germicidal aromatic dialdehyde is selected from OPA and IPA, and wherein the acetal is capable of hydrolyzing to form one of OPA and IPA. 33. The kit of claim 19, wherein the acetal comprises a solubility enhancing polymeric moiety. 34. The kit of claim 19, wherein the acetal is pegylated. 35. The method of claim 1, wherein adding the acetal comprises adding the acetal to a deployed germicidal solution. 36. The method of claim 1, wherein adding the acetal to the germicidal solution comprises adding the acetal to a germicidal solution in a basin of an automated endoscope reprocessor. 37. The composition of claim 9, wherein the pH is sufficient to allow gradual hydrolysis of the acetal over at least 48 hours. 38. The composition of claim 37, wherein the pH is sufficient to allow gradual hydrolysis of the acetal over at least 120 hours.