CRCST Practice Exam

1. An educator explains that washing hands after removing gloves interrupts disease spread. Which link in the chain of infection does hand hygiene primarily break?

• A. The mode of transmission that carries organisms from one place to another
• B. The identity of the causative organism itself
• C. The weather conditions inside the building
• D. The patient's genetic susceptibility

2. In a lesson on why sterilization processes are validated against spore-forming organisms, students compare microbial forms. Which of the following is generally the most resistant to sterilization processes?

• A. Enveloped viruses
• B. Vegetative bacteria
• C. Fungal yeasts
• D. Bacterial spores

3. The department wants routine objective evidence that its automated washers are actually removing soil. Which practice provides this?

• A. Running commercial cleaning verification tests or test soils in the washer on a scheduled basis and documenting the results
• B. Testing the washer only after a patient infection is reported
• C. Assuming the washer works as long as the display shows no error codes
• D. Smelling the instruments after each load

4. Soiled instruments must travel from an off-site clinic procedure room to the hospital's decontamination area. How should they be transported?

• A. In a clear plastic grocery bag to allow visual inspection
• B. Loose in the trunk of a staff member's personal vehicle
• C. In an open basin carried through public hallways
• D. In a leak-proof, puncture-resistant, closed container labeled as a biohazard

5. An orthopedic case finishes late and the instruments will sit for a while before transport to decontamination. What should the operating room team do with the soiled instruments at the point of use?

• A. Let the instruments air dry so soil is easier to see later
• B. Wrap the soiled instruments in the sterile drapes for transport
• C. Soak the entire tray in saline until pickup
• D. Remove gross soil and keep the instruments moist with an approved pretreatment product or damp towel

6. A newly assigned technician enters decontamination wearing only scrubs and a pair of examination gloves, ready to start washing instruments at the sink. What is wrong with this picture?

• A. Nothing, since examination gloves are sufficient for sink work
• B. The technician also needs a fluid-resistant gown, face and eye protection, and heavy-duty utility gloves for splash-generating tasks
• C. The technician should remove the gloves because bare hands grip instruments better
• D. The only missing item is a wristwatch to time the soak

7. Leaving the decontamination room at break time, a technician begins removing protective equipment. Which general sequence protects the wearer from self-contamination?

• A. Remove the mask first with gloved hands, then everything else in any order
• B. Keep everything on during break to avoid wasting supplies
• C. Remove all items in the break room where there is more space
• D. Remove the most contaminated items such as gloves and gown first, then eye and face protection, finishing with hand hygiene

8. While brushing the lumen of a suction tip in the decontamination sink, why should the technician keep the instrument and brush below the surface of the water?

• A. To keep the water warm for longer periods
• B. To prevent creating aerosols and splatter of contaminated droplets
• C. Because brushes only work when fully saturated
• D. To hide the soil from view while scrubbing

9. A trauma set arrives caked with dried blood. The technician wants a detergent whose enzymes specifically target protein soils. Which enzyme type should the product feature?

• A. Amylase, which digests starches
• B. Lipase, which digests fats
• C. Protease, which breaks down proteinaceous soils such as blood
• D. Cellulase, which breaks down plant fibers

10. To speed things up, a technician mixes an enzymatic detergent with very hot water straight from the sanitizer tap and doubles the recommended concentration. Why is this counterproductive?

• A. Enzymes can be inactivated by excessive heat, and incorrect dilution deviates from the validated instructions for use
• B. Stronger solutions always clean better regardless of the label
• C. Detergent concentration only matters in mechanical washers
• D. Hot water makes the detergent too slippery to rinse

11. An eye surgery instrument set is scheduled for reprocessing, and the team is reviewing the rinse procedure. Why is treated critical water recommended for the final rinse of such instruments?

• A. It is free of the minerals, endotoxins, and residues that can harm delicate eye tissue and contribute to toxic anterior segment syndrome
• B. It removes the need for any detergent during cleaning
• C. Treated water is warmer than tap water
• D. It changes the instrument's color to confirm cleanliness

12. Instruments coming out of manual cleaning show white spots and a hazy film after drying, and the department rinses them with untreated tap water. What is the most likely explanation?

• A. The drying towels are too dry
• B. The spots are a normal sign of thorough cleaning
• C. Mineral deposits from hard tap water are drying on the surfaces, indicating a need for treated rinse water
• D. The instruments are shedding their stainless steel coating

13. A tray of hinged instruments with deep serrations and box locks has been through gross soil removal. What makes an ultrasonic cleaner particularly useful as the next step?

• A. Ultrasonic energy sterilizes the instruments so no further processing is needed
• B. Cavitation bubbles implode against surfaces, pulling soil out of crevices, serrations, and other hard-to-reach areas
• C. The machine polishes the instruments to a mirror finish
• D. Ultrasonic cleaning eliminates the need for detergent in the tank

14. A technician drops a bloody retractor straight into the ultrasonic cleaner without any prior rinsing or gross soil removal. Why does this practice degrade the process?

• A. Ultrasonic units are designed for items that have already had gross soil removed; heavy soil burdens the bath and reduces cleaning effectiveness
• B. Blood improves cavitation by thickening the solution
• C. Retractors are always too large for any ultrasonic tank
• D. The ultrasonic cycle will sterilize through the soil anyway

15. In a typical washer-disinfector cycle, why does the sequence begin with a cool water pre-rinse instead of a hot wash?

• A. Cool water conserves the building's hot water supply
• B. Hot water at the start would coagulate proteins such as blood, baking soil onto the instruments
• C. Cool water disinfects better than hot water
• D. The machine's pumps cannot move hot water

16. Instruments emerge from the washer-disinfector with patches of retained soil, and the technician notices trays were stacked tightly with instruments piled on top of each other. What is the likely cause of the failure?

• A. The detergent was too effective and dissolved the shine
• B. The cycle was too long, which redeposited soil
• C. Overloading blocked the spray arms and shadowed surfaces from water and detergent contact
• D. Washer baskets are only decorative and placement does not matter

17. Before manual cleaning of a flexible endoscope begins, what test is performed to detect damage to its internal channels and outer covering?

• A. A leak test performed according to the scope manufacturer's instructions
• B. A drop test from waist height onto a padded mat
• C. A sharpness test using material designed for scissors
• D. An electrical insulation test used for monopolar instruments

18. After manual cleaning, a GI endoscopy department processes its flexible scopes in a machine that circulates a high-level disinfectant through the channels on a validated cycle. What is this equipment called?

• A. A gravity displacement sterilizer
• B. An ultrasonic irrigator
• C. An automated endoscope reprocessor
• D. A cart washer

19. Under the Spaulding classification, a flexible bronchoscope contacts intact mucous membranes but does not normally penetrate sterile tissue. What is the minimum reprocessing level for this semi-critical device?

• A. Simple rinsing with utility water
• B. Dusting followed by storage
• C. High-level disinfection
• D. Low-level disinfection with a surface wipe

20. A tissue forceps will be used inside the sterile surgical field and will contact tissue beneath the skin. How does the Spaulding classification categorize this device and what processing does it demand?

• A. Critical, requiring sterilization before use
• B. Semi-critical, requiring only intermediate-level disinfection
• C. Non-critical, requiring cleaning alone
• D. Unclassified, with processing left to technician preference

21. A wheelchair used to move patients between departments touches only intact skin. Within the Spaulding framework, what processing does it need between patients?

• A. Ethylene oxide sterilization after every trip
• B. High-level disinfection by full immersion
• C. Cleaning with low- or intermediate-level disinfection as a non-critical item
• D. No attention of any kind between patients

22. At the start of the shift, the test strip for the high-level disinfectant bath fails to show an adequate concentration, though the solution looks clear and is within its labeled reuse period. What must the technician do?

• A. Use the solution anyway because the reuse period has not expired
• B. Discard and replace the solution because it has fallen below its minimum effective concentration
• C. Add tap water to refresh the bath
• D. Warm the solution to restore its potency

23. A technician sprays disinfectant on a work counter and immediately wipes it completely dry. Why did this application likely fail to disinfect?

• A. Disinfectants require their labeled wet contact time on the surface to kill microorganisms
• B. Spraying is never an acceptable way to apply any chemical
• C. Counters cannot be disinfected once instruments have touched them
• D. The disinfectant only works on floors

24. Instruments from a morning case sit unwashed until evening, and the soil now resists normal cleaning. Beyond dried soil, what microbial structure may now be developing that shields bacteria from detergents and disinfectants?

• A. A pollen capsule
• B. A biofilm, a community of microorganisms in a protective secreted matrix
• C. A rust bloom that kills all bacteria on contact
• D. A harmless mineral glaze

25. The operating room notifies Sterile Processing that instruments just used in a neurosurgical case belong to a patient suspected of having Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. How should the department respond?

• A. Process the instruments through a standard steam cycle like any other set
• B. Run the instruments through the ultrasonic twice instead of once
• C. Keep the instruments identified and segregated, and follow the facility's enhanced prion protocol, which may include extended cycles or disposal
• D. Wipe the instruments with alcohol and return them to service

26. A technician receiving case carts places a tray of soiled laparoscopic instruments directly onto the counter where cleaned items are staged for the washer exit side. What has just occurred?

• A. An acceptable shortcut when the department is busy
• B. Cross contamination, transferring soil from a dirty item to a clean surface and the items on it
• C. A required step in the cleaning verification process
• D. Nothing significant, because counters cannot transmit microorganisms

27. While sorting a soiled tray at the decontamination sink, a technician spots a used scalpel blade left among the instruments. What is the safe way to handle it?

• A. Pick it up carefully with fingers and set it aside on the counter
• B. Flush it down the sink drain with heavy water flow
• C. Leave it in the tray and continue washing around it
• D. Remove it using an instrument such as forceps or a needle holder and place it in the puncture-resistant sharps container

28. A splash of blood-tinged fluid lands on the floor beside the decontamination sink during instrument sorting. How should the area be treated?

• A. Cover it with a caution sign and leave it for the night crew
• B. Wearing appropriate protective equipment, contain and clean the spill, then apply a facility-approved disinfectant for its full contact time
• C. Dry it with a personal cloth kept in a pocket for such events
• D. Dilute it by pouring clean water over the area

29. During lumen brushing, a technician notices the brush bristles are splayed and worn flat, and a coworker mentions the same brush has been used all week without processing. What should happen with cleaning brushes in this department?

• A. One large brush diameter is best for every lumen size
• B. Brushes should be used until the handle breaks to control costs
• C. Brushes never require cleaning because they live in detergent
• D. Worn brushes must be replaced, brush size must match the lumen, and reusable brushes must be cleaned and disinfected at least daily

30. A decontamination area uses a divided sink arrangement for manual cleaning. What is the purpose of dedicating separate bays to washing and to rinsing?

• A. It allows two technicians to share one faucet
• B. Separate bays keep detergent washing distinct from rinsing so instruments are not re-soiled and detergent residue is fully removed
• C. The extra bay exists only as a backup if one drain clogs
• D. Divided sinks are decorative and functionally identical to a single basin

31. Halfway through a washer-disinfector cycle, the machine alarms and stops with an error code, then a coworker suggests just opening the door and moving the load along to assembly. What is the correct course?

• A. Hand dry the instruments to make up for the lost cycle time
• B. Send the load to assembly because most of the cycle finished
• C. Silence the alarm and restart the same cycle without telling anyone
• D. Treat the load as not fully processed, report and tag the malfunction, and rerun the items once the washer is cleared for use

32. A department is drafting its manual cleaning procedure for a complex loaned tray and finds the device maker publishes step-by-step cleaning directions. Why do these instructions for use take precedence over the department's generic routine?

• A. Manufacturer instructions are validated for that specific device, and following them is how the facility ensures the device can actually be cleaned effectively
• B. The instructions are optional marketing material with no practical weight
• C. Generic routines are always stricter than any manufacturer document
• D. Instructions only apply to the first cleaning after purchase

33. Before wrapping a tray, a technician unfolds a sheet of disposable wrap and holds it up toward the light for a moment. What is the purpose of this habit?

• A. To remove static electricity from the fibers
• B. To measure the sheet against the ceiling lights for size
• C. To warm the wrap to room temperature before use
• D. To check the wrap for holes, tears, or worn spots that would breach the sterile barrier

34. During assembly, a technician wants to confirm that a pair of operating scissors still cuts properly before placing them in a tray. How is this typically checked?

• A. By snapping the blades together loudly and listening to the sound
• B. By cutting the appropriate test material for that scissor type and checking for a clean cut along the blade length
• C. By bending the blades sideways to test flexibility
• D. By checking only that the finger rings are shiny

35. Before a laparoscopic monopolar instrument is added to a set, the technician runs a device along its shaft that alarms at one spot near the tip. What has been found, and why does it matter?

• A. An insulation failure that could allow stray electrosurgical current to burn tissue outside the surgeon's view
• B. A magnetized area that will attract other instruments
• C. Nothing important, since the alarm only measures shaft length
• D. A cosmetic scratch that only affects appearance

36. An assembly workstation is being set up for instrument inspection. Besides good general room light, what tool helps the technician find residual soil, cracks, and burrs on instruments?

• A. A lighted magnifying lamp at the inspection station
• B. Sunglasses to reduce glare from the instruments
• C. A pocket flashlight used from across the room
• D. A photograph of what the instrument should look like

37. When placing ring-handled clamps into a tray for sterilization, why must their ratchets be left in the open, unlocked position?

• A. Locked instruments take up too much room on the count sheet
• B. Open box locks allow the sterilant to contact all mated surfaces, and closed ratchets can crack from heat expansion
• C. Open instruments are easier to photograph for records
• D. The position of the ratchet has no effect on sterilization

38. A powered drill system arrives at assembly with its hose, handpiece, and attachments connected together after cleaning. The instructions for use call for processing it in separate components. What should the technician do?

• A. Disassemble the system per the instructions for use so sterilant can reach all surfaces of each component
• B. Leave it assembled so the operating room saves setup time
• C. Sterilize it assembled but run two cycles back to back
• D. Skip the drill and send it unsterilized since it is powered equipment

39. Fine-tipped microsurgical scissors keep arriving in the operating room with bent tips. To protect them during packaging and sterilization, what should assembly staff use?

• A. Tight rubber bands wound around the tips
• B. Commercial tip protectors that are vented, fit loosely, and are validated for the sterilization method
• C. A wrap of adhesive tape directly on the blades
• D. Folded paper towels stuffed around the instrument

40. Several box locks in a tray feel stiff after mechanical washing, and the technician reaches for a treatment before sterilization. Which product is appropriate?

• A. Household machine oil applied liberally to each joint
• B. Petroleum jelly rubbed into the hinges
• C. A water-based instrument lubricant that steam can penetrate, applied per the product directions
• D. No treatment, since stiffness resolves on its own during storage

41. A set returns from a busy weekend with brown-orange discoloration and small pits on several instruments, and the operating room admits the items sat in saline for hours. What relationship does this illustrate?

• A. Saline exposure corrodes stainless steel, causing pitting that shortens instrument life and harbors soil
• B. Saline strengthens the protective layer on stainless steel
• C. Discoloration is caused only by detergent choice, never by soaking
• D. Pitting is desirable because it gives instruments better grip

42. While assembling a laparotomy set, a technician discovers a needle holder with a cracked box lock. What is the proper handling of this instrument?

• A. Place it in the set anyway because one crack rarely matters
• B. Throw it into the regular trash immediately
• C. Remove it from service, tag it for repair or replacement, and document the action per department policy
• D. Hide it at the bottom of the tray so the count still matches

43. The count sheet for a minor set lists a mosquito forceps that the technician cannot find among the washed instruments. What should happen before this set moves forward?

• A. Substitute any instrument of similar size and note nothing
• B. Cross the instrument off the count sheet permanently without telling anyone
• C. Send the incomplete set forward and let the operating room discover the gap
• D. Search for the missing instrument, and if it cannot be located, replace it or document the shortage per policy and flag the set accordingly

44. When assembling a multi-level orthopedic tray, where should the internal chemical indicator be positioned?

• A. Anywhere at all, since indicator position is purely traditional
• B. Taped to the outside of the wrap where it is easiest to see
• C. Left out entirely when the tray has an external indicator
• D. In the area of the tray considered least accessible to the sterilant, such as the center or a lower level

45. A student asks why every wrapped package gets a piece of indicator tape on the outside when there is already an indicator inside. What does the external indicator actually demonstrate?

• A. That the contents are guaranteed sterile to the center of the pack
• B. That the package has been exposed to the sterilization process, distinguishing processed from unprocessed items
• C. That the package weighs within acceptable limits
• D. That the instruments inside were inspected during assembly

46. A technician labeling a peel pouch grabs a felt-tip marker and starts writing across the paper side. Why must the writing go on the plastic film side or on affixed indicator tape instead?

• A. Ink on the paper side can wick through the porous barrier and compromise the pack, and writing can damage the paper through which sterilant must pass
• B. The plastic side is simply easier to photograph for records
• C. Paper-side writing voids the pouch manufacturer's warranty but is otherwise harmless
• D. Markers only function on plastic surfaces

47. A heavy stack of ring instruments is squeezed into a peel pouch so full that the seal area is under visible strain. What problem does this create?

• A. None, as long as the heat seal appears closed at dispatch
• B. The overfilled pouch stresses seals and can burst or develop channels during sterilization and handling, compromising sterility
• C. The pouch will become too heavy for the sterilizer cart
• D. Extra contents speed up sterilant penetration

48. To fit a small item snugly, a technician seals it inside one pouch and then seals that pouch inside a second, folding the inner pouch over to make it fit. What is wrong here?

• A. The error is using pouches at all instead of wrap for small items
• B. The inner pouch should have been stapled rather than folded
• C. Nothing, since two barriers are always better than one
• D. Double pouching is acceptable only when validated by the pouch manufacturer, and the inner pouch must fit flat without folding

49. A technician must wrap a large, heavy basin set and asks whether to use the square fold or the envelope fold. Which guidance reflects standard packaging practice?

• A. The square fold suits large packs and trays, while the envelope fold is generally used for smaller, lighter items
• B. The envelope fold is mandatory for every item regardless of size
• C. Fold choice is decided by coin flip since the folds perform identically
• D. Large items should be left unwrapped because folds cannot cover them

50. A nursing student touring the department asks what the sterilization wrap around an instrument tray is actually for. Which answer captures its purpose?

• A. It exists mainly to keep the tray's instruments from rattling
• B. It allows the sterilant to reach the contents during processing and then serves as a microbial barrier until the pack is aseptically opened
• C. It insulates the instruments against temperature changes in storage
• D. It marks the tray's ownership so sets are not mixed between departments

51. A technician cannot find indicator tape and considers closing a wrapped pack with safety pins, paper clips, or a stapler from the desk. Why are these fasteners forbidden?

• A. They puncture the wrap, creating pathways for microorganisms and destroying the sterile barrier
• B. They add too much weight to the finished package
• C. They are acceptable as long as the holes are small
• D. They interfere with the sterilizer's electronic sensors

52. While preparing a rigid sterilization container, the technician finds the disposable filter from the previous cycle still seated in the lid and a small nick in the lid gasket. What is the correct action?

• A. Run the container without any filter to improve steam flow
• B. Install a fresh disposable filter and remove the container from service until the damaged gasket is replaced
• C. Reuse the filter since it looks clean, but report the gasket at the end of the month
• D. Flip the gasket over so the nick faces down

53. After each surgical use, a rigid sterilization container returns to decontamination along with its instruments. Why must the container itself be disassembled and cleaned every time?

• A. Disassembly is unnecessary because steam cleans the container during the next cycle
• B. Containers only need cleaning when visibly dirty on the outside
• C. Cleaning is done solely to keep the container shiny for inspections
• D. The container was opened in the operating room and is contaminated; soil on valves, gaskets, and retention plates would compromise the next cycle

54. A technician assembling a basin set nests three graduated basins directly against each other and wraps the stack tightly. What packaging principle has been overlooked?

• A. Nested basins need absorbent material between them and positioning that lets condensate drain, or trapped air and pooled moisture will defeat the process
• B. Basins can never be sterilized in the same package under any circumstances
• C. The stack should have been secured with rubber bands before wrapping
• D. Basins only require dusting because they hold no instruments

55. In the textile pack room, a technician passes freshly laundered surgical towels and drapes over a lighted inspection table before assembling them into packs. What is being accomplished?

• A. The light bleaches the fabric to a uniform color
• B. The step exists to dry any remaining laundry moisture
• C. Holes, thin spots, lint, and foreign material are detected so defective textiles are repaired with heat-seal patches or removed
• D. The table warms the textiles for more comfortable folding

56. A department wants to mark individual forceps so they can be traced back to their home sets. Which marking practice is acceptable for surgical instruments?

• A. Painting the handles with nail polish from the pharmacy
• B. Scratching initials into the shaft with another instrument
• C. Using approved methods such as laser etching or validated instrument marking tape applied per the manufacturer's directions
• D. Attaching adhesive office labels to each instrument

57. During tray assembly, a technician wipes lint off the work surface and changes gloves that have picked up fuzz from a towel. Why is lint control taken so seriously in preparation areas?

• A. Lint jams the hinges of the sterilizer door
• B. Lint carried into a surgical wound can trigger inflammatory reactions and serve as a vehicle for microorganisms
• C. Lint concerns apply only to the laundry department
• D. Lint discolors instrument finishes permanently

58. An assembler keeps adding instruments to a containerized general set until it is difficult to lift comfortably. Beyond staff strain, why do departments commonly cap containerized instrument sets at around twenty-five pounds?

• A. Dense, overweight sets are harder to dry, retain condensate, and create ergonomic injury risk, so a weight guideline is widely applied
• B. Lighter sets sterilize instantly regardless of cycle settings
• C. Scales in most departments cannot read higher weights
• D. Heavier sets exceed what sterilizer shelves can physically support

59. A wrapped tray's label shows the set name and date, but the operating room later asks which sterilizer and cycle produced it. Which label element answers that question?

• A. The lot or load control number identifying the sterilizer, cycle, and date of processing
• B. The color of the indicator tape used to seal the pack
• C. The technician's shift start time
• D. The tray's storage shelf number

60. A loaner tray of spinal implants and instruments arrives from a vendor two hours before the scheduled case, and the representative insists it was sterilized at the last hospital. How should Sterile Processing handle this tray?

• A. Accept the vendor's word and send the tray directly to the operating room
• B. Wipe the exterior with a disinfectant wipe and dispatch it
• C. Receive and inventory the tray, then fully clean, inspect, package, and sterilize it in-house per the manufacturer's instructions before use
• D. Refuse all loaner instrumentation as a matter of policy

61. After sealing several peel pouches, a technician notices one seal has a wrinkle running across it and another shows a small gap at the edge. What should be done with these pouches?

• A. Send them forward since the contents have not been touched
• B. Open them, repackage the items in new pouches, and check the heat sealer's settings and function
• C. Cover the defects with indicator tape and continue
• D. Mark the pouches for use within twenty-four hours only

62. For a complex multi-layer set, the department places an indicator inside that responds to all critical variables of the steam process and is designed to be an internal monitor of exposure conditions. Which indicator class fits this description?

• A. A process indicator that responds to a single variable such as temperature alone
• B. An air removal test sheet intended for an empty chamber
• C. A biological indicator read after incubation only
• D. A Type 5 integrating indicator, which reacts to all critical process variables

63. An assembler needs dozens of loose hemostats arranged in an orderly row inside a tray, each held in an unlatched position. Which accessory is designed for this job?

• A. A stringer or rack that holds the instruments open in an orderly row
• B. A zip-style plastic bag from the supply cabinet
• C. A rubber band looped through the finger rings
• D. A paper envelope taped shut around the instruments

64. A microsurgical tray is being assembled, and the technician starts to lay heavy retractors directly on top of delicate eye instruments to save space. What assembly principle is being violated?

• A. Heavier instruments must never share a department with delicate ones
• B. Delicate instruments are protected from heavy items by placement, separation, and protective accessories so tips and edges are not crushed
• C. Trays must always be assembled from lightest to heaviest alphabetically
• D. Space saving is the highest priority in tray assembly

65. A technician must lift a heavy wrapped instrument tray from a low shelf onto a transport cart. Which body mechanics approach reduces the risk of injury?

• A. Bend at the waist with straight legs and lift quickly
• B. Hold the tray at arm's length to keep it away from the uniform
• C. Bend the knees, keep the back neutral, and hold the load close to the body
• D. Twist the torso while lifting to place the tray in one motion

66. A technician props open the decontamination room door and notices air flowing outward into the adjacent corridor. Why should this be reported?

• A. The decontamination area should be under negative pressure so airborne contaminants stay inside the room
• B. Outward airflow makes the decontamination room too cold for staff comfort
• C. Air movement of any kind is prohibited in Sterile Processing work areas
• D. Corridor air pressure has no relationship to contamination control

67. While diluting an enzymatic cleaner at the sink, a technician is splashed in the eyes with the concentrate. What is the immediate first step?

• A. Rinse the eyes briefly with the sink sprayer and continue working
• B. Go straight to the eyewash station and flush the eyes thoroughly, then report the exposure
• C. Apply an over-the-counter eye drop and monitor for irritation overnight
• D. Finish preparing the solution before leaving the workstation

68. A new instrument disinfectant arrives in the department and a technician wants to know what protective equipment it requires and what to do if it spills. Where is this information found?

• A. The facility's fire evacuation plan
• B. The count sheet for the affected instrument sets
• C. The product's safety data sheet
• D. The sterilizer's daily maintenance log

69. A vendor tells a Sterile Processing manager that its new rigid sterilization container is exempt from government oversight because it is only an accessory. Which agency actually regulates the marketing of such devices in the United States?

• A. The Food and Drug Administration
• B. The Environmental Protection Agency
• C. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• D. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

70. A department stocks two liquid chemicals: one used to wipe down environmental surfaces such as counters, and one used for high-level disinfection of semi-critical devices. Which statement about their oversight is accurate?

• A. Both products are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency
• B. The surface disinfectant is EPA-registered, while the high-level disinfectant for devices is regulated by the FDA
• C. Both products are cleared by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• D. Neither product is subject to any federal oversight

71. During orientation, a newly hired decontamination technician asks whether she must pay for the hepatitis B vaccination series her employer mentioned. What does the federal bloodborne pathogens standard require?

• A. The employer must offer the vaccination series at no cost to employees with occupational exposure risk
• B. Employees must purchase the series themselves before starting work
• C. Vaccination is only available to physicians and nurses
• D. The vaccine replaces the need for protective equipment in decontamination

72. A supervisor wants the team to follow the most widely recognized comprehensive guidance on steam sterilization and sterility assurance in healthcare facilities. Which type of document should the department adopt?

• A. The marketing brochure supplied with the newest sterilizer
• B. A national voluntary consensus standard on steam sterilization developed by the medical instrumentation standards community
• C. An internet forum where technicians share tips
• D. The facility's landscaping and grounds policy manual

73. To save time, a technician carries a freshly sterilized case cart back through the decontamination room because it is the shortest route to the elevator. What principle does this violate?

• A. The expectation that technicians always take the longest possible route
• B. The rule that elevators may only carry soiled equipment
• C. The requirement that carts only travel during night shifts
• D. One-way workflow, which moves items from dirty to clean and never back through contaminated areas

74. A technician assigned to instrument assembly arrives wearing long artificial nails and several rings. Why does department dress code prohibit this in clean work areas?

• A. Artificial nails and jewelry interfere with the computer tracking system
• B. They can harbor microorganisms, hinder hand hygiene, and may puncture gloves or fall into sets
• C. They are only a concern when working night shifts
• D. The prohibition exists purely for appearance and has no infection control basis

75. The environmental monitoring log shows the relative humidity in the preparation and packaging area has drifted above the facility's accepted range for two days. What should the technician who notices this do first?

• A. Ignore the readings because humidity only matters in the operating room
• B. Report the out-of-range condition through the corrective action process so facilities staff can investigate and affected materials can be evaluated
• C. Erase the readings and start a fresh log page
• D. Open the doors to the corridor to equalize the air

76. A colleague asks why the department bothers keeping sterilizer cycle printouts and load records for years after the instruments have been used. What is the strongest rationale?

• A. The records support traceability for recalls, quality review, and serve as legal documentation of the process
• B. Old printouts are reused as scratch paper for count sheets
• C. The paper is required to calibrate the sterilizer printer
• D. Records are kept only until the end of each shift and then discarded

77. While flushing a lumened instrument in the decontamination sink, a technician feels a sharp poke through the utility glove and sees a small puncture in the skin. What is the correct response?

• A. Squeeze the site, apply tape, and mention it at the next staff meeting
• B. Continue working and watch for signs of infection over the next month
• C. Wash the site immediately, report the exposure right away, and follow the facility's post-exposure protocol
• D. Discard the gloves quietly and say nothing to avoid an incident report

78. The quality coordinator pulls ten assembled trays at random each week and compares their contents against the count sheets, recording any missing or incorrect instruments. What quality assurance activity is this?

• A. A biological monitoring program
• B. A tray audit measuring instrument set accuracy
• C. An environmental sampling study
• D. A sterilizer requalification test

79. A monthly quality report shows the rate of immediate-use steam sterilization climbing sharply in the operating room. Why should Sterile Processing leadership investigate rather than celebrate the fast turnaround?

• A. A rising immediate-use rate often signals underlying problems such as insufficient instrument inventory or scheduling gaps that should be corrected
• B. Immediate-use steam sterilization is the preferred routine method and higher rates prove efficiency
• C. The rate only matters for billing purposes
• D. Investigations are only required when the rate drops to zero

80. A process improvement team maps the assembly area and eliminates unnecessary walking by relocating supplies closer to workstations, reducing wasted motion. Which quality philosophy does this reflect?

• A. A punitive discipline program
• B. Random spot inspection
• C. Deferred maintenance planning
• D. A LEAN approach focused on removing waste from the process

81. At the end of the shift, the decontamination sinks, counters, and floors are visibly soiled from a heavy caseload. What does good practice require for these work surfaces?

• A. Rinsing with plain water once a month
• B. Cleaning and disinfection at least daily and whenever visibly soiled, using the facility's approved agents
• C. Cleaning only once a week to conserve disinfectant
• D. No routine cleaning, because the area is already considered dirty

82. In a Sterile Processing department's design, which areas are kept under positive air pressure relative to their surroundings?

• A. The soiled receiving dock and decontamination room
• B. Only the staff locker rooms
• C. Clean areas such as preparation and packaging and sterile storage
• D. No area of the department requires controlled air pressure

83. Staff are told that surveyors from the hospital's accrediting organization will tour Sterile Processing next week. What is the purpose of this type of visit?

• A. To sell the department new sterilization equipment
• B. To evaluate whether the facility complies with accreditation standards for safe, quality care
• C. To recruit technicians for other hospitals
• D. To administer certification exams to individual staff members

84. A gallon container of instrument detergent tips over in the decontamination area, spreading across the floor. After alerting nearby coworkers, what should guide the cleanup?

• A. The spill response steps on the product's safety data sheet, using the designated spill kit and required protective equipment
• B. Mopping it quickly with paper towels and bare hands to save time
• C. Rinsing the chemical toward the nearest floor drain regardless of the product's instructions
• D. Leaving the spill to evaporate overnight

85. A technician moving from decontamination to the preparation and packaging area asks what attire is expected in the clean side of the department. Which description fits standard practice?

• A. Street clothes are acceptable as long as a lab coat is worn
• B. Facility-provided surgical attire with head covering that confines all hair
• C. The same fluid-resistant gown and utility gloves worn in decontamination
• D. Any comfortable clothing, since attire has no effect on clean areas

86. During a departmental audit, the reviewer asks for evidence that each technician can correctly operate the washer-disinfectors they use. Which records satisfy this request?

• A. Payroll timecards showing hours worked
• B. The department's holiday schedule
• C. Documented orientation, training, and periodic competency records for each employee
• D. A verbal assurance from the shift lead

87. After removing contaminated gloves at the end of a decontamination task, a technician's hands look clean. Why is hand hygiene still required before moving to the next activity?

• A. Washing is done only to warm the hands before fine assembly work
• B. Gloves make hand hygiene permanently unnecessary
• C. Hand hygiene is only necessary when hands are visibly soiled
• D. Hands can be contaminated through unnoticed glove defects or during removal, even when they appear clean

88. A case cart pick list includes an appendectomy tray. Based on the surgical suffix, what does the technician know about this procedure?

• A. It involves surgical removal, since the suffix -ectomy means cutting out a structure
• B. It involves only visual examination of the abdomen
• C. It is an imaging study with no instruments
• D. It refers to suturing a structure closed

89. Two procedures appear on the schedule: an arthroscopy and an arthrotomy. What is the difference these word endings communicate?

• A. The words are interchangeable spellings of one procedure
• B. Both words mean amputation of a limb
• C. The first is a visual examination of a joint with a scope, while the second is a surgical incision into a joint
• D. The first means suturing and the second means freezing

90. A pick list calls for the cholecystectomy set. Which organ is the surgical team planning to remove?

• A. The kidney
• B. The gallbladder
• C. The spleen
• D. The uterus

91. Reading a urology case description, a technician encounters the prefix nephro- repeatedly. Which organ do these terms concern?

• A. The heart
• B. The stomach
• C. The kidney
• D. The liver

92. While assembling a vascular tray, a student asks what the rows of ring-handled instruments with locking ratchets and fine serrated jaws are used for during surgery. What is the primary function of these hemostatic forceps?

• A. Cutting through bone
• B. Holding surgical drapes to the skin
• C. Measuring the depth of the wound
• D. Clamping blood vessels to control bleeding

93. The biological indicators used to monitor steam sterilization cycles contain spores of a specific organism chosen for its resistance to moist heat. Which organism is it?

• A. Candida albicans
• B. Geobacillus stearothermophilus
• C. Staphylococcus aureus
• D. Escherichia coli

94. Two steam sterilizers sit side by side: one relies on steam entering the top of the chamber to push air out a lower drain, while the other pulls air out with a vacuum pump before steam injection. How are these machines classified?

• A. The first is a gravity displacement sterilizer and the second is a dynamic air removal sterilizer
• B. The distinction is cosmetic and the machines work identically
• C. Both are dry heat sterilizers with different fans
• D. The first is a chemical vapor unit and the second is an incubator

95. A student asks why so much sterilizer engineering is devoted to getting air out of the chamber before steam exposure begins. What is the core reason?

• A. Air makes the chamber too heavy during the cycle
• B. Residual air forms pockets that block steam from contacting surfaces, and without direct steam contact those surfaces are not sterilized
• C. Air causes the packaging labels to fade
• D. Air removal is only needed to make the cycle quieter

96. A sterilizer cycle printout divides the run into distinct phases. During which phase is the actual kill time counted, with the chamber held at the set temperature?

• A. The conditioning phase while air is being removed
• B. The exhaust phase as pressure returns to normal
• C. The exposure phase, when the load is held at sterilization temperature for the prescribed time
• D. The drying phase at the end of the cycle

97. A wrapped instrument set is scheduled for a dynamic air removal steam cycle, and the technician checks the settings against common practice. Which temperature is typically associated with this cycle type for wrapped instrument sets?

• A. Around 212 degrees Fahrenheit, the boiling point of water
• B. Around 270 degrees Fahrenheit (132 degrees Celsius), subject to the sterilizer and device instructions
• C. Around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, similar to body temperature
• D. Around 500 degrees Fahrenheit, similar to an oven's broil setting

98. Each morning before the first processed load, a technician runs a special test sheet in an empty dynamic air removal sterilizer, and today the sheet shows a nonuniform color change. What does this result mean?

• A. The load that follows will simply need extra drying time
• B. The air removal test failed, so the sterilizer stays out of service for processing until the problem is corrected and a passing test is obtained
• C. The test sheet was stored upside down and can be ignored
• D. The sterilizer sterilized the sheet successfully

99. Why do biological indicators rely on highly resistant bacterial spores rather than ordinary bacteria to prove a sterilizer is working?

• A. If the process kills the most resistant challenge organisms, it can be inferred that less resistant contaminants were also destroyed
• B. Ordinary bacteria are too dangerous to place in a sterilizer
• C. Spores change color on contact with steam
• D. Spores are cheaper to grow than ordinary bacteria

100. Each night, a technician counts the sponges and drapes in a supply station and restocks each item up to a preset quantity marked on the shelf label. Which inventory system is in use?

• A. First come, first served issuing
• B. A periodic automatic replenishment level system that restores each item to its established quantity
• C. One-time bulk purchasing
• D. Emergency requisition only