CRCST Practice Exam

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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. 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

9. 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

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. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. In the operating room, a scrub nurse opens a wrapped set and sees that the internal chemical indicator has not reached its stated endpoint. What must the surgical team and Sterile Processing do?

• A. Shake the indicator to complete its color change
• B. Use the set quickly before any contamination can settle
• C. Remove only the instruments that touch the indicator and use the rest
• D. Reject the entire set, return it for reprocessing, and report the failed indicator so the load can be evaluated

39. A gravity displacement cycle for a similar load runs at a lower temperature than a dynamic air removal cycle but for a much longer exposure time. What explains this relationship?

• A. Lower sterilization temperatures require longer exposure times to deliver equivalent lethality
• B. Gravity cycles run longer purely to warm up the room
• C. Longer cycles compensate for smaller chamber sizes
• D. Time and temperature are unrelated variables in steam sterilization

40. The instructions for a complex loaner orthopedic set specify a longer steam exposure time than the department's standard wrapped-goods cycle. The sterilizer can be programmed for the extended cycle. Which course is correct?

• A. Run the device manufacturer's validated extended cycle and document that the correct cycle was used
• B. Send the set out in whatever cycle finishes soonest before the case
• C. Split the difference between the two exposure times
• D. Run the standard cycle since all steam cycles are interchangeable

41. At unload, a wrapped general set has visible droplets on the outside of the wrap and feels damp on its underside. How is this package handled, and why?

• A. Fan it dry near a vent and dispense it
• B. Dispense it if it will be used within the hour
• C. Store it in the warmest corner of the sterile storage room
• D. Treat it as a wet pack: the moisture path compromises the barrier, so the set is rewrapped and resterilized while the cause is investigated

42. 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

43. While unloading a steam cart, a technician finds one wrapped tray whose external indicator tape shows no color change at all, unlike every other package in the load. What does this most likely indicate?

• A. Unchanged tape is expected on the bottom shelf
• B. The tray may never have been through a sterilization cycle, perhaps added after processing, and must not be released
• C. The tray sterilized faster than the others
• D. The tape is defective and the tray can be dispensed normally

44. A cart of freshly sterilized wrapped trays exits the chamber steaming hot, and a coworker suggests moving the packs immediately onto the cool metal shelves in sterile storage. Why should the load cool on its cart first?

• A. Hot packages placed on cool surfaces form condensate, drawing moisture and contaminants through the barrier, and warm packs are easily damaged by handling
• B. Sterile storage doors are locked until the evening shift
• C. The cart's wheels need time to cool before rolling
• D. Cooling is only about staff comfort when touching packs

45. 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

46. A delicate camera head cannot tolerate heat or moisture, and its instructions permit gas sterilization. What is a recognized strength and a recognized drawback of ethylene oxide processing for such devices?

• A. It penetrates lumens and packaging well at low temperature, but cycles are long, loads need aeration, and the gas is hazardous to staff
• B. It sterilizes in seconds but only works on metal
• C. It requires no packaging but leaves a visible residue
• D. It is completely harmless but cannot penetrate any lumen

47. During a routine check, a technician finds lint and debris collecting on the strainer at the bottom of the steam sterilizer chamber and a whitish film on the chamber walls. What does proper sterilizer care require?

• A. Clean the drain strainer and chamber on the schedule and method the manufacturer specifies, and report conditions that suggest steam or water quality problems
• B. Ignore the buildup until the annual service visit
• C. Scrub the chamber with steel wool and any available cleanser
• D. Run an empty cycle to burn the deposits away

48. Alongside every batch of biological indicators processed in loads, the department incubates one indicator from the same lot that never went through a sterilizer. What is the purpose of this unprocessed indicator?

• A. It serves as a positive control proving the spores were viable and the incubator functions, so negative results from processed indicators are trustworthy
• B. It measures the room temperature of the incubation area
• C. It is a spare in case a processed indicator is dropped
• D. It doubles the department's indicator inventory usage for budgeting

49. 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

50. A total joint case is on the schedule, and the surgeon asks for the implant tray the moment its cycle finishes, before the biological indicator has been incubated and read. How should the department respond?

• A. Release the implant immediately since the printout looked normal
• B. Explain that implant loads are quarantined until the biological indicator is read negative, with early release reserved for documented emergencies under facility policy
• C. Skip biological monitoring on implant loads to avoid this conflict
• D. Substitute an unsterilized implant from the vendor's trunk stock

51. The label printed for each sterilizer load carries a code the department can use to trace any package later. What information does this load control identifier typically capture?

• A. The technician's employee parking space
• B. The purchase price of the instruments inside
• C. The name of the patient scheduled to receive the instruments
• D. The sterilizer identity, the cycle or load number, and the date of processing

52. 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

53. 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

54. 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

55. 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

56. 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

57. 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

58. 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

59. 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

60. 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

61. 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

62. 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

63. 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

64. 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

65. 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

66. 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

67. 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

68. 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

69. Before dispensing a wrapped tray requested by a clinic, the storage technician gives the package a final look. Which findings would stop the tray from being issued?

• A. A firmly attached label and intact indicator tape
• B. A clean, dry, undamaged wrap with the external indicator changed
• C. Any tear, moisture, stain, crushed corner, or unchanged external indicator on the package
• D. The tray having been stored on a middle shelf

70. A shipment of sterile disposable supplies arrives at the dock in corrugated cardboard shipping cartons, and a volunteer starts wheeling the sealed cartons straight into the sterile storage room. Why must this be stopped?

• A. External shipping cartons collect dust, debris, and possible insects in transit and must be removed in a break-out area before supplies enter clean storage
• B. Cardboard is only prohibited because it is difficult to stack neatly
• C. Shipping cartons take up shelf space needed for decorations
• D. The cartons must first be labeled with room numbers

71. Certain rarely used wrapped sets are kept for many months in a storage annex with more traffic and dust than the main sterile storage room. What accessory helps protect these packages, and when is it applied?

• A. A sterility maintenance dust cover, applied and sealed after the package has fully cooled following sterilization
• B. A rubber band wrapped around the pack while still hot
• C. A layer of newspaper taped over the wrap
• D. Nothing, because dust cannot affect wrapped items

72. For tomorrow's laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a technician gathers the instruments, supplies, and disposables listed on the surgeon's preference card onto a dedicated cart that will return to decontamination after the case. What is this distribution method called?

• A. The case cart system
• B. The crash cart system
• C. A periodic automatic replenishment station
• D. Consignment stocking

73. Sterile trays must travel through general hospital corridors to reach an outlying surgery suite. How should they be transported?

• A. Stacked on an uncovered utility cart with the soiled returns
• B. Carried loosely in open arms to save cart trips
• C. Slid along the corridor handrails
• D. In a closed or completely covered cart that protects the packages from contamination and damage en route

74. While pulling supplies, a technician knocks a wrapped minor tray off a shelf and it lands flat on the floor. A coworker says to dust it off and reshelve it. What is the appropriate handling?

• A. Reshelve it since the floor looked clean
• B. Move it to the top shelf where it will not fall again
• C. Treat the drop as a compromising event for a wrapped item; the set returns for inspection and reprocessing per policy
• D. Open it briefly to confirm the instruments are unharmed, then tape it closed

75. 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

76. A small hospital has one elevator that must carry both soiled instrument carts going down and sterile case carts going up. How can the facility manage this shared route safely?

• A. Separate soiled and clean transport by using enclosed carts, scheduling trips apart, and cleaning the elevator and carts between uses per policy
• B. Send soiled and sterile carts together to save elevator trips
• C. Stop transporting soiled instruments and store them on the units
• D. Line the elevator floor with sterile wrap before each trip

77. Quarterly inventory review shows a shelf of specialty catheters expired unused, and several crushed packages were discarded from an overstuffed bin. What do these findings represent to the department?

• A. Normal, unavoidable costs of running any storage area
• B. Preventable waste and loss from overstocking and poor storage practices that inventory control should correct
• C. Evidence that more stock should be ordered to replace the losses
• D. A reason to stop stocking specialty items entirely

78. A nurse finds a properly wrapped tray sterilized eight months ago on the shelf and asks whether it must be discarded because of its age. Under event-related sterility practice, what determines whether the tray is still usable?

• A. The calendar alone; every pack expires at ninety days
• B. Whether anything has happened to compromise the package, such as moisture, tears, soiling, or crushing, rather than time itself
• C. The color of the wrap fading over time
• D. The number of times the tray has been counted during inventory

79. A manufacturer notifies the facility that a lot of packaged sterile sutures is being recalled for a sterility defect. What is the Sterile Processing response when the affected lot is in its storage areas?

• A. Keep issuing the items until the shelf is empty since they were bought in good faith
• B. Locate and remove the affected lot, quarantine it from use, document the actions, and follow the recall's return or disposal instructions
• C. Donate the recalled product to a clinic
• D. Mix the recalled lot with newer stock to dilute the risk

80. A department is setting up new sterile storage shelving and reviewing common positioning guidance. Which arrangement reflects accepted practice for protecting stored sterile items?

• A. Items stored directly on the floor for stability
• B. Solid bottom shelves, items kept several inches off the floor, clear of outside walls, and below sprinkler head clearance limits
• C. Packages pressed against exterior windows for visibility
• D. Sterile items stored under the sink where space is unused

81. When restocking peel pouches of sutures, a technician places the newest packages behind the older ones so the older stock is picked first. What inventory principle is being applied?

• A. First in, first out rotation
• B. Random selection to distribute wear evenly
• C. Last in, first out rotation
• D. Highest cost items issued first

82. A veteran technician signs up for an in-service on a new low-temperature sterilizer and an upcoming industry conference. Why does this continuing education matter in Sterile Processing careers?

• A. Standards, technologies, and device instructions change constantly, and ongoing education keeps practice current and supports certification maintenance
• B. Classes exist mainly to fill slow afternoons
• C. Education is only useful during the first year on the job
• D. Attending events replaces the need to follow written instructions

83. Three requests hit the department at once: a routine restock for a clinic, a tray for a case starting in four hours, and an urgent instrument need for a trauma patient in the operating room now. How should the technician prioritize?

• A. Refer everything to voicemail until the shift ends
• B. Complete the easiest task first to reduce the list
• C. Address the immediate patient need first, communicate timelines to the others, and sequence remaining work by urgency
• D. Handle the requests strictly in the order the calls arrived

84. To reduce instrument turnaround delays, the hospital forms a group with members from Sterile Processing, the operating room, and infection prevention who meet to redesign the workflow together. What kind of team is this?

• A. A cross-functional team drawing members from multiple departments to solve a shared problem
• B. A social committee planning department events
• C. A single-discipline task force of only Sterile Processing staff
• D. An external consulting firm

85. 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

86. A technician realizes after dispatch that she forgot to place an internal indicator in a tray she assembled, and no one else knows. The tray has not yet been opened. What does professional accountability require?

• A. Say nothing and hope the operating room does not notice
• B. Report the error immediately so the tray can be retrieved and reprocessed before use
• C. Wait to see whether the patient develops an infection
• D. Ask a coworker to take the blame since they are on better terms with the manager

87. 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

88. 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

89. A technician believes a coworker is skipping a required rinse step, but the coworker insists their method is fine. How should the technician handle this disagreement professionally?

• A. Argue loudly at the workstation until someone gives in
• B. Check the written procedure and the manufacturer's instructions, discuss the finding respectfully, and involve the supervisor if the practice conflict is not resolved
• C. Post about the coworker on social media
• D. Adopt the coworker's shortcut to keep the peace

90. 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

91. In the cafeteria, a technician recognizes a neighbor's name on the surgical schedule she handled that morning and considers mentioning it to a mutual friend. What obligation applies?

• A. Sharing is acceptable if the friend promises secrecy
• B. Only physicians are bound by patient privacy rules
• C. Patient information encountered at work is confidential under federal privacy law and is never shared outside the care team's need to know
• D. Schedules are public documents once printed

92. 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

93. An operating room nurse calls, upset that a requested tray arrived missing a key retractor as the case is about to start. Which response models professional service recovery?

• A. Ask the nurse to submit the complaint in writing before anything can be done
• B. Explain that mistakes happen and hang up
• C. Blame the previous shift by name before offering help
• D. Listen without interrupting, acknowledge the problem, arrange the fastest correct solution, and follow up so the root cause is addressed

94. While wiping down a returned suction unit, a technician notices its power cord insulation is cracked and fraying near the plug. What should be done with this device?

• A. Issue it with a note telling users to avoid touching the cord
• B. Remove it from service, tag the defect, and route it to Biomedical Engineering for repair
• C. Wrap the cord in adhesive tape and send the unit back out
• D. Store it at the back of the shelf for emergencies only

95. A nurse grabs a sequential compression device pump from the clean equipment room and finds a plastic bag of used sleeves tucked beside it. What should the labeling and handling system have ensured?

• A. That used single-patient sleeves were discarded after use and that only equipment clearly tagged or covered as clean is staged for issue
• B. That sleeves were washed by the nurse and reused across patients
• C. That clean and soiled items always share shelving to save space
• D. That the pump was stored with sleeves attached for convenience

96. A nursing unit requests a hypothermia unit, and the only one on the shelf carries a preventive maintenance sticker that expired last month. How should the request be handled?

• A. Issue the unit since the sticker is only a suggestion
• B. Peel off the sticker so no one worries about it
• C. Hold the device from issue and route it to Biomedical Engineering for its overdue preventive maintenance check
• D. Let the nursing unit decide whether to accept it

97. Before dispatching a patient care equipment item to the emergency department, the technician performs a quick check. Along with cleanliness, what should be verified before the device leaves?

• A. That the shipping carton it arrived in years ago is still available
• B. That the device powers on and functions as the manufacturer's instructions describe, with required disposables ready for attachment
• C. That the device is older than the one previously sent
• D. That the device matches the wall color of the receiving unit

98. An infusion pump returns from a patient room with its disposable administration tubing still attached and fluid residue on the housing. What is the first step in reprocessing this equipment?

• A. Issue the pump immediately to the next patient since pumps self-clean
• B. Send the pump to storage with tubing attached to keep the set complete
• C. Remove and discard the single-use consumables, then clean and disinfect the pump per its instructions
• D. Submerge the entire pump in detergent solution

99. A hospital struggles to locate its infusion pumps, which disappear into closets and linen chutes across the building. Which tracking approach directly addresses this problem?

• A. Buying more pumps every quarter to cover the missing ones
• B. A tracking system, such as radio frequency identification tags or computerized check-out, that records each device's location and status
• C. Asking staff to remember where they last saw each pump
• D. Engraving the department's phone number on each pump

100. Cleaned and inspected patient care equipment is staged for the next request. Which storage conditions keep this equipment ready and safe for immediate dispatch?

• A. A clean, dry, secure area with batteries charging as the manufacturer directs
• B. The decontamination anteroom where returns are dropped off
• C. An outdoor covered loading dock for easy truck access
• D. Any hallway alcove near the busiest elevators