| Question | Answer |
| Internal chemical indicator/integrators should be placed in the center or most challenging portion of a tray for the sterilant to reach. | true |
| Which term means the number of microbes or amount of organic debris on an object at any given time? | bioburden |
| The recommended biological indicator (BI) for hydrogen peroxide gas plasma is: | Bacillus atrophaeus |
| What is the name of the outside area of an autoclave where steam is created before injection into the interior compartment? | jacket |
| Which of the following would be appropriate for use on animate surfaces? | antiseptic |
| Which type of wrapper material is compatible with the hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization method? | Tyvek |
| Which of the following cleaning methods for surgical instrumentation relies on bubbles imploding, creating a vacuum that dislodges minute particles in crevices of instruments? | ultrasonic cleaner |
| Which sterilization method is most commonly used, safest, least expensive, and appropriate for the majority of surgical instruments? | saturated steam |
| What is the term for the process of lubricating stiffened stainless steel surgical instruments by immersion in a water-soluble solution? | milking |
| Which of the following is the MOST important factor in a surgical technologist's role in preventing surgical site infections? | strict surgical conscience |
| Where should the biological test pack be placed on the steam sterilization cart for the first run of the day? | bottom rack, front of sterilizer, over the drain |
| The physical or chemical process by which all living microorganisms, including spores, are killed is: | sterilization |
| What is the weight that AAMI has recommended instrument sets should NOT exceed? | 25 pounds |
| How should air hoses of powered instruments or fiber-optic light cords be placed in rigid container trays for sterilization? | coiled loosely in perforated or mesh basket |
| A nonsterile person should approach a sterile area face forward while maintaining a distance of: | 12 inches |
| When nested basin sets are being sterilized, how should they be placed in the steam sterilizer? | folded side down with a towel used to separate them |
| What is another name for the intermediate-level disinfectant compound phenol? | carbolic acid |
| Which of the following concepts has replaced the previous system of assessing storage conditions and package integrity based on an arbitrary expiration designation? | event related |
| What is the term for the condition of a surgical technologist's skin after performing a surgical scrub? | surgically clean |
| When opening a wrapped item such as a gown on a Mayo stand, the contents and wrapper are considered sterile up to what distance from the edge of the wrapper? | 1 inch from the edge |
| Sterilization process monitors include mechanical, chemical, and biological methods to ensure all parameters were met. | true |
| Contamination caused by passage of microorganisms through a sterilized package by way of moisture wicking is termed: | strike-through |
| In steam sterilization, thermal destruction of microbes is the result of the denaturation and coagulation of protein within the cells. | true |
| All of the following are environmental specifications for the decontamination room in CSPD EXCEPT: | positive air pressure maintained |
| The relative humidity in an ethylene oxide sterilizer should be below 30% to aid in the penetration of the gas through bacterial spores' protective coating. | false |
| Gravity displacement steam sterilizer cycles are much shorter than prevacuum cycles. | false |
| What is a potential risk of placing surgical instruments of dissimilar metallic type together in a washer sterilizer cycle? | electrolytic conduction reaction |
| What is the advantage of using ethylene oxide gas sterilization? | it is safe for heat-and moisture-sensitive items |
| Why are instruments placed in perforated or mesh-bottom trays for sterilization? | penetration of sterilant |
| What is the common name for the high-level disinfectant sodium hypochlorite? | bleach |
| During manual cleaning of surgical instruments, what type of solution should be used? | lukewarm water, detergent, and enzymatic cleaner with neutral pH |
| Sterilely attired surgical team members should pass one another in any of the following ways EXCEPT: | front to back |
| Which method of sterilization uses gamma rays or beta particles and is chiefly used by large manufacturing companies? | ionizing radiation |
| What is the term for inanimate objects that harbor microorganisms that contribute to environmental contamination? | fomties |
| Which sterilization method presents the greatest exposure risk to CSPD personnel, is expensive, and requires the longest total cycle time? | ethylene oxide |
| What is the term used to describe the process of removing all soiled linen, waste, and instruments from the room and cleaning of furniture, floors, or other contaminated surfaces in preparation for opening new supplies for a subsequent case? | turnover |
| Which of the following is NOT a classification of patient care items? | hypercritical |
| Personnel in CSPD who must move instruments from the ethylene oxide sterilizer to an aeration room should do which of the following with the cart to reduce their exposure to vented gases? | pull it |
| Which of the following statements regarding peracetic acid sterilized items is CORRECT? | cassettes are not sealed, due to liquid immersion during the process, so they cannot be stored. |
| Which type of surgical instrument must NEVER be immersed in any type of mechanical decontaminating equipment? | powered |
| Which of the following patient care items would be classified as noncritical? | pulse oximeters |
| Which type of packaging system has filters and removable locking devices? | rigid containers |
| How long should the steam biological indicator be incubated before the reading is recorded? | 24 hours |
| Which of the following is the type of dating system that denotes the number of the calendar day in 1 through 365/366? | Julian |
| Which of the following diseases is NOT a form of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy? | toxic shock |
| Cidex™ is the trade name for which of the following methods of sterilization? | glutaraldehyde |
| Which of the following would be appropriate for soaking instruments covered with bioburden during a surgical procedure? | sterile water |
| Before opening any sterilely packaged item, what is MOST important to verify about the package? | integrity of package |
| Which method of chemical sterilization has limitations based on the challenge of diffusion into narrow lumens? | hydrogen peroxide gas plasma |
| Why are items disinfected or sterilized in activated glutaraldehyde dried prior to submersion? | moisture will eventually dilute the concentration to ineffective levels |
| What would be the exposure phase time for an unwrapped instrument set with some lumens in a prevacuum/dynamic air removal steam autoclave? | 4 minutes |
| Why are large steam sterilizers loaded with space between wrapped items or trays? | it allows adequate circulation and penetration of steam to all surfaces |
| When a sterilely attired surgical technologist drapes an unsterile table, he or she opens the drape: | toward him-or herself first |
| What is the relationship of steam pressure to temperature in a steam sterilizer? | increased pressure increases temperature |
| Which types of instruments must be cleaned with bristle-brushes on wires, pipe cleaners, or handheld pressure guns? | suction tip lumens |
| Which of the following chemicals is a high-level disinfectant when items are immersed for 20 to 30 minutes and a sterilant if items remain immersed for 10 hours? | glutaraldehyde |
| Which of the following should NEVER be processed by immediate-use (flash) sterilization methods? | implantable devices |
| The Bowie-Dick test is performed for which sterilization method? | prevacuum air removal steam |
| Which of the following is an acceptable position for placement of a scrubbed, gowned, and gloved surgical technologist's hands? | clasped together in front at waist level |
| Which type of chemical solution is made of catalysts that aid in breaking down proteinaceous debris such as blood and fat? | enzymatic |
| What is the type of process the ultrasonic cleaner uses to dislodge minute particles of soil and organic debris? | cavitation |
| Which part of the instrument reprocessing cycle is performed intraoperatively? | wiping with sterile water |
| What term refers to a barrier, such as plastic-backed table cover, that does NOT allow for passage of liquid through it? | impervious |
| The biological indicator (BI) for the steam sterilization method is: | Geobacillus stearothermophilus |
| Which kind of quality control device consists of a paper that has been impregnated with a dye that changes color in the presence of a specified temperature and sterilant? | chemical indicator |
