Sterile Processing Board Exam 2026/2027 – Official
Sterile Processing Certification Board – Verified
Questions & Answers for Aspiring Sterile
Processing Technicians
Section 1: Infection Control and Microbiology
Question 1: What is the primary goal of sterile processing?
A) To clean and sterilize all instruments
B) To prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)
C) To organize surgical instruments
D) To reduce hospital costs
*Answer: B) To prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) Rationale: The primary goal of sterile
processing is to prevent healthcare-associated infections by ensuring that all reusable medical devices
are properly decontaminated, cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized before patient use. This protects
patients from infection and promotes positive surgical outcomes.
Question 2: Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a microorganism to cause infection?
A) Mode of transmission
B) Susceptible host
C) Presence of antibiotics
D) Portal of entry
*Answer: C) Presence of antibiotics Rationale: The chain of infection requires a pathogen, reservoir,
portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. The presence of antibiotics
would actually help prevent infection, not cause it. Sterile processing aims to break this chain at multiple
points.
Question 3: What is the difference between a spore and a vegetative cell?
A) Spores are resistant to heat and chemicals; vegetative cells are not
B) Spores are larger than vegetative cells
C) Spores are only found in gram-positive bacteria
D) Vegetative cells are more resistant to sterilization
*Answer: A) Spores are resistant to heat and chemicals; vegetative cells are not Rationale: Spores
(endospores) are highly resistant structures produced by some bacteria (e.g., Bacillus and Clostridium
species) to survive harsh conditions. Vegetative cells are the active, growing forms that are more
susceptible to heat, chemicals, and sterilization processes. This is why spore testing (biological indicators)
is the gold standard for monitoring sterilization efficacy.
, Question 4: Which microorganism is used as a biological indicator for steam sterilization?
A) Geobacillus stearothermophilus
B) Bacillus atrophaeus
C) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D) Staphylococcus aureus
*Answer: A) Geobacillus stearothermophilus Rationale: Geobacillus stearothermophilus is the biological
indicator organism used for steam sterilization because it is highly resistant to heat and can survive
conditions that would kill vegetative cells. Bacillus atrophaeus is used for ethylene oxide and dry heat
sterilization. These organisms provide a challenge to ensure the sterilization process was effective.
Question 5: What is the difference between cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization?
A) Cleaning removes debris, disinfection kills most organisms, sterilization kills all organisms
B) Cleaning kills all organisms, disinfection removes debris, sterilization kills most organisms
C) Cleaning and disinfection are the same process
D) Sterilization removes debris only
*Answer: A) Cleaning removes debris, disinfection kills most organisms, sterilization kills all
organisms Rationale: Cleaning physically removes organic matter (blood, tissue) and other debris from
instruments. Disinfection eliminates most pathogenic microorganisms but not all spores. Sterilization kills
or eliminates ALL forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores. Proper cleaning must precede
disinfection or sterilization to be effective.
Question 6: What is the normal human body temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit?
A) 37°C (98.6°F)
B) 38.5°C (101.3°F)
C) 36.5°C (97.7°F)
D) 39°C (102.2°F)
*Answer: A) 37°C (98.6°F) Rationale: Normal body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F). This is
relevant because many biological processes and incubation temperatures for biological indicators are
based on this standard. Understanding this helps technicians understand the conditions that promote
microbial growth.
Question 7: Which of the following is a bloodborne pathogen of concern in sterile processing?
A) Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
B) HIV
C) Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
D) All of the above
*Answer: D) All of the above Rationale: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV are all bloodborne pathogens
that can be transmitted through exposure to contaminated blood and bodily fluids. Sterile processing
technicians are at risk for exposure and must follow Standard Precautions, including the use of
appropriate PPE, to prevent infection.
Section 2: Decontamination and Cleaning
Sterile Processing Certification Board – Verified
Questions & Answers for Aspiring Sterile
Processing Technicians
Section 1: Infection Control and Microbiology
Question 1: What is the primary goal of sterile processing?
A) To clean and sterilize all instruments
B) To prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)
C) To organize surgical instruments
D) To reduce hospital costs
*Answer: B) To prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) Rationale: The primary goal of sterile
processing is to prevent healthcare-associated infections by ensuring that all reusable medical devices
are properly decontaminated, cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized before patient use. This protects
patients from infection and promotes positive surgical outcomes.
Question 2: Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a microorganism to cause infection?
A) Mode of transmission
B) Susceptible host
C) Presence of antibiotics
D) Portal of entry
*Answer: C) Presence of antibiotics Rationale: The chain of infection requires a pathogen, reservoir,
portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. The presence of antibiotics
would actually help prevent infection, not cause it. Sterile processing aims to break this chain at multiple
points.
Question 3: What is the difference between a spore and a vegetative cell?
A) Spores are resistant to heat and chemicals; vegetative cells are not
B) Spores are larger than vegetative cells
C) Spores are only found in gram-positive bacteria
D) Vegetative cells are more resistant to sterilization
*Answer: A) Spores are resistant to heat and chemicals; vegetative cells are not Rationale: Spores
(endospores) are highly resistant structures produced by some bacteria (e.g., Bacillus and Clostridium
species) to survive harsh conditions. Vegetative cells are the active, growing forms that are more
susceptible to heat, chemicals, and sterilization processes. This is why spore testing (biological indicators)
is the gold standard for monitoring sterilization efficacy.
, Question 4: Which microorganism is used as a biological indicator for steam sterilization?
A) Geobacillus stearothermophilus
B) Bacillus atrophaeus
C) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D) Staphylococcus aureus
*Answer: A) Geobacillus stearothermophilus Rationale: Geobacillus stearothermophilus is the biological
indicator organism used for steam sterilization because it is highly resistant to heat and can survive
conditions that would kill vegetative cells. Bacillus atrophaeus is used for ethylene oxide and dry heat
sterilization. These organisms provide a challenge to ensure the sterilization process was effective.
Question 5: What is the difference between cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization?
A) Cleaning removes debris, disinfection kills most organisms, sterilization kills all organisms
B) Cleaning kills all organisms, disinfection removes debris, sterilization kills most organisms
C) Cleaning and disinfection are the same process
D) Sterilization removes debris only
*Answer: A) Cleaning removes debris, disinfection kills most organisms, sterilization kills all
organisms Rationale: Cleaning physically removes organic matter (blood, tissue) and other debris from
instruments. Disinfection eliminates most pathogenic microorganisms but not all spores. Sterilization kills
or eliminates ALL forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores. Proper cleaning must precede
disinfection or sterilization to be effective.
Question 6: What is the normal human body temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit?
A) 37°C (98.6°F)
B) 38.5°C (101.3°F)
C) 36.5°C (97.7°F)
D) 39°C (102.2°F)
*Answer: A) 37°C (98.6°F) Rationale: Normal body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F). This is
relevant because many biological processes and incubation temperatures for biological indicators are
based on this standard. Understanding this helps technicians understand the conditions that promote
microbial growth.
Question 7: Which of the following is a bloodborne pathogen of concern in sterile processing?
A) Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
B) HIV
C) Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
D) All of the above
*Answer: D) All of the above Rationale: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV are all bloodborne pathogens
that can be transmitted through exposure to contaminated blood and bodily fluids. Sterile processing
technicians are at risk for exposure and must follow Standard Precautions, including the use of
appropriate PPE, to prevent infection.
Section 2: Decontamination and Cleaning
