Page 1 of 113
Milady Infection Control EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST
RELEASED
Milady Infection Control Exam
EXAM COVERAGE OVERVIEW (10 Key Points)
1. Regulatory Agencies: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) sets
guidelines for workplace safety, while the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
registers disinfectants . The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) publishes
Standard Precautions .
2. Decontamination Levels: There are three levels: Sterilization (destroys all microbial life,
incl. spores), Disinfection (destroys most pathogens on surfaces),
and Sanitation (reduces germs to a safe level) .
3. Cleaning vs. Disinfecting: Cleaning is the mechanical removal of visible dirt and debris
using soap and water. It must always be performed before disinfection .
4. Bacteria Classification: Bacteria are classified by shape: Cocci (round), Bacilli (rod-
shaped), and Spirilla (spiral/corkscrew) . They are also classified as pathogenic (harmful)
or nonpathogenic (harmless) .
5. Bacterial Infections: Staphylococci (clusters) cause abscesses and
boils; Streptococci (chains) cause strep throat . Diplococci (pairs) cause pneumonia . The
presence of pus is a sign of a bacterial infection .
6. Viruses: These are submicroscopic particles that require a host cell to replicate and are
harder to kill than bacteria . Hepatitis B is the most difficult to kill on a surface .
Bloodborne pathogens include Hepatitis and HIV .
7. Disinfectants: Must be EPA-registered, used according to label instructions, and should
be stored in clean, covered containers . Phenolic disinfectants have a high pH and can
damage skin/eyes . A 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution is household bleach .
8. Standard Precautions: Published by the CDC, these guidelines require assuming that all
human blood and body fluids are potentially infectious . They include the use of PPE
like gloves, masks, and safety glasses .
9. SDS (Safety Data Sheets): Required by OSHA under the Globally Harmonized System
(GHS), an SDS contains 16 categories of information about a product, replacing the older
MSDS .
10. Professional Responsibilities: Beauty professionals must use proper infection control to
protect clients and themselves, are prohibited from diagnosing conditions, and must
refer clients to a physician .
, Page 2 of 113
SECTION 1: REGULATORY AGENCIES AND STANDARDS (Questions 1-20)
1. Which agency publishes the guidelines known as Standard Precautions?
A) FDA
B) OSHA
C) CDC
D) EPA
Answer: C) CDC
Rationale: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes the guidelines known
as Standard Precautions, which require employers and employees to assume that all human
blood and body fluids are potentially infectious .
2. Disinfectants sold and used in the United States must carry which agency's registration
number?
A) FDA
B) OSHA
C) CDC
D) EPA
Answer: D) EPA
, Page 3 of 113
Rationale: All disinfectants sold and used in the United States must carry an Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) registration number. The EPA registers disinfectants and ensures they
meet efficacy standards .
3. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)?
A) Registering disinfectants
B) Ensuring disinfectants meet efficacy standards
C) Enforcing workplace safety standards
D) Approving disinfectants for salon use
Answer: C) Enforcing workplace safety standards
Rationale: The EPA registers disinfectants and ensures they are effective when used according to
label instructions. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is responsible for
enforcing workplace safety and health standards .
4. In 2012, OSHA agreed to comply with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), which
requires the use of what standard format?
A) MSDS
B) SDS
C) OSHA-300
D) EPA-Form 1
Answer: B) SDS
, Page 4 of 113
Rationale: In 2012, OSHA adopted the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), which requires the
use of a standard format called the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to replace the older Material Safety
Data Sheet (MSDS) .
5. How many categories of information are contained in a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
A) 8
B) 10
C) 12
D) 16
Answer: D) 16
Rationale: An SDS contains 16 categories of information about a product, including
identification, hazards, composition, first-aid measures, and handling/storage .
6. What do federal agencies do in the context of the beauty industry?
A) Regulate licensing, enforcement, and conduct
B) Set guidelines for the manufacture, sale, and use of equipment and chemical ingredients
C) Inspect salons for compliance
D) Issue cosmetology licenses
Answer: B) Set guidelines for the manufacture, sale, and use of equipment and chemical
ingredients
Milady Infection Control EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST
RELEASED
Milady Infection Control Exam
EXAM COVERAGE OVERVIEW (10 Key Points)
1. Regulatory Agencies: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) sets
guidelines for workplace safety, while the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
registers disinfectants . The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) publishes
Standard Precautions .
2. Decontamination Levels: There are three levels: Sterilization (destroys all microbial life,
incl. spores), Disinfection (destroys most pathogens on surfaces),
and Sanitation (reduces germs to a safe level) .
3. Cleaning vs. Disinfecting: Cleaning is the mechanical removal of visible dirt and debris
using soap and water. It must always be performed before disinfection .
4. Bacteria Classification: Bacteria are classified by shape: Cocci (round), Bacilli (rod-
shaped), and Spirilla (spiral/corkscrew) . They are also classified as pathogenic (harmful)
or nonpathogenic (harmless) .
5. Bacterial Infections: Staphylococci (clusters) cause abscesses and
boils; Streptococci (chains) cause strep throat . Diplococci (pairs) cause pneumonia . The
presence of pus is a sign of a bacterial infection .
6. Viruses: These are submicroscopic particles that require a host cell to replicate and are
harder to kill than bacteria . Hepatitis B is the most difficult to kill on a surface .
Bloodborne pathogens include Hepatitis and HIV .
7. Disinfectants: Must be EPA-registered, used according to label instructions, and should
be stored in clean, covered containers . Phenolic disinfectants have a high pH and can
damage skin/eyes . A 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution is household bleach .
8. Standard Precautions: Published by the CDC, these guidelines require assuming that all
human blood and body fluids are potentially infectious . They include the use of PPE
like gloves, masks, and safety glasses .
9. SDS (Safety Data Sheets): Required by OSHA under the Globally Harmonized System
(GHS), an SDS contains 16 categories of information about a product, replacing the older
MSDS .
10. Professional Responsibilities: Beauty professionals must use proper infection control to
protect clients and themselves, are prohibited from diagnosing conditions, and must
refer clients to a physician .
, Page 2 of 113
SECTION 1: REGULATORY AGENCIES AND STANDARDS (Questions 1-20)
1. Which agency publishes the guidelines known as Standard Precautions?
A) FDA
B) OSHA
C) CDC
D) EPA
Answer: C) CDC
Rationale: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes the guidelines known
as Standard Precautions, which require employers and employees to assume that all human
blood and body fluids are potentially infectious .
2. Disinfectants sold and used in the United States must carry which agency's registration
number?
A) FDA
B) OSHA
C) CDC
D) EPA
Answer: D) EPA
, Page 3 of 113
Rationale: All disinfectants sold and used in the United States must carry an Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) registration number. The EPA registers disinfectants and ensures they
meet efficacy standards .
3. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)?
A) Registering disinfectants
B) Ensuring disinfectants meet efficacy standards
C) Enforcing workplace safety standards
D) Approving disinfectants for salon use
Answer: C) Enforcing workplace safety standards
Rationale: The EPA registers disinfectants and ensures they are effective when used according to
label instructions. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is responsible for
enforcing workplace safety and health standards .
4. In 2012, OSHA agreed to comply with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), which
requires the use of what standard format?
A) MSDS
B) SDS
C) OSHA-300
D) EPA-Form 1
Answer: B) SDS
, Page 4 of 113
Rationale: In 2012, OSHA adopted the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), which requires the
use of a standard format called the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to replace the older Material Safety
Data Sheet (MSDS) .
5. How many categories of information are contained in a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
A) 8
B) 10
C) 12
D) 16
Answer: D) 16
Rationale: An SDS contains 16 categories of information about a product, including
identification, hazards, composition, first-aid measures, and handling/storage .
6. What do federal agencies do in the context of the beauty industry?
A) Regulate licensing, enforcement, and conduct
B) Set guidelines for the manufacture, sale, and use of equipment and chemical ingredients
C) Inspect salons for compliance
D) Issue cosmetology licenses
Answer: B) Set guidelines for the manufacture, sale, and use of equipment and chemical
ingredients
