CBSPD STERILE PROCESSING PRACTICE
EXAMINATION 2026–2027 — STUDY GUIDE | LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW | 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | ALREADY
GRADED A+
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the decontamination
process?
A) To sterilize instruments
B) To remove organic and inorganic material from instruments before
sterilization
C) To extend the shelf life of sterile items
D) To reduce the number of instruments processed
Correct Answer: B
Decontamination removes organic and inorganic material, reducing bioburden
and making instruments safe for handling and subsequent sterilization. It does not
sterilize. Shelf life is affected by packaging and storage, not decontamination.
Decontamination does not reduce instrument count.
2. A technician notices a surgical instrument with visible rust. What should be
done?
A) Place it in the sterile set
B) Remove the instrument from service and report it
C) Soak it in saline
D) Sterilize it twice
Correct Answer: B
Rusted instruments must be removed from service because corrosion compromises
,the instrument's integrity and can damage other instruments. Saline is corrosive.
Double sterilization does not remove rust.
3. What is the recommended temperature and humidity for sterile storage?
A) 30–40°F and 50–60% humidity
B) 68–75°F and 30–60% humidity
C) 80–90°F and 70–80% humidity
D) 50–60°F and 10–20% humidity
Correct Answer: B
Sterile storage areas should be maintained at 68–75°F with 30–60% relative
humidity to protect package integrity and prevent microbial growth. The other
ranges are not recommended.
4. Which of the following is a critical parameter for steam sterilization?
A) Ethylene oxide concentration
B) Steam quality, temperature, and time
C) Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma temperature only
D) Ozone humidity only
Correct Answer: B
Steam sterilization requires proper steam quality, temperature, pressure, and time.
EO concentration applies to gas sterilization. Gas plasma uses hydrogen peroxide,
not steam. Ozone uses humidity but is not steam.
5. A biological indicator in a steam sterilizer shows growth after incubation.
What is the appropriate action?
A) Ignore the result if no visible wet packs
B) Recall all items from that load and investigate the sterilizer
C) Extend the incubation time
D) Reprocess the biological indicator only
Correct Answer: B
A positive biological indicator indicates sterilization failure. All items from the load
must be recalled and quarantined, and the sterilizer must be investigated before
returning to service. Ignoring the result or reprocessing only the BI is unsafe.
, 6. Which of the following is the correct method for loading a steam sterilizer?
A) Pack items tightly to maximize load size
B) Place items on their edges with space between packages
C) Stack wrapped trays flat without regard to air removal
D) Fill the chamber to capacity
Correct Answer: B
Items should be positioned on edge with space between packages to allow air
removal and steam penetration. Tight packing prevents sterilant contact. Chamber
should not be overloaded.
7. What is the primary function of an enzymatic cleaner?
A) To disinfect surfaces
B) To break down protein, blood, and organic material
C) To lubricate instruments
D) To prevent rust
Correct Answer: B
Enzymatic cleaners break down proteins, blood, and organic matter, making
removal easier during cleaning. They do not disinfect, lubricate, or prevent rust
alone.
8. A technician is preparing a set of instruments for sterilization. What is the
maximum weight for a wrapped instrument tray?
A) 10 pounds
B) 16–17 pounds
C) 25 pounds
D) 30 pounds
Correct Answer: B
AAMI recommends instrument trays not exceed approximately 16–17 pounds to
allow for proper sterilization and safe handling. Heavier trays may not sterilize
adequately and pose ergonomic risks.
9. Which of the following is an example of a critical medical device?
A) A device that contacts intact skin only
, B) A device that enters sterile tissue or the vascular system
C) A device that contacts mucous membranes
D) A device used for environmental cleaning
Correct Answer: B
Critical devices enter sterile tissue or the vascular system and must be sterile.
Semi-critical contact mucous membranes and require high-level disinfection. Non-
critical contact intact skin and require low-level disinfection.
10.What is the purpose of the Bowie-Dick test?
A) To verify sterilization of individual instruments
B) To detect air leaks and inadequate air removal in pre-vacuum steam
sterilizers
C) To test the efficacy of chemical indicators
D) To measure temperature in the sterilizer
Correct Answer: B
The Bowie-Dick test is performed daily on pre-vacuum steam sterilizers to detect
air leaks and inadequate air removal. It does not verify individual instrument
sterility or measure temperature directly.
11.A technician receives a used instrument tray from the operating room.
What is the first step?
A) Place it in the sterilizer
B) Put on personal protective equipment and begin decontamination
C) Sort instruments without PPE
D) Transport the tray directly to sterile storage
Correct Answer: B
PPE must be worn before handling contaminated instruments. Decontamination is
the first step in reprocessing. Transport to sterile storage is inappropriate for used
instruments.
12.Which of the following is the minimum exposure time for steam sterilization
at 250°F (121°C) for wrapped items using gravity displacement?
A) 10 minutes
EXAMINATION 2026–2027 — STUDY GUIDE | LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW | 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | ALREADY
GRADED A+
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the decontamination
process?
A) To sterilize instruments
B) To remove organic and inorganic material from instruments before
sterilization
C) To extend the shelf life of sterile items
D) To reduce the number of instruments processed
Correct Answer: B
Decontamination removes organic and inorganic material, reducing bioburden
and making instruments safe for handling and subsequent sterilization. It does not
sterilize. Shelf life is affected by packaging and storage, not decontamination.
Decontamination does not reduce instrument count.
2. A technician notices a surgical instrument with visible rust. What should be
done?
A) Place it in the sterile set
B) Remove the instrument from service and report it
C) Soak it in saline
D) Sterilize it twice
Correct Answer: B
Rusted instruments must be removed from service because corrosion compromises
,the instrument's integrity and can damage other instruments. Saline is corrosive.
Double sterilization does not remove rust.
3. What is the recommended temperature and humidity for sterile storage?
A) 30–40°F and 50–60% humidity
B) 68–75°F and 30–60% humidity
C) 80–90°F and 70–80% humidity
D) 50–60°F and 10–20% humidity
Correct Answer: B
Sterile storage areas should be maintained at 68–75°F with 30–60% relative
humidity to protect package integrity and prevent microbial growth. The other
ranges are not recommended.
4. Which of the following is a critical parameter for steam sterilization?
A) Ethylene oxide concentration
B) Steam quality, temperature, and time
C) Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma temperature only
D) Ozone humidity only
Correct Answer: B
Steam sterilization requires proper steam quality, temperature, pressure, and time.
EO concentration applies to gas sterilization. Gas plasma uses hydrogen peroxide,
not steam. Ozone uses humidity but is not steam.
5. A biological indicator in a steam sterilizer shows growth after incubation.
What is the appropriate action?
A) Ignore the result if no visible wet packs
B) Recall all items from that load and investigate the sterilizer
C) Extend the incubation time
D) Reprocess the biological indicator only
Correct Answer: B
A positive biological indicator indicates sterilization failure. All items from the load
must be recalled and quarantined, and the sterilizer must be investigated before
returning to service. Ignoring the result or reprocessing only the BI is unsafe.
, 6. Which of the following is the correct method for loading a steam sterilizer?
A) Pack items tightly to maximize load size
B) Place items on their edges with space between packages
C) Stack wrapped trays flat without regard to air removal
D) Fill the chamber to capacity
Correct Answer: B
Items should be positioned on edge with space between packages to allow air
removal and steam penetration. Tight packing prevents sterilant contact. Chamber
should not be overloaded.
7. What is the primary function of an enzymatic cleaner?
A) To disinfect surfaces
B) To break down protein, blood, and organic material
C) To lubricate instruments
D) To prevent rust
Correct Answer: B
Enzymatic cleaners break down proteins, blood, and organic matter, making
removal easier during cleaning. They do not disinfect, lubricate, or prevent rust
alone.
8. A technician is preparing a set of instruments for sterilization. What is the
maximum weight for a wrapped instrument tray?
A) 10 pounds
B) 16–17 pounds
C) 25 pounds
D) 30 pounds
Correct Answer: B
AAMI recommends instrument trays not exceed approximately 16–17 pounds to
allow for proper sterilization and safe handling. Heavier trays may not sterilize
adequately and pose ergonomic risks.
9. Which of the following is an example of a critical medical device?
A) A device that contacts intact skin only
, B) A device that enters sterile tissue or the vascular system
C) A device that contacts mucous membranes
D) A device used for environmental cleaning
Correct Answer: B
Critical devices enter sterile tissue or the vascular system and must be sterile.
Semi-critical contact mucous membranes and require high-level disinfection. Non-
critical contact intact skin and require low-level disinfection.
10.What is the purpose of the Bowie-Dick test?
A) To verify sterilization of individual instruments
B) To detect air leaks and inadequate air removal in pre-vacuum steam
sterilizers
C) To test the efficacy of chemical indicators
D) To measure temperature in the sterilizer
Correct Answer: B
The Bowie-Dick test is performed daily on pre-vacuum steam sterilizers to detect
air leaks and inadequate air removal. It does not verify individual instrument
sterility or measure temperature directly.
11.A technician receives a used instrument tray from the operating room.
What is the first step?
A) Place it in the sterilizer
B) Put on personal protective equipment and begin decontamination
C) Sort instruments without PPE
D) Transport the tray directly to sterile storage
Correct Answer: B
PPE must be worn before handling contaminated instruments. Decontamination is
the first step in reprocessing. Transport to sterile storage is inappropriate for used
instruments.
12.Which of the following is the minimum exposure time for steam sterilization
at 250°F (121°C) for wrapped items using gravity displacement?
A) 10 minutes
