CAISS Certification Exam 2026/2027 – Latest Updated
Questions, Correct Answers & Comprehensive Assessment
2026-2027 | Total Questions: 100 | 100% VERIFIED
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment measures the specialized knowledge required of
professionals pursuing the CAISS credential in ambulatory care infection prevention and
safety. The assessment spans eight domains: Infection Prevention and Control; Ambulatory
Care Safety Standards; Sterilization and High-Level Disinfection; Regulatory Compliance
(OSHA, CDC, Joint Commission); Quality Assurance and Risk Management; Environmental
Services and Waste Management; Patient and Staff Education; and Outbreak Investigation
and Surveillance. Each question tests a distinct sub-topic mapped to the official CAISS
blueprint, requiring applied infection control judgment, regulatory fluency, and safe
operational decisions rather than simple recall. Mastery of this material demonstrates
readiness for professional certification and supports safe, compliant healthcare safety
operations across ambulatory and surgical settings.
Question 1. Hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub is preferred except when:
A. Hands feel dry
B. Between every patient contact
C. Before donning gloves only
D. Hands are visibly soiled or after caring for patients with certain organisms such as C.
difficile
Correct Answer: D — Hands are visibly soiled or after caring for patients with
certain organisms such as C. difficile
Rationale: Alcohol does not kill spores and fails on visible soil, requiring soap and
water. Dryness, routine contact, and glove donning are exactly when rub excels.
Question 2. Standard precautions are applied:
A. To every patient regardless of suspected infection status
B. Only to patients with confirmed infections
C. Only in surgical suites
D. Only when a physician orders them
Correct Answer: A — To every patient regardless of suspected infection status
Rationale: Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious
for everyone. Infection-based, location-based, and order-based limits misapply them.
Question 3. The correct sequence for donning personal protective equipment is:
A. Gown, mask or respirator, goggles or face shield, then gloves
B. Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
C. Mask, gloves, gown, shield
, D. Goggles, gloves, mask, gown
Correct Answer: A — Gown, mask or respirator, goggles or face shield, then gloves
Rationale: PPE dons from cleanest to most contaminated entry order: gown first, gloves
last. The other sequences contaminate earlier items.
Question 4. Safe injection per CDC guidance includes:
A. Reusing syringes with needle changes only
B. Using single-dose vials for multiple patients
C. A new sterile needle and syringe for every injection, with single-dose vials preferred
D. Diluting medications with shared saline bags
Correct Answer: C — A new sterile needle and syringe for every injection, with
single-dose vials preferred
Rationale: One needle, one syringe, one patient is absolute. Needle-only changes, multi-
patient vials, and shared bags caused notorious outbreaks.
Question 5. Pre-operative skin antisepsis for surgical procedures is best achieved with:
A. Alcohol-based antiseptic such as chlorhexidine-gluconate in alcohol unless
contraindicated
B. Plain soap and water
C. Baby oil
D. Talcum powder
Correct Answer: A — Alcohol-based antiseptic such as chlorhexidine-gluconate in
alcohol unless contraindicated
Rationale: Alcohol-based CHG rapidly reduces skin flora and sustains reduction. Soap
alone, oils, and powders are ineffective antiseptics.
Question 6. Surgical hand antisepsis requires:
A. Manufacturer-directed scrub or rub covering hands and forearms with nails cleaned
first
B. A quick wrist rinse
C. Gloves worn during the scrub
D. Skipping nail cleaning
Correct Answer: A — Manufacturer-directed scrub or rub covering hands and
forearms with nails cleaned first
Rationale: Surgical antisepsis covers hands through forearms with nail attention per
product directions. Brief rinses, gloved scrubs, and skipped nails compromise sterility.
Question 7. Transmission-based precautions for airborne diseases require:
A. A surgical mask only
B. A respirator such as an N95 and an airborne infection isolation room when available
C. Standard gloves only
D. No special measures
, Correct Answer: B — A respirator such as an N95 and an airborne infection
isolation room when available
Rationale: Airborne particles demand respirator protection and negative-pressure
rooms. Surgical masks, gloves alone, and no measures fail against aerosols.
Question 8. Aseptic technique during lumbar puncture includes:
A. Clean gloves without preparation
B. Unsterile field with quick work
C. Mask, sterile gloves, sterile drape, and skin antisepsis at the site
D. No skin prep
Correct Answer: C — Mask, sterile gloves, sterile drape, and skin antisepsis at the
site
Rationale: LP demands full asepsis to prevent iatrogenic meningitis. Glove-only, dirty
fields, and skipped prep caused outbreaks.
Question 9. Occupational exposure to blood via needlestick requires immediate:
A. Washing the site with soap and water, then reporting for post-exposure evaluation
B. Squeezing and sucking the wound
C. Applying bleach to the skin
D. Ignoring unless symptoms develop
Correct Answer: A — Washing the site with soap and water, then reporting for
post-exposure evaluation
Rationale: Washing followed by reporting enables timely PEP decisions. Squeezing,
bleach, and waiting are ineffective or harmful.
Question 10. Contact precautions require:
A. Masks alone
B. No protective items
C. Gown and gloves on entry to the room, with dedicated or disinfected equipment
D. Shared equipment without cleaning
Correct Answer: C — Gown and gloves on entry to the room, with dedicated or
disinfected equipment
Rationale: Contact organisms spread via hands and items, demanding gown, gloves,
and clean equipment. Mask-only, bare entry, and shared dirty gear transmit disease.
Question 11. Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette programs include:
A. Ignoring symptomatic visitors
B. Encouraging crowding
C. Removing hand sanitizer stations
D. Masks or tissues for coughing patients, hand hygiene access, and separation in
waiting areas
Questions, Correct Answers & Comprehensive Assessment
2026-2027 | Total Questions: 100 | 100% VERIFIED
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment measures the specialized knowledge required of
professionals pursuing the CAISS credential in ambulatory care infection prevention and
safety. The assessment spans eight domains: Infection Prevention and Control; Ambulatory
Care Safety Standards; Sterilization and High-Level Disinfection; Regulatory Compliance
(OSHA, CDC, Joint Commission); Quality Assurance and Risk Management; Environmental
Services and Waste Management; Patient and Staff Education; and Outbreak Investigation
and Surveillance. Each question tests a distinct sub-topic mapped to the official CAISS
blueprint, requiring applied infection control judgment, regulatory fluency, and safe
operational decisions rather than simple recall. Mastery of this material demonstrates
readiness for professional certification and supports safe, compliant healthcare safety
operations across ambulatory and surgical settings.
Question 1. Hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub is preferred except when:
A. Hands feel dry
B. Between every patient contact
C. Before donning gloves only
D. Hands are visibly soiled or after caring for patients with certain organisms such as C.
difficile
Correct Answer: D — Hands are visibly soiled or after caring for patients with
certain organisms such as C. difficile
Rationale: Alcohol does not kill spores and fails on visible soil, requiring soap and
water. Dryness, routine contact, and glove donning are exactly when rub excels.
Question 2. Standard precautions are applied:
A. To every patient regardless of suspected infection status
B. Only to patients with confirmed infections
C. Only in surgical suites
D. Only when a physician orders them
Correct Answer: A — To every patient regardless of suspected infection status
Rationale: Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious
for everyone. Infection-based, location-based, and order-based limits misapply them.
Question 3. The correct sequence for donning personal protective equipment is:
A. Gown, mask or respirator, goggles or face shield, then gloves
B. Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
C. Mask, gloves, gown, shield
, D. Goggles, gloves, mask, gown
Correct Answer: A — Gown, mask or respirator, goggles or face shield, then gloves
Rationale: PPE dons from cleanest to most contaminated entry order: gown first, gloves
last. The other sequences contaminate earlier items.
Question 4. Safe injection per CDC guidance includes:
A. Reusing syringes with needle changes only
B. Using single-dose vials for multiple patients
C. A new sterile needle and syringe for every injection, with single-dose vials preferred
D. Diluting medications with shared saline bags
Correct Answer: C — A new sterile needle and syringe for every injection, with
single-dose vials preferred
Rationale: One needle, one syringe, one patient is absolute. Needle-only changes, multi-
patient vials, and shared bags caused notorious outbreaks.
Question 5. Pre-operative skin antisepsis for surgical procedures is best achieved with:
A. Alcohol-based antiseptic such as chlorhexidine-gluconate in alcohol unless
contraindicated
B. Plain soap and water
C. Baby oil
D. Talcum powder
Correct Answer: A — Alcohol-based antiseptic such as chlorhexidine-gluconate in
alcohol unless contraindicated
Rationale: Alcohol-based CHG rapidly reduces skin flora and sustains reduction. Soap
alone, oils, and powders are ineffective antiseptics.
Question 6. Surgical hand antisepsis requires:
A. Manufacturer-directed scrub or rub covering hands and forearms with nails cleaned
first
B. A quick wrist rinse
C. Gloves worn during the scrub
D. Skipping nail cleaning
Correct Answer: A — Manufacturer-directed scrub or rub covering hands and
forearms with nails cleaned first
Rationale: Surgical antisepsis covers hands through forearms with nail attention per
product directions. Brief rinses, gloved scrubs, and skipped nails compromise sterility.
Question 7. Transmission-based precautions for airborne diseases require:
A. A surgical mask only
B. A respirator such as an N95 and an airborne infection isolation room when available
C. Standard gloves only
D. No special measures
, Correct Answer: B — A respirator such as an N95 and an airborne infection
isolation room when available
Rationale: Airborne particles demand respirator protection and negative-pressure
rooms. Surgical masks, gloves alone, and no measures fail against aerosols.
Question 8. Aseptic technique during lumbar puncture includes:
A. Clean gloves without preparation
B. Unsterile field with quick work
C. Mask, sterile gloves, sterile drape, and skin antisepsis at the site
D. No skin prep
Correct Answer: C — Mask, sterile gloves, sterile drape, and skin antisepsis at the
site
Rationale: LP demands full asepsis to prevent iatrogenic meningitis. Glove-only, dirty
fields, and skipped prep caused outbreaks.
Question 9. Occupational exposure to blood via needlestick requires immediate:
A. Washing the site with soap and water, then reporting for post-exposure evaluation
B. Squeezing and sucking the wound
C. Applying bleach to the skin
D. Ignoring unless symptoms develop
Correct Answer: A — Washing the site with soap and water, then reporting for
post-exposure evaluation
Rationale: Washing followed by reporting enables timely PEP decisions. Squeezing,
bleach, and waiting are ineffective or harmful.
Question 10. Contact precautions require:
A. Masks alone
B. No protective items
C. Gown and gloves on entry to the room, with dedicated or disinfected equipment
D. Shared equipment without cleaning
Correct Answer: C — Gown and gloves on entry to the room, with dedicated or
disinfected equipment
Rationale: Contact organisms spread via hands and items, demanding gown, gloves,
and clean equipment. Mask-only, bare entry, and shared dirty gear transmit disease.
Question 11. Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette programs include:
A. Ignoring symptomatic visitors
B. Encouraging crowding
C. Removing hand sanitizer stations
D. Masks or tissues for coughing patients, hand hygiene access, and separation in
waiting areas
