CRCST Sterile Processing Technician Exam Pack
: Decontamination Practices, Chemical Safety, and
Infection Prevention in Sterile Processing
1. What is the primary purpose of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the decontamination area?
A) To improve appearance
B) To protect staff from bloodborne pathogens and chemical hazards
C) To sterilize instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: B) To protect staff from bloodborne pathogens and chemical hazards
Rationale: PPE creates a barrier against infectious agents and hazardous
chemicals.
2. Which of the following is the minimum PPE required in the decontamination area?
A) Scrubs only
B) Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
C) Lab coat only
D) No PPE required
Correct Answer: B) Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
Rationale: Full PPE protects against splashes, aerosols, and contact with
contaminated items.
3. What type of gloves are recommended for decontamination?
A) Latex exam gloves
B) Nitrile or neoprene utility gloves
C) Cotton gloves
D) No gloves
,Correct Answer: B) Nitrile or neoprene utility gloves
Rationale: Utility gloves are durable and resistant to chemicals and punctures.
4. What is the purpose of a fluid-resistant gown in decontamination?
A) To protect clothing from contamination
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To protect clothing from contamination
Rationale: Fluid-resistant gowns prevent soak-through from contaminated fluids.
5. What is the purpose of eye protection in decontamination?
A) To protect against splashes and aerosols
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To protect against splashes and aerosols
Rationale: Eye protection prevents infectious or chemical splashes from contacting
the eyes.
6. What is the recommended footwear in the decontamination area?
A) Open-toed sandals
B) Closed-toe, fluid-resistant shoes
C) Canvas sneakers
D) No shoes required
Correct Answer: B) Closed-toe, fluid-resistant shoes
Rationale: Closed-toe, fluid-resistant shoes protect feet from spills and dropped
items.
7. What is the purpose of a sharps container?
A) To safely dispose of needles and sharp items
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To safely dispose of needles and sharp items
Rationale: Sharps containers prevent needlestick injuries and exposure.
, 8. What is the recommended action if a needlestick injury occurs?
A) Continue working
B) Wash the area and report immediately
C) Cover with a bandage only
D) Ignore it
Correct Answer: B) Wash the area and report immediately
Rationale: Immediate washing and reporting are essential for exposure
management.
9. What is the purpose of a bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan?
A) To outline procedures for preventing and responding to exposures
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To outline procedures for preventing and responding to exposures
Rationale: The plan is required by OSHA to protect workers from bloodborne
pathogens.
10. Which of the following is a bloodborne pathogen?
A) Hepatitis B
B) Staphylococcus
C) Streptococcus
D) E. coli
Correct Answer: A) Hepatitis B
Rationale: Hepatitis B is a bloodborne pathogen; the others are not primarily
bloodborne.
11. What is the recommended vaccination for sterile processing staff?
A) Hepatitis B
B) Influenza
C) Tetanus
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: Hepatitis B, influenza, and tetanus vaccinations are recommended for
healthcare workers.
: Decontamination Practices, Chemical Safety, and
Infection Prevention in Sterile Processing
1. What is the primary purpose of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the decontamination area?
A) To improve appearance
B) To protect staff from bloodborne pathogens and chemical hazards
C) To sterilize instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: B) To protect staff from bloodborne pathogens and chemical hazards
Rationale: PPE creates a barrier against infectious agents and hazardous
chemicals.
2. Which of the following is the minimum PPE required in the decontamination area?
A) Scrubs only
B) Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
C) Lab coat only
D) No PPE required
Correct Answer: B) Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
Rationale: Full PPE protects against splashes, aerosols, and contact with
contaminated items.
3. What type of gloves are recommended for decontamination?
A) Latex exam gloves
B) Nitrile or neoprene utility gloves
C) Cotton gloves
D) No gloves
,Correct Answer: B) Nitrile or neoprene utility gloves
Rationale: Utility gloves are durable and resistant to chemicals and punctures.
4. What is the purpose of a fluid-resistant gown in decontamination?
A) To protect clothing from contamination
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To protect clothing from contamination
Rationale: Fluid-resistant gowns prevent soak-through from contaminated fluids.
5. What is the purpose of eye protection in decontamination?
A) To protect against splashes and aerosols
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To protect against splashes and aerosols
Rationale: Eye protection prevents infectious or chemical splashes from contacting
the eyes.
6. What is the recommended footwear in the decontamination area?
A) Open-toed sandals
B) Closed-toe, fluid-resistant shoes
C) Canvas sneakers
D) No shoes required
Correct Answer: B) Closed-toe, fluid-resistant shoes
Rationale: Closed-toe, fluid-resistant shoes protect feet from spills and dropped
items.
7. What is the purpose of a sharps container?
A) To safely dispose of needles and sharp items
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To safely dispose of needles and sharp items
Rationale: Sharps containers prevent needlestick injuries and exposure.
, 8. What is the recommended action if a needlestick injury occurs?
A) Continue working
B) Wash the area and report immediately
C) Cover with a bandage only
D) Ignore it
Correct Answer: B) Wash the area and report immediately
Rationale: Immediate washing and reporting are essential for exposure
management.
9. What is the purpose of a bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan?
A) To outline procedures for preventing and responding to exposures
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To outline procedures for preventing and responding to exposures
Rationale: The plan is required by OSHA to protect workers from bloodborne
pathogens.
10. Which of the following is a bloodborne pathogen?
A) Hepatitis B
B) Staphylococcus
C) Streptococcus
D) E. coli
Correct Answer: A) Hepatitis B
Rationale: Hepatitis B is a bloodborne pathogen; the others are not primarily
bloodborne.
11. What is the recommended vaccination for sterile processing staff?
A) Hepatitis B
B) Influenza
C) Tetanus
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: Hepatitis B, influenza, and tetanus vaccinations are recommended for
healthcare workers.
