CRCST CERTIFICATION ACTUAL EXAM 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS 2026 LATEST VERSIONS ALREADY GRADED A+ ALL NEEDED
TO PASS CRCST CERTIFICATION EXAM
1. What is the primary purpose of central service (CS) in a healthcare facility?
A) Patient care
B) Decontamination, sterilization, and distribution of medical instruments
C) Performing surgeries
D) Administering medications
Rationale: CS ensures that medical instruments and devices are cleaned, sterilized, and ready for use,
preventing infection.
2. What is the first step in the decontamination process?
A) Receiving and inspecting used instruments
B) Sterilizing instruments
C) Packaging instruments
D) Distributing instruments
Rationale: Instruments must be received, sorted, and inspected for damage or gross contamination
before cleaning.
3. Which of the following is considered a high-level disinfectant?
A) Soap and water
B) Glutaraldehyde
C) Alcohol wipes
D) Bleach at household concentration
Rationale: Glutaraldehyde is a high-level disinfectant used for instruments that cannot be sterilized
with heat.
4. What temperature should steam sterilization typically reach?
A) 100°C
B) 121°F
C) 121°C to 132°C (250°F to 270°F)
D) 150°C
Rationale: Steam sterilization (autoclaving) is effective at 121–132°C under pressure to kill
microorganisms.
,5. Which indicator verifies that sterilization conditions were met inside a pack?
A) Expiration date
B) Chemical indicator strip
C) Sterilizer gauge only
D) Packaging label
Rationale: Chemical indicators change color when exposed to the sterilization process, confirming
proper conditions inside the pack.
6. Which method is used to sterilize heat-sensitive instruments?
A) Steam sterilization
B) Ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization
C) Dry heat
D) Boiling water
Rationale: EO gas sterilization is suitable for delicate instruments that could be damaged by heat or
moisture.
7. What is the recommended storage time for sterile packs in a closed cabinet?
A) 1 week
B) 2 weeks
C) Up to 6 months, depending on facility policy
D) 1 year
Rationale: Sterile packs stored in a clean, dry environment remain sterile for several months unless
the package is compromised.
8. What is the correct order of cleaning instruments?
A) Sterilize → Decontaminate → Package
B) Decontaminate → Clean → Inspect → Package → Sterilize
C) Inspect → Clean → Sterilize → Package
D) Package → Sterilize → Distribute
Rationale: Proper workflow ensures instruments are cleaned, inspected, packaged, and sterilized to
prevent infection.
9. Which type of water is recommended for autoclaves?
A) Tap water
B) Distilled or deionized water
C) Salt water
,D) Bottled drinking water
Rationale: Distilled or deionized water prevents mineral buildup in the autoclave.
10. Which PPE is required in the decontamination area?
A) Gloves only
B) Mask only
C) Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
D) No PPE needed
Rationale: Full PPE protects CS technicians from exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
11. What is the main purpose of packaging instruments before sterilization?
A) To make them look neat
B) To label them
C) To maintain sterility until use
D) To weigh instruments
Rationale: Proper packaging ensures instruments remain sterile until they are needed in the OR or
clinic.
12. What does a biological indicator verify?
A) Temperature only
B) Sterilizer gauge reading
C) That microorganisms were killed during sterilization
D) Chemical changes in the pack
Rationale: Biological indicators contain spores that confirm sterilization effectiveness.
13. How often should autoclaves be tested with biological indicators?
A) Daily
B) Weekly
C) At least weekly, or per facility policy
D) Never
Rationale: Routine testing ensures sterilizers are functioning properly and instruments are safe to use.
14. What is the purpose of ultrasonic cleaners?
A) Sterilize instruments
B) Remove debris from instruments using high-frequency sound waves
, C) Dry instruments
D) Package instruments
Rationale: Ultrasonic cleaners remove blood and debris from instruments before sterilization.
15. How should instruments with lumens be cleaned?
A) Soak only
B) Flush lumens with water or detergent using brushes
C) Sterilize without cleaning
D) Wipe with alcohol
Rationale: Lumens must be thoroughly cleaned to remove debris that could prevent sterilization.
16. What is considered a critical item?
A) Blood pressure cuff
B) Stethoscope
C) Surgical instrument that enters sterile tissue or bloodstream
D) Thermometer
Rationale: Critical items require sterilization because they contact sterile tissue or the vascular
system.
17. How should reusable sharp instruments be handled?
A) With bare hands
B) Using forceps or heavy gloves to prevent injury
C) Dropped into sink
D) Placed in regular trash
Rationale: Proper handling prevents cuts, injuries, and exposure to pathogens.
18. What is the minimum contact time for high-level disinfectants?
A) 30 seconds
B) Manufacturer’s recommended time (typically 20–45 minutes)
C) 5 minutes
D) 1 hour
Rationale: Effective disinfection requires adherence to the manufacturer’s instructions for time and
concentration.
19. Which is the best method for drying instruments after sterilization?
ANSWERS 2026 LATEST VERSIONS ALREADY GRADED A+ ALL NEEDED
TO PASS CRCST CERTIFICATION EXAM
1. What is the primary purpose of central service (CS) in a healthcare facility?
A) Patient care
B) Decontamination, sterilization, and distribution of medical instruments
C) Performing surgeries
D) Administering medications
Rationale: CS ensures that medical instruments and devices are cleaned, sterilized, and ready for use,
preventing infection.
2. What is the first step in the decontamination process?
A) Receiving and inspecting used instruments
B) Sterilizing instruments
C) Packaging instruments
D) Distributing instruments
Rationale: Instruments must be received, sorted, and inspected for damage or gross contamination
before cleaning.
3. Which of the following is considered a high-level disinfectant?
A) Soap and water
B) Glutaraldehyde
C) Alcohol wipes
D) Bleach at household concentration
Rationale: Glutaraldehyde is a high-level disinfectant used for instruments that cannot be sterilized
with heat.
4. What temperature should steam sterilization typically reach?
A) 100°C
B) 121°F
C) 121°C to 132°C (250°F to 270°F)
D) 150°C
Rationale: Steam sterilization (autoclaving) is effective at 121–132°C under pressure to kill
microorganisms.
,5. Which indicator verifies that sterilization conditions were met inside a pack?
A) Expiration date
B) Chemical indicator strip
C) Sterilizer gauge only
D) Packaging label
Rationale: Chemical indicators change color when exposed to the sterilization process, confirming
proper conditions inside the pack.
6. Which method is used to sterilize heat-sensitive instruments?
A) Steam sterilization
B) Ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization
C) Dry heat
D) Boiling water
Rationale: EO gas sterilization is suitable for delicate instruments that could be damaged by heat or
moisture.
7. What is the recommended storage time for sterile packs in a closed cabinet?
A) 1 week
B) 2 weeks
C) Up to 6 months, depending on facility policy
D) 1 year
Rationale: Sterile packs stored in a clean, dry environment remain sterile for several months unless
the package is compromised.
8. What is the correct order of cleaning instruments?
A) Sterilize → Decontaminate → Package
B) Decontaminate → Clean → Inspect → Package → Sterilize
C) Inspect → Clean → Sterilize → Package
D) Package → Sterilize → Distribute
Rationale: Proper workflow ensures instruments are cleaned, inspected, packaged, and sterilized to
prevent infection.
9. Which type of water is recommended for autoclaves?
A) Tap water
B) Distilled or deionized water
C) Salt water
,D) Bottled drinking water
Rationale: Distilled or deionized water prevents mineral buildup in the autoclave.
10. Which PPE is required in the decontamination area?
A) Gloves only
B) Mask only
C) Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
D) No PPE needed
Rationale: Full PPE protects CS technicians from exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
11. What is the main purpose of packaging instruments before sterilization?
A) To make them look neat
B) To label them
C) To maintain sterility until use
D) To weigh instruments
Rationale: Proper packaging ensures instruments remain sterile until they are needed in the OR or
clinic.
12. What does a biological indicator verify?
A) Temperature only
B) Sterilizer gauge reading
C) That microorganisms were killed during sterilization
D) Chemical changes in the pack
Rationale: Biological indicators contain spores that confirm sterilization effectiveness.
13. How often should autoclaves be tested with biological indicators?
A) Daily
B) Weekly
C) At least weekly, or per facility policy
D) Never
Rationale: Routine testing ensures sterilizers are functioning properly and instruments are safe to use.
14. What is the purpose of ultrasonic cleaners?
A) Sterilize instruments
B) Remove debris from instruments using high-frequency sound waves
, C) Dry instruments
D) Package instruments
Rationale: Ultrasonic cleaners remove blood and debris from instruments before sterilization.
15. How should instruments with lumens be cleaned?
A) Soak only
B) Flush lumens with water or detergent using brushes
C) Sterilize without cleaning
D) Wipe with alcohol
Rationale: Lumens must be thoroughly cleaned to remove debris that could prevent sterilization.
16. What is considered a critical item?
A) Blood pressure cuff
B) Stethoscope
C) Surgical instrument that enters sterile tissue or bloodstream
D) Thermometer
Rationale: Critical items require sterilization because they contact sterile tissue or the vascular
system.
17. How should reusable sharp instruments be handled?
A) With bare hands
B) Using forceps or heavy gloves to prevent injury
C) Dropped into sink
D) Placed in regular trash
Rationale: Proper handling prevents cuts, injuries, and exposure to pathogens.
18. What is the minimum contact time for high-level disinfectants?
A) 30 seconds
B) Manufacturer’s recommended time (typically 20–45 minutes)
C) 5 minutes
D) 1 hour
Rationale: Effective disinfection requires adherence to the manufacturer’s instructions for time and
concentration.
19. Which is the best method for drying instruments after sterilization?
