Decontamination – Medical Device Reprocessing – 2026 – Study and Practice
Guide
Cleaning - correct answer ✔✔ Removal of contamination from an item to the extent necessary
for further processing, or for the intended use.
Decontamination - correct answer ✔✔ The use of physical or chemical means to remove,
inactivate, or destroy blood-borne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are
no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles. The surface of the item is rendered safe
for handling, use, or disposal.
Bioburden - correct answer ✔✔ Microorganisms on contaminated items that may be
pathogenic, such as blood, body fluids, tissue, and unknown microorganisms.
Standard precautions - correct answer ✔✔ The handling of all items as if they represent a
significant health risk, because the type and level of contamination is usually unknown.
Air exchanges - correct answer ✔✔ Process of removing air from an area and replacing it with
fresh air (10 per hour in decontamination area).
Negative air pressure - correct answer ✔✔ Air exhausted directly to the outside and not
allowed to recirculate.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) - correct answer ✔✔ Specialized clothing or equipment
worn to protect against a hazard.
Instructions for use (IFU) - correct answer ✔✔ Instructions provided by device manufacturers
on how to clean and sterilize their products.
, Safety data sheet (SDS) - correct answer ✔✔ A list of safety precautions that should be
observed when using chemicals, provided by the chemical manufacturer.
Impervious - correct answer ✔✔ Not allowing fluid to pass through, puncture-proof.
Cannula/lumen - correct answer ✔✔ A metal tube for insertion into the body to draw off fluid
or to introduce medication. A canal, duct, or cavity of a tubular instrument.
Biofilm - correct answer ✔✔ A thin, slimy film of bacteria that adheres to a surface.
Detergent - correct answer ✔✔ Cleaning agent that lowers surface tension, dislodging soils and
dissolving or suspending them in a solution so they can be removed by washing and rinsing. Are
less likely to form films unlike soap, and are less affected by minerals in hard water.
pH - correct answer ✔✔ Measure of alkalinity or acidity using a scale of 0 to 14, with 7 being
neutral.
Hard water - correct answer ✔✔ Water with high mineral content, containing magnesium,
calcium, or iron salts and therefore forms a soap lather with difficulty.
Water softener - correct answer ✔✔ A device or substance that removes certain minerals from
hard water such as calcium and magnesium. A.k.a. chelating agents.
Enzymatic detergent - correct answer ✔✔ A substance produced by a living organism that acts
as a catalyst to facilitate the breakdown of protein soils and blood.
109-140 - correct answer ✔✔ Optimal temperature range (Ferinheight) for enzyme-based
products.
Guide
Cleaning - correct answer ✔✔ Removal of contamination from an item to the extent necessary
for further processing, or for the intended use.
Decontamination - correct answer ✔✔ The use of physical or chemical means to remove,
inactivate, or destroy blood-borne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are
no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles. The surface of the item is rendered safe
for handling, use, or disposal.
Bioburden - correct answer ✔✔ Microorganisms on contaminated items that may be
pathogenic, such as blood, body fluids, tissue, and unknown microorganisms.
Standard precautions - correct answer ✔✔ The handling of all items as if they represent a
significant health risk, because the type and level of contamination is usually unknown.
Air exchanges - correct answer ✔✔ Process of removing air from an area and replacing it with
fresh air (10 per hour in decontamination area).
Negative air pressure - correct answer ✔✔ Air exhausted directly to the outside and not
allowed to recirculate.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) - correct answer ✔✔ Specialized clothing or equipment
worn to protect against a hazard.
Instructions for use (IFU) - correct answer ✔✔ Instructions provided by device manufacturers
on how to clean and sterilize their products.
, Safety data sheet (SDS) - correct answer ✔✔ A list of safety precautions that should be
observed when using chemicals, provided by the chemical manufacturer.
Impervious - correct answer ✔✔ Not allowing fluid to pass through, puncture-proof.
Cannula/lumen - correct answer ✔✔ A metal tube for insertion into the body to draw off fluid
or to introduce medication. A canal, duct, or cavity of a tubular instrument.
Biofilm - correct answer ✔✔ A thin, slimy film of bacteria that adheres to a surface.
Detergent - correct answer ✔✔ Cleaning agent that lowers surface tension, dislodging soils and
dissolving or suspending them in a solution so they can be removed by washing and rinsing. Are
less likely to form films unlike soap, and are less affected by minerals in hard water.
pH - correct answer ✔✔ Measure of alkalinity or acidity using a scale of 0 to 14, with 7 being
neutral.
Hard water - correct answer ✔✔ Water with high mineral content, containing magnesium,
calcium, or iron salts and therefore forms a soap lather with difficulty.
Water softener - correct answer ✔✔ A device or substance that removes certain minerals from
hard water such as calcium and magnesium. A.k.a. chelating agents.
Enzymatic detergent - correct answer ✔✔ A substance produced by a living organism that acts
as a catalyst to facilitate the breakdown of protein soils and blood.
109-140 - correct answer ✔✔ Optimal temperature range (Ferinheight) for enzyme-based
products.
