Sterile Processing Technician: Key
Concepts and Procedures
1. In which area is surgical scrub attire, hair covering, and mask required? -
ANSWER Restricted areas.
2. What is the most effective sterilization process for items with internal channels?
- ANSWER Steam sterilization.
3. What should be documented after a sterilization cycle? - ANSWER All of the
above: The temperature and pressure, the type of load processed, and the results
of biological monitoring.
4. What should be used to monitor the sterilizer? - ANSWER All of the above:
Biological indicators, chemical indicators, and physical measurements.
5. Why is cleaning instruments before sterilization necessary? - ANSWER All of
the above: To remove visible contamination, prepare instruments for
sterilization, and ensure sterilization effectiveness.
6. Which sterilization method is suitable for heat-sensitive medical devices? -
ANSWER Hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization.
7. What does ORIF stand for in medical terminology? - ANSWER Open
Reduction Internal Fixation.
,8. What should be used for the final rinse when handling surgical instruments? -
ANSWER Distilled water.
9. What does the term 'teno' refer to? - ANSWER Tendon.
10.Which types of instruments require sterilization before use? - ANSWER
Critical instruments.
11.What is bioburden? - ANSWER The number of microorganisms on an
instrument before sterilization.
12.In which setting is aseptic technique crucial? - ANSWER Both operating room
and sterile processing area.
13.What is the primary purpose of a sterile barrier? - ANSWER To prevent the
instrument from becoming contaminated.
14.What does sterile processing encompass? - ANSWER Cleaning and sterilizing
instruments.
15.What must be done before sterilizing instruments? - ANSWER
Decontaminating and cleaning the items.
16.What type of contamination is removed during decontamination? - ANSWER
All of the above: Microbial, physical, and chemical contamination.
, 17.What best defines decontamination? - ANSWER The process of cleaning
instruments to remove contamination.
18.Which type of instruments comes into direct contact with sterile tissues during a
procedure? - ANSWER Critical instruments.
19.How often should biological indicators (BIs) be tested in a sterilizer? -
ANSWER Daily.
20.Ultrasonic cleaning is particularly useful for cleaning which type of
instruments? - ANSWER Intricate instruments with difficult-to-reach areas and
small crevices.
21.What is the primary responsibility of a sterile processing technician? -
ANSWER To clean and sterilize instruments for patient care.
22.What describes the term aseptic technique? - ANSWER A technique to prevent
contamination when handling sterile items.
23.Which organization sets the standards for sterilization processes in healthcare
settings? - ANSWER All of the above: CDC, OSHA, and FDA.
24.How should critical instruments be sterilized? - ANSWER Sterilization.
Concepts and Procedures
1. In which area is surgical scrub attire, hair covering, and mask required? -
ANSWER Restricted areas.
2. What is the most effective sterilization process for items with internal channels?
- ANSWER Steam sterilization.
3. What should be documented after a sterilization cycle? - ANSWER All of the
above: The temperature and pressure, the type of load processed, and the results
of biological monitoring.
4. What should be used to monitor the sterilizer? - ANSWER All of the above:
Biological indicators, chemical indicators, and physical measurements.
5. Why is cleaning instruments before sterilization necessary? - ANSWER All of
the above: To remove visible contamination, prepare instruments for
sterilization, and ensure sterilization effectiveness.
6. Which sterilization method is suitable for heat-sensitive medical devices? -
ANSWER Hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization.
7. What does ORIF stand for in medical terminology? - ANSWER Open
Reduction Internal Fixation.
,8. What should be used for the final rinse when handling surgical instruments? -
ANSWER Distilled water.
9. What does the term 'teno' refer to? - ANSWER Tendon.
10.Which types of instruments require sterilization before use? - ANSWER
Critical instruments.
11.What is bioburden? - ANSWER The number of microorganisms on an
instrument before sterilization.
12.In which setting is aseptic technique crucial? - ANSWER Both operating room
and sterile processing area.
13.What is the primary purpose of a sterile barrier? - ANSWER To prevent the
instrument from becoming contaminated.
14.What does sterile processing encompass? - ANSWER Cleaning and sterilizing
instruments.
15.What must be done before sterilizing instruments? - ANSWER
Decontaminating and cleaning the items.
16.What type of contamination is removed during decontamination? - ANSWER
All of the above: Microbial, physical, and chemical contamination.
, 17.What best defines decontamination? - ANSWER The process of cleaning
instruments to remove contamination.
18.Which type of instruments comes into direct contact with sterile tissues during a
procedure? - ANSWER Critical instruments.
19.How often should biological indicators (BIs) be tested in a sterilizer? -
ANSWER Daily.
20.Ultrasonic cleaning is particularly useful for cleaning which type of
instruments? - ANSWER Intricate instruments with difficult-to-reach areas and
small crevices.
21.What is the primary responsibility of a sterile processing technician? -
ANSWER To clean and sterilize instruments for patient care.
22.What describes the term aseptic technique? - ANSWER A technique to prevent
contamination when handling sterile items.
23.Which organization sets the standards for sterilization processes in healthcare
settings? - ANSWER All of the above: CDC, OSHA, and FDA.
24.How should critical instruments be sterilized? - ANSWER Sterilization.
