CRCST Sterile Processing Technician Exam Pack —
Sterilization Methods, Monitoring, and Quality
Assurance in Central Service
1. What is the primary purpose of sterilization?
A) To clean instruments
B) To destroy all microorganisms including bacterial spores
C) To disinfect instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: B) To destroy all microorganisms including bacterial spores
Rationale: Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life, including highly
resistant bacterial spores.
2. Which of the following is a method of sterilization?
A) Soaking in detergent
B) Steam under pressure
C) Wiping with alcohol
D) Rinsing with water
Correct Answer: B) Steam under pressure
Rationale: Steam under pressure (autoclaving) is a common and effective
sterilization method.
3. What is the most commonly used sterilization method in healthcare facilities?
A) Ethylene oxide
B) Steam sterilization
C) Dry heat
D) Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma
Correct Answer: B) Steam sterilization
Rationale: Steam sterilization is effective, fast, economical, and non-toxic.
4. What are the four parameters of steam sterilization?
A) Time, temperature, pressure, and moisture
B) Time, color, size, and weight
C) Pressure, color, moisture, and size
D) Temperature, color, weight, and time
,Correct Answer: A) Time, temperature, pressure, and moisture
Rationale: Steam sterilization requires correct time, temperature, pressure, and
moisture (steam quality).
5. What is the recommended temperature for a gravity displacement steam sterilizer?
A) 250°F (121°C)
B) 270°F (132°C)
C) 285°F (140°C)
D) 300°F (149°C)
Correct Answer: A) 250°F (121°C)
Rationale: Gravity displacement sterilizers typically operate at 250°F (121°C).
6. What is the recommended temperature for a pre-vacuum steam sterilizer?
A) 250°F (121°C)
B) 270°F (132°C)
C) 285°F (140°C)
D) 300°F (149°C)
Correct Answer: B) 270°F (132°C)
Rationale: Pre-vacuum sterilizers typically operate at 270°F (132°C).
7. What is the minimum exposure time for a gravity displacement steam sterilizer at 250°F?
A) 3 minutes
B) 10 minutes
C) 15 minutes
D) 30 minutes
Correct Answer: D) 30 minutes
Rationale: Gravity displacement at 250°F requires a minimum of 30 minutes
exposure.
8. What is the minimum exposure time for a pre-vacuum steam sterilizer at 270°F?
A) 3 minutes
B) 4 minutes
C) 10 minutes
D) 20 minutes
Correct Answer: B) 4 minutes
Rationale: Pre-vacuum at 270°F requires a minimum of 4 minutes exposure.
, 9. What is the purpose of the pre-vacuum cycle in steam sterilization?
A) To remove air from the chamber
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To remove air from the chamber
Rationale: Pre-vacuum removes air so steam can contact all surfaces.
10. What is the purpose of the gravity displacement cycle?
A) To allow steam to displace air by gravity
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To allow steam to displace air by gravity
Rationale: Steam enters the chamber and displaces air downward through a drain.
11. Which of the following is a type of steam sterilizer?
A) Gravity displacement
B) Pre-vacuum
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B
Correct Answer: C) Both A and B
Rationale: Gravity displacement and pre-vacuum are both types of steam
sterilizers.
12. What is the purpose of a steam trap in a sterilizer?
A) To remove condensate
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To remove condensate
Rationale: Steam traps remove condensate while retaining steam.
13. What is the recommended steam quality for sterilization?
A) 90% steam
Sterilization Methods, Monitoring, and Quality
Assurance in Central Service
1. What is the primary purpose of sterilization?
A) To clean instruments
B) To destroy all microorganisms including bacterial spores
C) To disinfect instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: B) To destroy all microorganisms including bacterial spores
Rationale: Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life, including highly
resistant bacterial spores.
2. Which of the following is a method of sterilization?
A) Soaking in detergent
B) Steam under pressure
C) Wiping with alcohol
D) Rinsing with water
Correct Answer: B) Steam under pressure
Rationale: Steam under pressure (autoclaving) is a common and effective
sterilization method.
3. What is the most commonly used sterilization method in healthcare facilities?
A) Ethylene oxide
B) Steam sterilization
C) Dry heat
D) Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma
Correct Answer: B) Steam sterilization
Rationale: Steam sterilization is effective, fast, economical, and non-toxic.
4. What are the four parameters of steam sterilization?
A) Time, temperature, pressure, and moisture
B) Time, color, size, and weight
C) Pressure, color, moisture, and size
D) Temperature, color, weight, and time
,Correct Answer: A) Time, temperature, pressure, and moisture
Rationale: Steam sterilization requires correct time, temperature, pressure, and
moisture (steam quality).
5. What is the recommended temperature for a gravity displacement steam sterilizer?
A) 250°F (121°C)
B) 270°F (132°C)
C) 285°F (140°C)
D) 300°F (149°C)
Correct Answer: A) 250°F (121°C)
Rationale: Gravity displacement sterilizers typically operate at 250°F (121°C).
6. What is the recommended temperature for a pre-vacuum steam sterilizer?
A) 250°F (121°C)
B) 270°F (132°C)
C) 285°F (140°C)
D) 300°F (149°C)
Correct Answer: B) 270°F (132°C)
Rationale: Pre-vacuum sterilizers typically operate at 270°F (132°C).
7. What is the minimum exposure time for a gravity displacement steam sterilizer at 250°F?
A) 3 minutes
B) 10 minutes
C) 15 minutes
D) 30 minutes
Correct Answer: D) 30 minutes
Rationale: Gravity displacement at 250°F requires a minimum of 30 minutes
exposure.
8. What is the minimum exposure time for a pre-vacuum steam sterilizer at 270°F?
A) 3 minutes
B) 4 minutes
C) 10 minutes
D) 20 minutes
Correct Answer: B) 4 minutes
Rationale: Pre-vacuum at 270°F requires a minimum of 4 minutes exposure.
, 9. What is the purpose of the pre-vacuum cycle in steam sterilization?
A) To remove air from the chamber
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To remove air from the chamber
Rationale: Pre-vacuum removes air so steam can contact all surfaces.
10. What is the purpose of the gravity displacement cycle?
A) To allow steam to displace air by gravity
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To allow steam to displace air by gravity
Rationale: Steam enters the chamber and displaces air downward through a drain.
11. Which of the following is a type of steam sterilizer?
A) Gravity displacement
B) Pre-vacuum
C) Both A and B
D) Neither A nor B
Correct Answer: C) Both A and B
Rationale: Gravity displacement and pre-vacuum are both types of steam
sterilizers.
12. What is the purpose of a steam trap in a sterilizer?
A) To remove condensate
B) To sterilize instruments
C) To clean instruments
D) To package instruments
Correct Answer: A) To remove condensate
Rationale: Steam traps remove condensate while retaining steam.
13. What is the recommended steam quality for sterilization?
A) 90% steam
