IAHCSMM CIS Notes with All Correct & 100% Verified
Answers|2025/2026 Latest Update |Guaranteed To
Pass
Most instruments are made up what material ✔Correct Answers--Stainless Steal
Other instruments are made of ✔Correct Answers--Titanium, copper and silver
400 series stainless steel ✔Correct Answers--Martensitic; A stainless steel that can be heat
hardened. Stainless steel that falls into this category is 400 series, which is subject to corrosion due
to lack of nickel
300 series stainless steel ✔Correct Answers--Austenictic; A stainless steel that cannot be heat -
hardened Stainless steel that falls into this category is 300 series stainless steel, which is highly
corrosion resistant
Titanium ✔Correct Answers--Light weight, corrosion, non-magnetic
Very strong and non - magnetic, lightweight metal used for microsurgical instruments. This metal is
identified by its blue color and its stronger and lighter than stainless steel
Steps in Manufacturing Instr. ✔Correct Answers--Step 1: Forging; a stamp or rough outline of an
instrument (rough draft)
Step 2: Grind and mill; remove aka Flash the surrounding steel around the forging .
Step3: Tempered Process; Completion of assembly process. Instr. is heated @1500 degrees F. Cooled
in a control fashion and provides hardness
Step 4: Polishing & Passivation; achieves the instr. smooth finish. Determines the finish and
appearance of instr. Mirror Finish, Shiny, Matte or Satin finish, Gray color surface and instr that do
not reflect light.
Mirror Finish is the smoothest out of all finishes and it stains the less.
Passivation uses nitric acid to remove all the iron found on the outside layer. Chromium Oxide layer
helps with corrosion.
Step 5: Final Inspection; all parts of the instr. is scrutinized and tested
Step 6: Etched & Packaged; etching is when acid based chemical procedure that employs stencils that
apply(company name, part #, Country, an so on.)
Methods are: Laser etching, Stamping, ( Can Not Engrave on Instr.)
6week process
Cycle life of Instr. ✔Correct Answers--Used, Decontam, Reassemble, Sterilize, & Use again
Steps in the Sterilization Process ✔Correct Answers--Decontam (most important),
Surgical Instrument Decontamination ✔Correct Answers--= cleaning + biocidal process
, Decontamination Area ✔Correct Answers--Negative Air pressure, 10 air exchanges per hour
Decontamination Temp ✔Correct Answers--60-65 F, 30-60% Humidity
3 sink process ✔Correct Answers--Soak, Wash, & Rinse; Size of sink 36" from floor 8-10in deep and
wide
PPE (personal protective equipment) ✔Correct Answers--Hair covering, face mask, eye protection,
gown, gloves, and shoe covers. All head and facial hair should be covered. NO jewelry, nail polish or
watches.
Rinsing with treated water ✔Correct Answers--Distill, Deionized, RO, or Sterile Water
How often are brushes washed ✔Correct Answers--daily or when sloid
ultrasonic cleaning ✔Correct Answers--use of ultrasound waves to loosen contaminants; Cavitation
Ultrasonic cleaner ✔Correct Answers--It is used for fine cleaning; all instr. should be rinsed off &
then placed in ultrasonic. after the process instr. then should be rinsed off then placed in mechanical
washer.
Ultrasonic cleaner ✔Correct Answers--It is not a disinfecting processes. Handle with PPE
What items should not be placed in the ultrasonic ✔Correct Answers--Chrome plated, Ebonized,
Plastic, Delicate and lensed can be all damaged.
thermal disinfection ✔Correct Answers--hot water in mechanical washer
lubrication phase ✔Correct Answers--applies water soluble, lubes instr. after cleaning
How soon should Bioburden be removed at the point of use ✔Correct Answers--within 10-20 mins
Mineral base lubricants ✔Correct Answers--Should not be used on items that are steam sterilized
Stains ✔Correct Answers--Stains can be removed; test with a pencil eraser
Rust ✔Correct Answers--Causes damage like pitting
brown/orange stains ✔Correct Answers--not rust; result of high pH surface deposits; may be
caused by improper soaps/detergents, baked on blood, soaking in saline
Dark brown and black stain ✔Correct Answers--Low pH stain
bluish-black stains ✔Correct Answers--reverse plating may occur; when two different types of
metals are ultrasonically processed together(e.g. stainless steel and chrome processed together)
Multicolored Stains ✔Correct Answers--Excessive Heat
Light and Dark spots ✔Correct Answers--water spots from allowing instruments to air dry
Answers|2025/2026 Latest Update |Guaranteed To
Pass
Most instruments are made up what material ✔Correct Answers--Stainless Steal
Other instruments are made of ✔Correct Answers--Titanium, copper and silver
400 series stainless steel ✔Correct Answers--Martensitic; A stainless steel that can be heat
hardened. Stainless steel that falls into this category is 400 series, which is subject to corrosion due
to lack of nickel
300 series stainless steel ✔Correct Answers--Austenictic; A stainless steel that cannot be heat -
hardened Stainless steel that falls into this category is 300 series stainless steel, which is highly
corrosion resistant
Titanium ✔Correct Answers--Light weight, corrosion, non-magnetic
Very strong and non - magnetic, lightweight metal used for microsurgical instruments. This metal is
identified by its blue color and its stronger and lighter than stainless steel
Steps in Manufacturing Instr. ✔Correct Answers--Step 1: Forging; a stamp or rough outline of an
instrument (rough draft)
Step 2: Grind and mill; remove aka Flash the surrounding steel around the forging .
Step3: Tempered Process; Completion of assembly process. Instr. is heated @1500 degrees F. Cooled
in a control fashion and provides hardness
Step 4: Polishing & Passivation; achieves the instr. smooth finish. Determines the finish and
appearance of instr. Mirror Finish, Shiny, Matte or Satin finish, Gray color surface and instr that do
not reflect light.
Mirror Finish is the smoothest out of all finishes and it stains the less.
Passivation uses nitric acid to remove all the iron found on the outside layer. Chromium Oxide layer
helps with corrosion.
Step 5: Final Inspection; all parts of the instr. is scrutinized and tested
Step 6: Etched & Packaged; etching is when acid based chemical procedure that employs stencils that
apply(company name, part #, Country, an so on.)
Methods are: Laser etching, Stamping, ( Can Not Engrave on Instr.)
6week process
Cycle life of Instr. ✔Correct Answers--Used, Decontam, Reassemble, Sterilize, & Use again
Steps in the Sterilization Process ✔Correct Answers--Decontam (most important),
Surgical Instrument Decontamination ✔Correct Answers--= cleaning + biocidal process
, Decontamination Area ✔Correct Answers--Negative Air pressure, 10 air exchanges per hour
Decontamination Temp ✔Correct Answers--60-65 F, 30-60% Humidity
3 sink process ✔Correct Answers--Soak, Wash, & Rinse; Size of sink 36" from floor 8-10in deep and
wide
PPE (personal protective equipment) ✔Correct Answers--Hair covering, face mask, eye protection,
gown, gloves, and shoe covers. All head and facial hair should be covered. NO jewelry, nail polish or
watches.
Rinsing with treated water ✔Correct Answers--Distill, Deionized, RO, or Sterile Water
How often are brushes washed ✔Correct Answers--daily or when sloid
ultrasonic cleaning ✔Correct Answers--use of ultrasound waves to loosen contaminants; Cavitation
Ultrasonic cleaner ✔Correct Answers--It is used for fine cleaning; all instr. should be rinsed off &
then placed in ultrasonic. after the process instr. then should be rinsed off then placed in mechanical
washer.
Ultrasonic cleaner ✔Correct Answers--It is not a disinfecting processes. Handle with PPE
What items should not be placed in the ultrasonic ✔Correct Answers--Chrome plated, Ebonized,
Plastic, Delicate and lensed can be all damaged.
thermal disinfection ✔Correct Answers--hot water in mechanical washer
lubrication phase ✔Correct Answers--applies water soluble, lubes instr. after cleaning
How soon should Bioburden be removed at the point of use ✔Correct Answers--within 10-20 mins
Mineral base lubricants ✔Correct Answers--Should not be used on items that are steam sterilized
Stains ✔Correct Answers--Stains can be removed; test with a pencil eraser
Rust ✔Correct Answers--Causes damage like pitting
brown/orange stains ✔Correct Answers--not rust; result of high pH surface deposits; may be
caused by improper soaps/detergents, baked on blood, soaking in saline
Dark brown and black stain ✔Correct Answers--Low pH stain
bluish-black stains ✔Correct Answers--reverse plating may occur; when two different types of
metals are ultrasonically processed together(e.g. stainless steel and chrome processed together)
Multicolored Stains ✔Correct Answers--Excessive Heat
Light and Dark spots ✔Correct Answers--water spots from allowing instruments to air dry
