Certified Dental Infection Prevention and Control
CDIPC Exam 2026 Latest Comprehensive Study
Guide with Practice Questions Infection Control
Review, Verified Answers, Detailed Rationales,
Success Workbook
SECTION 1: POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES —
DOMAIN I (Questions 1-15)
1. A dental practice is required to have a written exposure control plan (ECP)
to comply with which federal regulation?
A) CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Settings
B) OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)
C) FDA Medical Device Reporting Regulation
D) EPA Hazardous Waste Disposal Regulations
Rationale: The correct answer is B) OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29
CFR 1910.1030) . The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard mandates that all
employers with employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other
potentially infectious materials (OPIM) must have a written Exposure Control Plan
(ECP). The ECP must be tailored to the specific practice and updated at least
annually. The CDC provides guidelines and recommendations, but OSHA enforces
the regulatory requirement.
2. According to OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, which of the
following is considered Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM)?
A) Intact skin
B) Saliva in dental procedures
C) Perspiration
D) Tears
Rationale: The correct answer is B) Saliva in dental procedures. Under OSHA's
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, saliva in dental procedures is considered OPIM
because it may contain blood. Other OPIM includes semen, vaginal secretions,
,cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid,
amniotic fluid, and any body fluid visibly contaminated with blood.
3. A dental practice's infection prevention and control policies must be based
on which of the following?
A) The dentist's personal preferences
B) Manufacturer's Instructions for Use (IFU), CDC guidelines, and OSHA
regulations
C) Only OSHA regulations
D) Only state dental board recommendations
Rationale: The correct answer is B) Manufacturer's Instructions for Use (IFU),
CDC guidelines, and OSHA regulations. Infection prevention and control
policies must incorporate manufacturer's instructions for use and reuse of
devices, CDC guidelines, OSHA regulations, and applicable state and local
requirements. Policies must be comprehensive, written, and accessible to all dental
healthcare personnel.
4. How often must the OSHA Exposure Control Plan be reviewed and
updated?
A) Every five years
B) Every two years
C) Annually
D) Only when a new employee is hired
Rationale: The correct answer is C) Annually. The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens
Standard requires that the Exposure Control Plan be reviewed and updated at least
annually to reflect changes in technology, work practices, and personnel. The
annual review must also document consideration and implementation of safer
medical devices.
5. A dental assistant sustains a needlestick injury while recapping a used
needle. According to OSHA, which of the following is a violation?
,A) Using a safety-engineered device
B) Recapping needles using the two-handed technique
C) Disposing of the needle in a sharps container
D) Reporting the exposure to the employer
Rationale: The correct answer is B) Recapping needles using the two-handed
technique. OSHA prohibits the recapping of contaminated needles using the two-
handed technique. The one-handed "scoop" technique may be used if recapping is
necessary, but the preferred practice is to use safety-engineered devices that
eliminate the need for recapping. Needles should be disposed of immediately in
puncture-resistant sharps containers.
6. Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, employers must offer
the Hepatitis B vaccination to employees who have occupational exposure:
A) Only upon request
B) Within 10 days of initial assignment
C) After 30 days of employment
D) Only after an exposure incident
Rationale: The correct answer is B) Within 10 days of initial assignment. The
Hepatitis B vaccination series must be made available to all employees who have
occupational exposure within 10 working days of initial assignment to a position
with exposure risk. The vaccination must be offered at no cost to the employee.
7. A dental practice's infection control program must be overseen by which
individual?
A) The office manager
B) A designated infection prevention coordinator
C) The head dental assistant
D) The practice's legal counsel
Rationale: The correct answer is B) A designated infection prevention
coordinator. The CDIPC exam outline requires knowledge of infection prevention
and control programs and compliance. A designated infection prevention
coordinator (IPC) should be responsible for developing, implementing, and
, monitoring the infection control program. The IPC ensures compliance with
policies and serves as a resource for staff.
8. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must be maintained in the dental practice for
which of the following?
A) Only prescription medications
B) All hazardous chemicals used in the practice
C) Only cleaning products
D) Only sterilization chemicals
Rationale: The correct answer is B) All hazardous chemicals used in the
practice. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must be maintained for all hazardous
chemicals present in the workplace. The Hazard Communication Standard requires
that SDS be readily accessible to employees, who must be trained on how to read
and understand them.
9. According to CDC recommendations, which immunizations are
recommended for dental healthcare personnel?
A) Only Hepatitis B
B) Hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, varicella, and Tdap
C) Only influenza and Hepatitis B
D) No specific immunizations are recommended
Rationale: The correct answer is B) Hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, varicella, and
Tdap. The CDC recommends that dental healthcare personnel receive
immunizations against Hepatitis B, influenza, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR),
varicella (chickenpox), and tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap). These
immunizations protect both personnel and patients from vaccine-preventable
diseases.
10. A dental practice's regulated medical waste must be disposed of in
accordance with:
A) CDC recommendations only
B) Federal, state, and local regulations
CDIPC Exam 2026 Latest Comprehensive Study
Guide with Practice Questions Infection Control
Review, Verified Answers, Detailed Rationales,
Success Workbook
SECTION 1: POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES —
DOMAIN I (Questions 1-15)
1. A dental practice is required to have a written exposure control plan (ECP)
to comply with which federal regulation?
A) CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Settings
B) OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)
C) FDA Medical Device Reporting Regulation
D) EPA Hazardous Waste Disposal Regulations
Rationale: The correct answer is B) OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29
CFR 1910.1030) . The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard mandates that all
employers with employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other
potentially infectious materials (OPIM) must have a written Exposure Control Plan
(ECP). The ECP must be tailored to the specific practice and updated at least
annually. The CDC provides guidelines and recommendations, but OSHA enforces
the regulatory requirement.
2. According to OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, which of the
following is considered Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM)?
A) Intact skin
B) Saliva in dental procedures
C) Perspiration
D) Tears
Rationale: The correct answer is B) Saliva in dental procedures. Under OSHA's
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, saliva in dental procedures is considered OPIM
because it may contain blood. Other OPIM includes semen, vaginal secretions,
,cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid,
amniotic fluid, and any body fluid visibly contaminated with blood.
3. A dental practice's infection prevention and control policies must be based
on which of the following?
A) The dentist's personal preferences
B) Manufacturer's Instructions for Use (IFU), CDC guidelines, and OSHA
regulations
C) Only OSHA regulations
D) Only state dental board recommendations
Rationale: The correct answer is B) Manufacturer's Instructions for Use (IFU),
CDC guidelines, and OSHA regulations. Infection prevention and control
policies must incorporate manufacturer's instructions for use and reuse of
devices, CDC guidelines, OSHA regulations, and applicable state and local
requirements. Policies must be comprehensive, written, and accessible to all dental
healthcare personnel.
4. How often must the OSHA Exposure Control Plan be reviewed and
updated?
A) Every five years
B) Every two years
C) Annually
D) Only when a new employee is hired
Rationale: The correct answer is C) Annually. The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens
Standard requires that the Exposure Control Plan be reviewed and updated at least
annually to reflect changes in technology, work practices, and personnel. The
annual review must also document consideration and implementation of safer
medical devices.
5. A dental assistant sustains a needlestick injury while recapping a used
needle. According to OSHA, which of the following is a violation?
,A) Using a safety-engineered device
B) Recapping needles using the two-handed technique
C) Disposing of the needle in a sharps container
D) Reporting the exposure to the employer
Rationale: The correct answer is B) Recapping needles using the two-handed
technique. OSHA prohibits the recapping of contaminated needles using the two-
handed technique. The one-handed "scoop" technique may be used if recapping is
necessary, but the preferred practice is to use safety-engineered devices that
eliminate the need for recapping. Needles should be disposed of immediately in
puncture-resistant sharps containers.
6. Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, employers must offer
the Hepatitis B vaccination to employees who have occupational exposure:
A) Only upon request
B) Within 10 days of initial assignment
C) After 30 days of employment
D) Only after an exposure incident
Rationale: The correct answer is B) Within 10 days of initial assignment. The
Hepatitis B vaccination series must be made available to all employees who have
occupational exposure within 10 working days of initial assignment to a position
with exposure risk. The vaccination must be offered at no cost to the employee.
7. A dental practice's infection control program must be overseen by which
individual?
A) The office manager
B) A designated infection prevention coordinator
C) The head dental assistant
D) The practice's legal counsel
Rationale: The correct answer is B) A designated infection prevention
coordinator. The CDIPC exam outline requires knowledge of infection prevention
and control programs and compliance. A designated infection prevention
coordinator (IPC) should be responsible for developing, implementing, and
, monitoring the infection control program. The IPC ensures compliance with
policies and serves as a resource for staff.
8. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must be maintained in the dental practice for
which of the following?
A) Only prescription medications
B) All hazardous chemicals used in the practice
C) Only cleaning products
D) Only sterilization chemicals
Rationale: The correct answer is B) All hazardous chemicals used in the
practice. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must be maintained for all hazardous
chemicals present in the workplace. The Hazard Communication Standard requires
that SDS be readily accessible to employees, who must be trained on how to read
and understand them.
9. According to CDC recommendations, which immunizations are
recommended for dental healthcare personnel?
A) Only Hepatitis B
B) Hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, varicella, and Tdap
C) Only influenza and Hepatitis B
D) No specific immunizations are recommended
Rationale: The correct answer is B) Hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, varicella, and
Tdap. The CDC recommends that dental healthcare personnel receive
immunizations against Hepatitis B, influenza, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR),
varicella (chickenpox), and tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap). These
immunizations protect both personnel and patients from vaccine-preventable
diseases.
10. A dental practice's regulated medical waste must be disposed of in
accordance with:
A) CDC recommendations only
B) Federal, state, and local regulations
