CBSPD Point-of-Use Treatment and Transportation of Surgical Instruments 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct traffic flow principle that should be maintained in a sterile processing department?
- Decontamination area and clean assembly area can share the same hallway if staff change gloves
- One-way flow from soiled/decontamination → clean assembly → sterile storage with no cross-traffic (Correct answer)
- Items can move freely between zones if they are wrapped
- Traffic flow only matters in the OR, not in SPD
Correct answer: One-way flow from soiled/decontamination → clean assembly → sterile storage with no cross-traffic
SPD is designed with a one-directional workflow to prevent contaminated items from re-entering clean or sterile areas, maintaining strict separation of soiled and clean zones.
Question 2: Which of the following statements about instrument count sheets during transport is correct?
- Count sheets are optional and only required for implants
- Instrument count sheets travel with the case tray to ensure all items are accounted for and returned (Correct answer)
- Count sheets are kept only by the OR circulator and not shared with SPD
- Instrument counts are only conducted in the OR, never in SPD
Correct answer: Instrument count sheets travel with the case tray to ensure all items are accounted for and returned
Count sheets accompany the tray to SPD so technicians can verify all instruments are present before and after processing, supporting patient safety and accountability.
Question 3: How should instruments with a manufacturer's 'single-use only' designation be handled?
- They can be reprocessed if visually clean
- They must be discarded after a single patient use and never reprocessed (Correct answer)
- They can be reprocessed by any accredited SPD
- Single-use designation is a manufacturer recommendation, not a requirement
Correct answer: They must be discarded after a single patient use and never reprocessed
Single-use devices (SUDs) are cleared by the FDA for one use only; reprocessing them without following FDA regulations is illegal and poses patient safety risks.
Question 4: What temperature range should be maintained in the instrument transport cart or container during inter-facility transport?
- Items must be kept hot to inhibit bacteria
- No specific temperature range is required, but items must remain moist and contained (Correct answer)
- Items must be refrigerated during transport
- Transport must occur within 30 minutes regardless of distance
Correct answer: No specific temperature range is required, but items must remain moist and contained
There is no mandated temperature range for soiled instrument transport, but maintaining moisture and proper containment is required to prevent soil from drying and to contain biological hazards.
Question 5: Which PPE should SPD technicians wear when receiving soiled instruments in the decontamination area?
- Standard exam gloves only
- Heavy-duty gloves, fluid-resistant gown, face shield, and shoe covers (Correct answer)
- Face mask and standard gloves
- No PPE is required if instruments are in a closed container
Correct answer: Heavy-duty gloves, fluid-resistant gown, face shield, and shoe covers
Full PPE is required in the decontamination area because technicians handle instruments contaminated with blood, tissue, and other potentially infectious materials.
Question 6: What should be done with an instrument that is found to be broken or damaged during point-of-use inspection?
- Return it to the sterile field if it is still functional
- Remove it from service, tag it, and send it for repair or disposal (Correct answer)
- Process it normally and note the damage on the count sheet
- Tape the damaged area and continue use
Correct answer: Remove it from service, tag it, and send it for repair or disposal
Damaged instruments must be removed from service immediately, tagged as damaged, and sent for repair or disposal to prevent patient injury or inadequate performance.
CBSPD Point-of-Use Treatment and Transportation of Surgical Instruments 2
What is the correct traffic flow principle that should be maintained in a sterile processing department?