Automated Endoscope Reprocessors Flashcards
7 cards from real CER practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Automated Endoscope Reprocessors flashcards as text
What is the term for the process of verifying that an AER consistently achieves the required log reduction of test organisms?
Answer: Validation
Validation is the documented process confirming that an AER cycle reliably delivers the intended level of microbial kill under defined conditions.
Which scenario would require immediate removal of an AER from service?
Answer: Disinfectant concentration is confirmed below the minimum effective concentration (MEC)
Disinfectant below the MEC cannot achieve high-level disinfection, making the machine unsafe to use until the solution is replaced and the MEC is re-confirmed.
What is the purpose of running a daily function test or cycle check on an AER?
Answer: To confirm the machine's mechanical and chemical parameters are within specifications before patient care use
Daily function tests verify that AER parameters such as temperature, exposure time, and chemical concentration meet specifications before scopes used on patients are processed.
Which microorganism is most associated with outbreaks linked to inadequate AER water quality?
Answer: Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a waterborne organism that can colonize AER water systems and recontaminate scopes during the rinse phase if water quality is inadequate.
How should AER channel adapters and connectors be maintained between uses?
Answer: Stored dry after being cleaned and disinfected per the AER manufacturer's IFU
Connectors must be cleaned, disinfected, and stored dry between uses as specified by the AER manufacturer to prevent biofilm formation and cross-contamination.
What does MRC stand for in the context of AER chemical management?
Answer: Minimum Required Concentration
MRC (Minimum Required Concentration) is the lowest disinfectant concentration that the AER system requires to function; it differs from MEC, which is the chemical's own germicidal threshold.
An AER manufacturer states the disinfectant may be reused for a maximum of 14 days. On day 10, an MEC test strip shows the solution is below MEC. What should be done?
Answer: Discard the solution immediately and recharge the AER with fresh disinfectant
When a solution tests below MEC, it must be discarded regardless of the reuse date because germicidal efficacy can no longer be guaranteed.