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Endoscope Sterilization Methods Questions and Answers Flashcards

6 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 6 Endoscope Sterilization Methods Questions and Answers flashcards as text

  1. What is the role of a biological indicator (BI) in sterilization monitoring?

    Answer: To provide the most rigorous test of sterilization efficacy using live, highly resistant bacterial spores

    Biological indicators contain highly resistant spores (e.g., G. stearothermophilus) and confirm that the sterilization process achieved lethality against the most resistant organisms.

  2. What is the difference between a chemical indicator (CI) and a biological indicator (BI)?

    Answer: CIs change color in response to sterilization parameters (time/temperature/chemical); BIs use live spores to confirm lethality

    Chemical indicators respond to physical/chemical sterilization parameters while biological indicators directly challenge lethality using resistant organisms.

  3. Which sterilization method uses 100% ethylene oxide in a single-dose cartridge system?

    Answer: 3M Steri-Vac or Anprolene single-use ETO systems

    Single-use ETO cartridge systems (such as 3M Steri-Vac) use pre-measured ETO cartridges for small-chamber sterilization with reduced environmental exposure.

  4. What does 'sterility assurance level' (SAL) of 10⁻⁶ mean in sterilization?

    Answer: There is a one-in-one-million probability that a single viable organism survives sterilization

    SAL 10⁻⁶ means the probability of a single viable organism surviving on a sterilized item is 1 in 1,000,000.

  5. For which types of endoscopes is vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) sterilization most appropriate?

    Answer: Rigid endoscopes and flexible endoscopes that meet channel diameter and length specifications per device IFU

    VHP sterilization is compatible with endoscopes whose channel geometry meets the validated parameters specified in both the sterilizer and endoscope manufacturer's IFU.

  6. What is the reprocessor's responsibility when a sterilization cycle fails its biological indicator?

    Answer: Quarantine all items from that cycle and any items processed since the last passing BI, investigate the failure cause, and do not use items until sterilization is confirmed

    A failed BI requires quarantine of all potentially affected items, root-cause investigation, and reprocessing before items are released for use.