Aseptic Technique and Sterilization Flashcards
7 cards from real Certified Surgical Technologist practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Aseptic Technique and Sterilization flashcards as text
What is the minimum recommended distance a non-sterile person should maintain from a sterile field?
Answer: 18 inches
Non-sterile personnel must maintain at least an 18-inch margin from a sterile field to prevent contamination.
Which flash (IUSS) sterilization cycle parameter is correct for unwrapped, non-porous metal instruments in a pre-vacuum sterilizer?
Answer: 134°C for 3 minutes
IUSS guidelines specify 134°C for 3 minutes for unwrapped non-porous items in a pre-vacuum sterilizer.
When opening a peel pouch onto the sterile field, the circulator should:
Answer: Peel the sides apart and drop contents without touching the inner surface
The circulator peels the pouch sides apart and drops the contents onto the sterile field without touching the inner sterile surface.
Hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization is CONTRAINDICATED for which type of items?
Answer: Linens and cellulose-based materials
Hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization cannot be used for cellulose-based materials (e.g., linen, paper) because they absorb the hydrogen peroxide and disrupt the cycle.
Which action is correct when a sterile team member must turn their back during a procedure?
Answer: They should never turn their back to the sterile field
Sterile team members must never turn their backs to the sterile field because the back of a sterile gown is not considered sterile.
What is the primary purpose of the surgical hand scrub before gowning and gloving?
Answer: Reduce transient and resident flora on hands and forearms
The surgical hand scrub reduces transient and a significant portion of resident flora on hands and forearms, but does not achieve full sterilization.
A sterile package has a small hole in the wrapping. What is the appropriate response?
Answer: Consider the package contaminated and reprocess
Any breach in packaging integrity compromises sterility; the item must be considered contaminated and must be reprocessed.