CMLA Equipment Maintenance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a centrifuge maintenance log?
- To track speed calibration, rotor use, and maintenance events for troubleshooting and compliance (Correct answer)
- To record which specimens were centrifuged each shift
- To document the names of staff who operated the centrifuge
- To list reagents used during centrifugation procedures
Correct answer: To track speed calibration, rotor use, and maintenance events for troubleshooting and compliance
Centrifuge maintenance logs capture calibration checks, rotor run counts, and any repairs to support troubleshooting and regulatory compliance.
Question 2: A hematology analyzer produces flags on every sample. After confirming reagents are not expired, what is the next most appropriate maintenance step?
- Run the manufacturer's cleaning cycle and check fluid lines for clogs (Correct answer)
- Replace all reagent packs immediately
- Restart the analyzer and rerun the samples without further checks
- Contact the reference lab for backup testing
Correct answer: Run the manufacturer's cleaning cycle and check fluid lines for clogs
Running the cleaning cycle and inspecting fluid lines addresses the most common cause of persistent flags — clogs or debris in the fluidics system.
Question 3: Which centrifuge component must be inspected for cracks or stress fractures before each use?
- Rotor (Correct answer)
- Timer display
- Lid gasket
- Power cord
Correct answer: Rotor
A cracked rotor can fail catastrophically at high speed, so visual inspection before each use is a critical safety step.
Question 4: When decontaminating a biosafety cabinet (BSC) before filter replacement, which agent is most commonly recommended?
- Formaldehyde gas or vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) (Correct answer)
- 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe-down only
- Bleach spray applied to external surfaces
- UV light exposure for 30 minutes
Correct answer: Formaldehyde gas or vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP)
Formaldehyde fumigation or VHP decontamination penetrates the HEPA filter and internal surfaces, ensuring thorough inactivation before filter change.
Question 5: What does the term 'preventive maintenance' (PM) mean in the clinical laboratory context?
- Scheduled, routine servicing performed to prevent equipment failure before it occurs (Correct answer)
- Repairs made after an instrument has already malfunctioned
- Calibration performed only when QC fails
- Cleaning done exclusively by the manufacturer's service team
Correct answer: Scheduled, routine servicing performed to prevent equipment failure before it occurs
Preventive maintenance consists of scheduled tasks — cleaning, lubrication, part replacement — designed to minimize unplanned downtime.
Question 6: A microscope image appears blurry even after cleaning the eyepiece lens. What is the next step?
- Clean the objective lenses and the condenser lens with appropriate lens paper (Correct answer)
- Replace the bulb immediately
- Increase the iris diaphragm opening to maximum
- Switch to a lower magnification objective only
Correct answer: Clean the objective lenses and the condenser lens with appropriate lens paper
If eyepiece cleaning does not resolve blurriness, contamination on the objective or condenser is the next likely cause.
Question 7: Which action should be taken if an autoclave fails its biological indicator (spore) test?
- Remove the autoclave from service, retest, and investigate the cause before resuming use (Correct answer)
- Continue using the autoclave and repeat the indicator test the following week
- Increase the sterilization cycle temperature by 5°C and continue operation
- Switch to chemical sterilization without documenting the failure
Correct answer: Remove the autoclave from service, retest, and investigate the cause before resuming use
A failed biological indicator means sterilization was not achieved; the unit must be taken out of service and the failure investigated to protect patient and staff safety.
CMLA Equipment Maintenance 2
What is the primary purpose of a centrifuge maintenance log?