CPR Antimicrobial Treatments & Disinfection 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency regulates antimicrobial products used in restoration under FIFRA?
- OSHA
- EPA (Correct answer)
- CDC
- NIOSH
Correct answer: EPA
The EPA regulates antimicrobial pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), including products used in restoration.
Question 2: What does the contact time (dwell time) listed on an antimicrobial product label represent?
- The time the product takes to dry completely
- The minimum time the product must remain wet on a surface to achieve its claimed kill rate (Correct answer)
- The maximum time before the product becomes ineffective
- The recommended interval between re-applications
Correct answer: The minimum time the product must remain wet on a surface to achieve its claimed kill rate
Dwell time is the minimum period a product must remain wet on a surface to achieve the pathogen reduction rate stated on the label.
Question 3: Before applying an antimicrobial product to a contaminated surface, the technician must first:
- Apply a sealant primer
- Remove visible debris and bioburden through physical cleaning (Correct answer)
- Allow the surface to dry for 48 hours
- Wet the surface thoroughly with plain water
Correct answer: Remove visible debris and bioburden through physical cleaning
Organic material (bioburden) interferes with antimicrobial efficacy, so surfaces must be physically cleaned before chemical treatment.
Question 4: A product labeled as a 'fungicide' differs from a 'sporicide' in that a fungicide:
- Kills both mold organisms and their spores
- Kills mold organisms but does not necessarily destroy all spores (Correct answer)
- Is registered only for use on non-porous surfaces
- Requires a shorter dwell time than a sporicide
Correct answer: Kills mold organisms but does not necessarily destroy all spores
A fungicide kills living mold organisms but may not destroy all spores; a sporicide is specifically formulated and tested to kill spores.
Question 5: FIFRA stands for:
- Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (Correct answer)
- Federal Industrial Fumigation and Restoration Act
- Fungicide and Insecticide Federal Regulation Authority
- Federal Infection, Fungus, and Remediation Act
Correct answer: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act) is the US law granting the EPA authority to regulate antimicrobial pesticides.
Question 6: Which of the following is a limitation of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) when used on porous materials such as drywall?
- Bleach evaporates too quickly to be useful
- Bleach cannot penetrate porous materials effectively, leaving embedded mold alive (Correct answer)
- Bleach permanently stains porous surfaces and must be avoided
- Bleach requires a pH above 10 to be effective on porous materials
Correct answer: Bleach cannot penetrate porous materials effectively, leaving embedded mold alive
Bleach does not penetrate porous substrates like drywall, so mold embedded in the material may survive even after visible surface treatment.
Question 7: What information is required on a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for an antimicrobial product?
- Product pricing and regional supplier contacts only
- Hazard identification, first aid measures, and handling and storage information across 16 sections (Correct answer)
- EPA registration number and application rates only
- Only the active ingredient concentration and dwell time
Correct answer: Hazard identification, first aid measures, and handling and storage information across 16 sections
Under OSHA's HazCom 2012/GHS standard, an SDS must contain 16 standardized sections covering hazards, first aid, safe handling, storage, and more.
CPR Antimicrobial Treatments & Disinfection 1
Which federal agency regulates antimicrobial products used in restoration under FIFRA?