CRCST Decontamination 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is considered the MINIMUM required when handling soiled instruments in the decontamination area?
- Gloves only
- Gloves and face mask
- Gloves, gown, eye protection, and face mask (Correct answer)
- Gloves and gown only
Correct answer: Gloves, gown, eye protection, and face mask
OSHA and AAMI standards require gloves, gown, eye protection, and face mask as minimum PPE when handling soiled/contaminated instruments.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the decontamination area in a central service department?
- To sterilize instruments for immediate use
- To remove soil and reduce microbial load on instruments before further processing (Correct answer)
- To store contaminated instruments until pickup
- To inspect instruments for damage
Correct answer: To remove soil and reduce microbial load on instruments before further processing
The decontamination area is designed to remove bioburden and soil from instruments to make them safe to handle and prepare them for sterilization.
Question 3: Enzymatic cleaners work best when used at which water temperature?
- Cold water (below 60°F)
- Warm water (approximately 100°F–110°F) (Correct answer)
- Hot water (above 140°F)
- Boiling water (212°F)
Correct answer: Warm water (approximately 100°F–110°F)
Enzymatic cleaners are most effective at warm water temperatures around 100°F–110°F because heat activates enzymes without denaturing them.
Question 4: When cleaning lumened instruments such as flexible endoscopes, what critical step must be performed immediately after use?
- Dry with compressed air before transport
- Flush channels with enzymatic solution at the point of use (Correct answer)
- Soak in glutaraldehyde for 20 minutes
- Place directly into an ultrasonic cleaner
Correct answer: Flush channels with enzymatic solution at the point of use
Flushing channels with enzymatic solution at point of use prevents biofilm formation and keeps soil from drying, which makes cleaning more effective.
Question 5: Which of the following is the correct sequence for manual cleaning of surgical instruments?
- Rinse, scrub with detergent, rinse, dry
- Scrub dry, rinse with hot water, dry
- Pre-rinse, wash with appropriate detergent, rinse, lubricate if needed, inspect (Correct answer)
- Soak in disinfectant, rinse, scrub, dry
Correct answer: Pre-rinse, wash with appropriate detergent, rinse, lubricate if needed, inspect
The correct sequence is pre-rinse to remove gross soil, wash with detergent, rinse to remove detergent residue, lubricate if required, then inspect.
Question 6: Ultrasonic cleaners work by a process called cavitation. What does cavitation refer to?
- High-pressure water jets that dislodge soil
- The formation and collapse of microscopic bubbles that implode against instrument surfaces (Correct answer)
- Steam penetration into instrument crevices
- Chemical breakdown of organic material
Correct answer: The formation and collapse of microscopic bubbles that implode against instrument surfaces
Cavitation is the rapid formation and implosion of microscopic bubbles generated by ultrasonic waves, which dislodge soil from instrument surfaces.
Question 7: After cleaning, instruments should be rinsed with which type of water to prevent mineral deposits?
- Tap water at high pressure
- Distilled or deionized water (Correct answer)
- Softened water with added chlorine
- Sterile saline solution
Correct answer: Distilled or deionized water
Distilled or deionized water is used for the final rinse to prevent mineral deposits and spotting that can interfere with sterilization.
CRCST Decontamination 2
Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is considered the MINIMUM required when handling soiled instruments in the decontamination area?