CRCST Evaluation Summary 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CS technician is reviewing a sterilization record and notices the cycle was aborted midway due to a door seal failure. What is the appropriate evaluation outcome for this load?
- Release the load if the BI came back negative
- Reject the load because the cycle was not completed as validated (Correct answer)
- Re-run only the items that were on the top shelf
- Accept the load since temperature was reached before the abort
Correct answer: Reject the load because the cycle was not completed as validated
An aborted cycle is not a complete, validated sterilization process; all items in the load must be reprocessed.
Question 2: When reviewing an EO (ethylene oxide) sterilization cycle printout, which critical parameter must be within validated ranges to evaluate the cycle as successful?
- Gas concentration, temperature, humidity, and exposure time (Correct answer)
- Temperature and exposure time only
- Humidity and aeration time only
- Gas concentration and aeration time only
Correct answer: Gas concentration, temperature, humidity, and exposure time
EO sterilization requires gas concentration, temperature, relative humidity, and exposure time all within validated ranges for a successful cycle.
Question 3: A sterile package is found with a torn outer wrap during distribution. Which is the correct evaluation and action?
- Distribute it quickly before contamination occurs
- Tape the tear and continue distribution
- Consider the item non-sterile and remove it from service for reprocessing (Correct answer)
- Inspect the inner wrap; if intact, distribute the item
Correct answer: Consider the item non-sterile and remove it from service for reprocessing
Any breach in packaging compromises the sterile barrier; the item must be considered non-sterile and returned for reprocessing regardless of inner wrap condition.
Question 4: What is the significance of a 'wet pack' discovered after a steam sterilization cycle during post-cycle evaluation?
- It confirms superior steam penetration occurred
- It is acceptable if the item is used within 4 hours
- It indicates a sterilization failure and items must be reprocessed (Correct answer)
- It has no impact on sterility if the pack is still sealed
Correct answer: It indicates a sterilization failure and items must be reprocessed
Wet packs are considered sterilization failures because moisture can support microbial growth and compromise the sterile barrier.
Question 5: During evaluation of a hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization cycle, the cycle aborts in the diffusion phase. What should the CS technician do?
- Release items if they were in the chamber for more than 30 minutes
- Re-run the cycle from the beginning after investigating the abort cause (Correct answer)
- Release items if the external CI changed color before the abort
- Consult the surgeon and release critical items only
Correct answer: Re-run the cycle from the beginning after investigating the abort cause
A cycle abort during any phase means the full validated cycle was not completed; items must be reprocessed after investigating the cause of the abort.
Question 6: Which type of monitoring provides the highest level of assurance when evaluating a sterilization cycle?
- Chemical indicators (CIs)
- Mechanical indicators (printouts and gauges)
- Biological indicators (BIs) (Correct answer)
- Physical monitoring alone
Correct answer: Biological indicators (BIs)
Biological indicators using actual spores provide the highest level of sterilization assurance because they directly challenge the sterilization process.
Question 7: A technician notices that a sterilizer's printout shows a temperature deviation of 1°F below the required minimum during the exposure phase. How should this cycle be evaluated?
- Accept the load since 1°F deviation is within normal variation
- Reject the load because the validated temperature range was not maintained (Correct answer)
- Accept the load if the BI is negative at 24 hours
- Accept only non-implant items from the load
Correct answer: Reject the load because the validated temperature range was not maintained
Any deviation below the minimum required temperature during the exposure phase means validated sterilization conditions were not achieved, and the load must be rejected.
CRCST Evaluation Summary 3
A CS technician is reviewing a sterilization record and notices the cycle was aborted midway due to a door seal failure.
What is the appropriate evaluation outcome for this load?