CRCST Inventory Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In an ABC inventory analysis, which category represents high-value items that require the most rigorous control?
- Category C
- Category B
- Category A (Correct answer)
- Category D
Correct answer: Category A
Category A items are the highest value and typically represent about 20% of items but 80% of total inventory value, requiring close monitoring.
Question 2: What is the PRIMARY purpose of a perpetual inventory system in central service?
- To track item locations only once per year
- To maintain a continuous, real-time record of stock levels (Correct answer)
- To calculate annual depreciation of instruments
- To schedule sterilization cycles automatically
Correct answer: To maintain a continuous, real-time record of stock levels
A perpetual inventory system updates stock counts with every transaction, providing real-time visibility into supply levels.
Question 3: Which documentation is MOST important to retain when receiving a shipment of sterile supplies?
- The delivery driver's name only
- Packing slips, purchase orders, and inspection records (Correct answer)
- Only the invoice for payment
- The supplier's catalog page
Correct answer: Packing slips, purchase orders, and inspection records
Packing slips, purchase orders, and inspection records create an audit trail verifying receipt, quantity, and condition of sterile supplies.
Question 4: A facility switches from a traditional stockroom model to a 'just-in-time' (JIT) supply system. What is the MAIN advantage?
- Larger safety stock reserves
- Reduced inventory holding costs and less storage space needed (Correct answer)
- Less frequent ordering from vendors
- Higher quantities purchased per order for volume discounts
Correct answer: Reduced inventory holding costs and less storage space needed
JIT minimizes on-hand inventory, reducing carrying costs and storage requirements by aligning deliveries closely with actual demand.
Question 5: What action should a CS technician take upon discovering that a supply item has passed its expiration date?
- Continue using the item if packaging is intact
- Remove the item from stock and follow the facility's disposal protocol (Correct answer)
- Return the item to the manufacturer without notifying a supervisor
- Move the item to a different storage location
Correct answer: Remove the item from stock and follow the facility's disposal protocol
Expired items must be removed from circulation immediately and handled per facility policy to prevent patient safety risks.
Question 6: Which inventory metric measures the number of times inventory is sold and replaced over a specific period?
- Par level
- Inventory turnover rate (Correct answer)
- Reorder point
- Safety stock level
Correct answer: Inventory turnover rate
Inventory turnover rate indicates how efficiently stock is being used; a higher rate suggests less excess inventory and lower carrying costs.
Question 7: When storing sterile packages in central service, which environmental factor is MOST critical to monitor for inventory integrity?
- Lighting intensity
- Temperature and humidity levels (Correct answer)
- Floor tile material
- Shelf color-coding
Correct answer: Temperature and humidity levels
Excessive temperature or humidity can compromise packaging integrity and sterility, rendering supplies unsafe for patient use.
CRCST Inventory Control 3
In an ABC inventory analysis, which category represents high-value items that require the most rigorous control?