CSSD - Central Sterile Services Department Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing Questions and Answers

Question 1

A CSSD technician performs a wet leak test on a flexible colonoscope and observes a continuous stream of bubbles emerging from the insertion tube. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Remove the scope from the water, keep it pressurized, dry the exterior, and send it for repair.

Answer

Continue with manual cleaning, but do not immerse the control head.

Answer

Complete the full reprocessing cycle and label the scope as 'leaking' before sending to repair.

Answer

Increase the pressure to pinpoint the exact location of the leak.

Question 2

According to AAMI standards and best practices, which of the following is considered the single most critical step in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes for ensuring patient safety?

Accepted Answer

Meticulous manual cleaning and brushing of all channels.

Answer

Drying the channels with 70% isopropyl alcohol and forced air.

Answer

Automated high-level disinfection with peracetic acid.

Answer

Performing a leak test prior to immersion in fluid.

Question 3

Which of the following describes the correct storage practice for a reprocessed flexible endoscope according to AAMI ST91?

Accepted Answer

Hung vertically in a designated, clean, and well-ventilated cabinet.

Answer

Coiled loosely and placed in a sterile peel pouch on a wire shelf.

Answer

Placed horizontally in its original shipping case in a clean utility room.

Answer

Kept in the automated endoscope reprocessor (AER) until needed for the next case.

Question 4

A technician is preparing to use a reusable high-level disinfectant. Before immersing the endoscope, they check the solution with a Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC) test strip, which fails to show the required color change. What is the correct action?

Accepted Answer

Discard the solution, record the failure, and prepare a fresh, new batch.

Answer

Use the solution but increase the endoscope's immersion time by 50%.

Answer

Add a small amount of new disinfectant to the basin to strengthen it.

Answer

Assume the test strip is faulty and proceed with the disinfection.

Question 5

After a flexible endoscope undergoes high-level disinfection, what is the required quality for the water used in the final rinse steps?

Accepted Answer

Sterile or bacteria-free water.

Answer

Heated tap water.

Answer

Softened potable water.

Answer

Deionized water.

Question 6

To ensure full traceability in the event of an infection outbreak or device recall, which data elements are most essential to document in the endoscope reprocessing log?

Accepted Answer

The endoscope's serial number, patient identifier, and AER cycle number.

Answer

The room temperature and humidity of the decontamination area.

Answer

The name of the technician who transported the scope to the procedure room.

Answer

The total time the reprocessing cycle took from start to finish.

A CSSD technician performs a wet leak test on a flexible colonoscope and observes a continuous stream of bubbles emerging from the insertion tube.What is the most appropriate immediate action?

A CSSD technician performs a wet leak test on a flexible colonoscope and observes a continuous stream of bubbles emerging from the insertion tube.
What is the most appropriate immediate action?