Sterile processing is a vital healthcare function that ensures medical instruments, devices, and supplies are thoroughly cleaned, sterilized, and prepared to prevent infections and maintain patient safety. This process typically involves several key stages:
Decontamination: Instruments are initially cleaned to remove visible soil, blood, and organic matter using enzymatic detergents, manual scrubbing, or automated washers to reduce microbial load.
Preparation and Packaging: Items are inspected for damage, assembled into sets, and wrapped or placed in containers that allow sterilization while maintaining sterility post-process.
Sterilization: High-level methods are applied, such as steam under pressure (autoclaving), ethylene oxide gas, hydrogen peroxide plasma, or low-temperature systems, to destroy all microorganisms, including spores.
Storage and Distribution: Sterile items are stored in controlled environments to prevent contamination and distributed efficiently to clinical areas, ensuring they remain sterile until use.
Adherence to standards from organizations like the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and regulatory bodies such as the FDA is essential. Trained sterile processing technicians manage this workflow, using quality control measures like biological indicators and routine audits to uphold efficacy and compliance.
Table of contents
- Part 1: OnlineExamMaker – Generate and share sterile processing quiz with AI automatically
- Part 2: 20 sterile processing quiz questions & answers
- Part 3: Automatically generate quiz questions using AI Question Generator
Part 1: OnlineExamMaker – Generate and share sterile processing quiz with AI automatically
The quickest way to assess the sterile processing knowledge of candidates is using an AI assessment platform like OnlineExamMaker. With OnlineExamMaker AI Question Generator, you are able to input content—like text, documents, or topics—and then automatically generate questions in various formats (multiple-choice, true/false, short answer). Its AI Exam Grader can automatically grade the exam and generate insightful reports after your candidate submit the assessment.
What you will like:
● Create a question pool through the question bank and specify how many questions you want to be randomly selected among these questions.
● Allow the quiz taker to answer by uploading video or a Word document, adding an image, and recording an audio file.
● Display the feedback for correct or incorrect answers instantly after a question is answered.
● Create a lead generation form to collect an exam taker’s information, such as email, mobile phone, work title, company profile and so on.
Automatically generate questions using AI
Part 2: 20 sterile processing quiz questions & answers
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1. Question: What is the primary goal of sterile processing in a healthcare setting?
A) To enhance the aesthetic appeal of medical instruments
B) To eliminate microorganisms and prevent infections
C) To increase the weight of surgical tools
D) To speed up patient discharge
Answer: B) To eliminate microorganisms and prevent infections
Explanation: Sterile processing ensures that medical instruments are free from pathogens, reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
2. Question: Which method uses high-pressure steam for sterilization?
A) Chemical disinfection
B) Autoclaving
C) Dry heat sterilization
D) Ultraviolet light
Answer: B) Autoclaving
Explanation: Autoclaving employs saturated steam under pressure to kill microorganisms by denaturing proteins.
3. Question: What is the minimum exposure time for steam sterilization at 121°C?
A) 5 minutes
B) 15 minutes
C) 30 minutes
D) 60 minutes
Answer: B) 15 minutes
Explanation: At 121°C, a standard cycle requires at least 15 minutes of exposure to achieve sterilization, depending on load and packaging.
4. Question: Which indicator verifies that sterilization conditions were met inside a pack?
A) Chemical indicator
B) Biological indicator
C) Temperature gauge
D) pH strip
Answer: B) Biological indicator
Explanation: Biological indicators, such as spore strips, confirm sterilization by testing for the survival of resistant microorganisms.
5. Question: What is the purpose of wrapping instruments before sterilization?
A) To make them easier to transport
B) To maintain sterility until use
C) To reduce the instrument’s weight
D) To change their color
Answer: B) To maintain sterility until use
Explanation: Wrapping with appropriate materials creates a barrier that protects against contamination post-sterilization.
6. Question: In sterile processing, what does “event-related sterility” mean?
A) Sterility based on the date of processing
B) Sterility maintained until an event compromises it
C) Sterility related to patient events
D) Sterility checked every hour
Answer: B) Sterility maintained until an event compromises it
Explanation: Event-related sterility holds that items remain sterile until they are exposed to conditions that could cause contamination.
7. Question: Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential during decontamination?
A) Surgical gown only
B) Gloves, mask, and eye protection
C) Shoes and hat
D) Apron alone
Answer: B) Gloves, mask, and eye protection
Explanation: PPE like gloves, masks, and eye protection prevents exposure to biohazards during the decontamination process.
8. Question: What is the first step in the sterile processing workflow?
A) Sterilization
B) Decontamination
C) Packaging
D) Storage
Answer: B) Decontamination
Explanation: Decontamination removes soil and microorganisms from instruments before further processing to ensure safety.
9. Question: Which chemical is commonly used for high-level disinfection?
A) Bleach
B) Glutaraldehyde
C) Soap
D) Alcohol
Answer: B) Glutaraldehyde
Explanation: Glutaraldehyde is effective for high-level disinfection of heat-sensitive instruments by killing most microorganisms.
10. Question: How should sterile items be stored to maintain sterility?
A) In open shelves
B) In dust-covered areas
C) In clean, dry, closed cabinets
D) On the floor
Answer: C) In clean, dry, closed cabinets
Explanation: Proper storage in closed cabinets protects items from environmental contaminants, preserving sterility.
11. Question: What does AAMI stand for in sterile processing standards?
A) Association for Medical Instrument Inspection
B) American Association of Medical Instrumentation
C) Advanced Automated Medical Integration
D) Association of American Medical Institutions
Answer: B) American Association of Medical Instrumentation
Explanation: AAMI provides guidelines and standards for the processing of medical devices to ensure quality and safety.
12. Question: Which factor is critical for effective ethylene oxide sterilization?
A) High humidity
B) Low temperature only
C) Absence of aeration
D) Direct sunlight
Answer: A) High humidity
Explanation: Ethylene oxide requires controlled humidity to penetrate and sterilize items effectively.
13. Question: What is the role of a sterile processing technician?
A) To perform surgeries
B) To clean and sterilize instruments
C) To administer medications
D) To manage patient records
Answer: B) To clean and sterilize instruments
Explanation: Technicians are responsible for the entire cycle of instrument reprocessing to support safe medical procedures.
14. Question: Why are biological monitors used in sterilization?
A) To check packaging integrity
B) To confirm microbial kill
C) To measure temperature
D) To clean surfaces
Answer: B) To confirm microbial kill
Explanation: Biological monitors test the efficacy of sterilization by detecting if resistant spores have been destroyed.
15. Question: What is the typical temperature for dry heat sterilization?
A) 100°C
B) 121°C
C) 160°C
D) 200°C
Answer: C) 160°C
Explanation: Dry heat sterilization at around 160°C for a specified time ensures destruction of microorganisms through oxidation.
16. Question: Which practice helps prevent cross-contamination in sterile processing?
A) Reusing single-use items
B) Proper hand hygiene and workflow separation
C) Storing items in humid areas
D) Sharing instruments between patients
Answer: B) Proper hand hygiene and workflow separation
Explanation: Separating clean and dirty areas, along with hand hygiene, minimizes the risk of cross-contamination.
17. Question: What should be done if a sterilization cycle fails?
A) Use the items anyway
B) Reprocess the items immediately
C) Store them for later use
D) Discard without investigation
Answer: B) Reprocess the items immediately
Explanation: Failed cycles require reprocessing to ensure items meet sterility standards before use.
18. Question: Which type of packaging is suitable for steam sterilization?
A) Plastic bags
B) Paper-plastic pouches
C) Aluminum foil
D) Cloth wraps
Answer: B) Paper-plastic pouches
Explanation: Paper-plastic pouches allow steam penetration while maintaining a sterile barrier after the cycle.
19. Question: How often should sterile processing equipment be maintained?
A) Annually
B) According to manufacturer recommendations
C) Never
D) Only when it breaks
Answer: B) According to manufacturer recommendations
Explanation: Regular maintenance as per guidelines ensures equipment reliability and prevents sterilization failures.
20. Question: What is the main risk of improper sterile processing?
A) Increased costs
B) Healthcare-associated infections
C) Faster instrument wear
D) Delayed procedures
Answer: B) Healthcare-associated infections
Explanation: Inadequate processing can lead to contaminated instruments, increasing the incidence of infections in patients.
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Part 3: Automatically generate quiz questions using OnlineExamMaker AI Question Generator
Automatically generate questions using AI