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SCFHS Classification Exam – Sterilization Technician: free practice test

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Practice test questions with answers and explanations

Try the questions in the test above first, then open each one here to see the correct answer and why every other option is wrong.

01A CSSD checks its room pressure monitor and finds the decontamination room reading slightly positive to the corridor, while sterile storage reads positive as expected. Which action is most appropriate first?

Practice question Unit: Overview of the CSSD and Decontamination

  1. ARecord it as normal, since these rooms should be positive

    Not all rooms are positive; the dirty area must be negative.

  2. BOpen the sterile storage doors and run fans to balance the pressures

    Opening sterile storage and running fans upsets its positive pressure and does not correct the decontamination airflow.

  3. CReport it to engineering and infection prevention to fix the airflow ✓ Correct answer

    Decontamination should be negative; a positive reading is a ventilation fault that must be reported and fixed.

  4. DSwitch off the washer-disinfectors and recheck the reading in an hour

    Washers do not set room pressure, and waiting an hour delays the fix while dirty air may leak out.

Reference: SCFHS Sterilization Technician Examination Content Guideline (V1.220901, 2024), Section 1: Overview of the CSSD and Decontamination, p. 2; IAHCSMM, Central Service Technical Manual, chapter: Introduction to Sterile Processing

02A technician must choose which soiled item to process first. Item 1: an instrument with fresh blood. Item 2: a cannulated drill with dried bone debris left overnight. Both are needed tomorrow. Which reasoning is correct?

Practice question Unit: Principles of Asepsis, Microbiology and Infection Control

  1. AThe drill should go straight to the sterilizer to kill the bacteria first, before any cleaning

    Heat before cleaning bakes soil on and does not achieve sterility.

  2. BThe drill needs extra soaking and lumen cleaning, as dried debris in a channel favours biofilm ✓ Correct answer

    Dried soil inside a lumen is the harder cleaning challenge and needs more time and attention.

  3. CBoth need the same routine handling, because sterilization at the end removes any difference

    Sterilization cannot compensate for soil that was not removed.

  4. DThe fresh-blood item goes first and needs longer cleaning, because wet blood hides bacteria

    Fresh, moist soil is easier to remove than dried soil.

Reference: SCFHS Sterilization Technician Examination Content Guideline (V1.220901, 2024), Section 2: Principles of Asepsis, Microbiology and Infection Control, p. 2; IAHCSMM, Central Service Technical Manual, chapter: Microbiology for Sterile Processing Technicians

03A neurosurgery case ends late at night and the CSSD decontamination team will not start until 7 a.m. The set includes suction tubes and a drill. Which plan is most appropriate?

Practice question Unit: Transportation of Solid Items to CSSD and Disinfection Process

  1. AWipe it with alcohol, cover it and leave it for the morning

    Alcohol fixes proteins and the set still waits for hours, so soil is neither kept moist nor protected from drying.

  2. BHold the set on the back table until the morning team arrives at 7 a.m.

    Leaving soiled items uncontained in theatre lets soil dry and exposes staff.

  3. CFlush lumens, apply foam, contain the set and send it promptly ✓ Correct answer

    Point-of-use steps plus moisture products reduce drying when processing is delayed.

  4. DFlush lumens, then soak the set, drill included, in tap water overnight

    Powered equipment must not be immersed, and long soaks cause corrosion.

Reference: SCFHS Sterilization Technician Examination Content Guideline (V1.220901, 2024), Section 3: Transportation of Solid Items to CSSD and Disinfection Process, p. 2; IAHCSMM, Central Service Technical Manual, chapter: Decontamination: Point-of-Use Treatment and Transport

04In an audit of washer loads, kidney dishes are found stacked inside each other with their concave sides facing up. Which two problems does this loading cause?

Practice question Unit: Processing Equipment and Classification of Surgical Instrument Types

  1. AShadowed surfaces the spray cannot reach, plus pooled water ✓ Correct answer

    Nesting blocks spray contact, and upward concave sides hold water that impairs drying.

  2. BStaining from lubricant and loss of A0 value

    A0 depends on temperature and time, not on how dishes are stacked.

  3. CExcess detergent use and faster cycle time

    Detergent dosing and cycle time are set by the program.

  4. DOverheating of the dishes and damage to the washer's spray arms

    Nesting does not overheat dishes; contact and drainage are the issues.

Reference: SCFHS Sterilization Technician Examination Content Guideline (V1.220901, 2024), Section 4: Processing Equipment and Classification of Surgical Instrument Types, p. 2; IAHCSMM, Central Service Technical Manual, chapter: Cleaning

05A technician threads ring-handled instruments onto a stringer with all ratchets locked on the first tooth. What should be corrected?

Practice question Unit: Preparation, Packaging and Labeling of Instruments and Devices

  1. ARemove the stringer and pile them loose

    Loose piling causes damage and poor exposure.

  2. BLock them on the last tooth instead

    Closing them further worsens contact.

  3. CNothing, as the first tooth counts as open

    A locked ratchet is still closed.

  4. DUnlock them so the jaws stay open ✓ Correct answer

    Stringers hold instruments open so all surfaces are exposed.

Reference: SCFHS Sterilization Technician Examination Content Guideline (V1.220901, 2024), Section 5: Preparation, Packaging and Labeling of Instruments and Devices, p. 2; IAHCSMM, Central Service Technical Manual, chapter: Preparation and Packaging

06A device's IFU specifies pre-vacuum at 132 °C for 4 minutes. The department usually runs 134 °C for 3 minutes. What should be used?

Practice question Unit: Sterilisation, Maintenance, Audit and Quality Control

  1. APre-vacuum at 132 °C for 4 minutes ✓ Correct answer

    The validated parameters in the IFU must be met, not replaced by a house cycle.

  2. BPre-vacuum at 134 °C for 3 minutes, as it is hotter

    A hotter, shorter pre-vacuum cycle is not equivalent to the validated IFU parameters; the IFU cycle must be used.

  3. CThe cycle that passed Bowie-Dick that day

    Bowie-Dick checks air removal, not device cycle needs.

  4. DGravity at 132 °C for 4 minutes

    The IFU requires pre-vacuum.

Reference: SCFHS Sterilization Technician Examination Content Guideline (V1.220901, 2024), Section 6: Sterilisation, Maintenance, Audit and Quality Control, p. 2; IAHCSMM, Central Service Technical Manual, chapter: High-Temperature Sterilization

07A device's IFU allows only EO. The hospital has only a hydrogen peroxide sterilizer. What is the best option?

Practice question Unit: Sterilisation, Maintenance, Audit and Quality Control

  1. AUse an outside EO service ✓ Correct answer

    The device must be processed by a method its maker validated.

  2. BPeroxide cycle validated for similar devices

    Validation for similar devices does not cover this one; its IFU lists only EO.

  3. CUse steam at a lower temperature

    Steam is not in the IFU.

  4. DUse high-level disinfection instead

    A sterile device cannot be downgraded.

Reference: SCFHS Sterilization Technician Examination Content Guideline (V1.220901, 2024), Section 6: Sterilisation, Maintenance, Audit and Quality Control, p. 2; IAHCSMM, Central Service Technical Manual, chapter: Low-Temperature Sterilization

08During a wet leak test, a steady stream of bubbles rises from the bending section. What should the technician do?

Practice question Unit: Flexible Endoscope and Dental Instrument Processing

  1. AGo on cleaning; bubbles are normal

    A steady stream is a leak.

  2. BFinish cleaning, then send it for repair

    Continuing to immerse a leaking scope lets fluid in and worsens damage.

  3. CRepeat the test at a lower pressure

    A steady bubble stream is a clear leak; the test is not lowered to pass it.

  4. DStop and send it for repair ✓ Correct answer

    Bubbles show a leak; further immersion would worsen damage.

Reference: SCFHS Sterilization Technician Examination Content Guideline (V1.220901, 2024), Section 7: Flexible Endoscope and Dental Instrument Processing, p. 2; IAHCSMM, Central Service Technical Manual, chapter: Complex Surgical Instruments

09In one load, the printout passes and all trays pass except one, whose internal indicator failed. What is the best response?

Practice question Unit: Use of Indicators, Load Control and Transportation from the CSSD

  1. AReplace its indicator, recheck and release

    This hides the failure.

  2. BHold it, review the load, find the cause ✓ Correct answer

    Packing or position may be at fault, and policy decides on the rest of the load.

  3. CRecord it, release the others and recheck later

    The load is reviewed before any release.

  4. DUse the tray, as the others passed

    A failed tray is not used.

Reference: SCFHS Sterilization Technician Examination Content Guideline (V1.220901, 2024), Section 8: Use of Indicators, Load Control and Transportation from the CSSD, p. 2; IAHCSMM, Central Service Technical Manual, chapter: Monitoring and Record Keeping for Sterile Processing

10A hospital uses event-related sterility for its own packs. Which items must still be removed when a date passes?

Practice question Unit: Inventory Control, Sterile Storage and Planned Maintenance

  1. AIn-house packs older than 30 days

    With event-related sterility, in-house packs are not removed by date; commercial expiry dates still apply.

  2. BPacks whose outside tape has faded

    Faded tape is checked by condition; dates apply to commercial items.

  3. CCommercial items past their expiry ✓ Correct answer

    Makers' expiry dates still apply to their products.

  4. DPacks older than one week

    Event-related packs have no fixed age.

Reference: SCFHS Sterilization Technician Examination Content Guideline (V1.220901, 2024), Section 9: Inventory Control, Sterile Storage and Planned Maintenance, p. 2; IAHCSMM, Central Service Technical Manual, chapter: Sterile Storage and Transport

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