CBSPD EXAM (UPDATED 2026) QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
What should the sterilizer access area pressure be? - ANSWER✔️Negative w/10 air exchanges
per hour
Textile packs should be placed how in a sterilizer? - ANSWER✔️sides
Solid bottom trays should be loaded now? - ANSWER✔️tilted on sides
How should mesh bottom containers be loaded into the sterilizer? - ANSWER✔️flat on rack
If packages are still moist when the sterilizer doors are open bacteria can do what? -
ANSWER✔️wick through the package
,How does steam sterilization occur? - ANSWER✔️by condensation
What cases are proven to have prions? - ANSWER✔️1) neurosurgery
2) opthamology (eye)
When should a flash sterilizer be monitored? - ANSWER✔️Weekly with a biological and a class
5 or class 6 indicator
What can not be processed in an express cycle? - ANSWER✔️porous items
items with lumens
When should a flash sterilizer be used? - ANSWER✔️In an emergency; a one of a kind
instrument is dropped
How are liquids sterilized? - ANSWER✔️only through gravity displacement liquid cycles
What occurs during the drying phase? - ANSWER✔️Dynamic Air Removal: Filtered air is drawn
in achieve drying
Gravity: Heat in chamber evaporates moisture
*Approx.: 30 min. for both
What occurs during the exhaust phase? - ANSWER✔️steam is exhausted from the chamber drain
line
What occurs during he sterilization/exposure/"holding phase"? - ANSWER✔️exposure
temperature is maintained for the prescribed amount of time
What occurs during the conditioning phase of steam sterilizers? - ANSWER✔️Air is removed and
steam is injected
Where should the bowie dick test be placed in a steam sterilizer - ANSWER✔️drain line
Where is the sterilizers heat-sensing thermometer located? - ANSWER✔️Drain- line
What provides heat inside the chamber and prevents condensation in a steam sterilizer? -
ANSWER✔️the jacket
where is the dedicated steam supply made? - ANSWER✔️a boiler
Steam kills microorganisms by_______ the protein - ANSWER✔️denaturing (coagulation)
True/false
, Removing as many microorganisms as possible before sterilization enhances the probability of
microbial kill - ANSWER✔️true
What is the air exchange in sterile storage - ANSWER✔️4 per hour
What is the suggested release temperature of packs? - ANSWER✔️70 to 80 degree farenheit
How far from the floor should medical devices be stored? - ANSWER✔️8-10 inches from the
floor
How far should shelving be from outside walls? - ANSWER✔️2 inches
What kind of pressure should the sterilization area be under? - ANSWER✔️positive
What is the coldest area of the sterilizer? - ANSWER✔️drain line
What are the three parameters of steam sterilization? - ANSWER✔️1) Steam under pressure
2) time
3) Exposure/temperature
What are the two types of cycles in steam sterilization? - ANSWER✔️1) dynamic air removal
(pre-vac)
2) Gravity Displacement (immediate use)
What are the phases of the cycle? - ANSWER✔️1)conditioning (air is removed)
2)sterilization/Exposure/ Hold (temperature is held)
3) Exhaust (steam out drain line)
4) drying (approx. 30 min.)
It takes a certain ______ to reach a certain ____________ - ANSWER✔️Pressure
temperature
What are the types of sterilization processes used? - ANSWER✔️1) steam
2) EtO
3) Dry Heat
4) Gas plasma
5) Ozone
6) liquid chemical
What does a class on indicator respond to? - ANSWER✔️Only one parameter of the process
(ex.: autoclave tape)
Geobacillus steurothermophilus must be incubated at what temp.? - ANSWER✔️132 degrees
farenheit
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
What should the sterilizer access area pressure be? - ANSWER✔️Negative w/10 air exchanges
per hour
Textile packs should be placed how in a sterilizer? - ANSWER✔️sides
Solid bottom trays should be loaded now? - ANSWER✔️tilted on sides
How should mesh bottom containers be loaded into the sterilizer? - ANSWER✔️flat on rack
If packages are still moist when the sterilizer doors are open bacteria can do what? -
ANSWER✔️wick through the package
,How does steam sterilization occur? - ANSWER✔️by condensation
What cases are proven to have prions? - ANSWER✔️1) neurosurgery
2) opthamology (eye)
When should a flash sterilizer be monitored? - ANSWER✔️Weekly with a biological and a class
5 or class 6 indicator
What can not be processed in an express cycle? - ANSWER✔️porous items
items with lumens
When should a flash sterilizer be used? - ANSWER✔️In an emergency; a one of a kind
instrument is dropped
How are liquids sterilized? - ANSWER✔️only through gravity displacement liquid cycles
What occurs during the drying phase? - ANSWER✔️Dynamic Air Removal: Filtered air is drawn
in achieve drying
Gravity: Heat in chamber evaporates moisture
*Approx.: 30 min. for both
What occurs during the exhaust phase? - ANSWER✔️steam is exhausted from the chamber drain
line
What occurs during he sterilization/exposure/"holding phase"? - ANSWER✔️exposure
temperature is maintained for the prescribed amount of time
What occurs during the conditioning phase of steam sterilizers? - ANSWER✔️Air is removed and
steam is injected
Where should the bowie dick test be placed in a steam sterilizer - ANSWER✔️drain line
Where is the sterilizers heat-sensing thermometer located? - ANSWER✔️Drain- line
What provides heat inside the chamber and prevents condensation in a steam sterilizer? -
ANSWER✔️the jacket
where is the dedicated steam supply made? - ANSWER✔️a boiler
Steam kills microorganisms by_______ the protein - ANSWER✔️denaturing (coagulation)
True/false
, Removing as many microorganisms as possible before sterilization enhances the probability of
microbial kill - ANSWER✔️true
What is the air exchange in sterile storage - ANSWER✔️4 per hour
What is the suggested release temperature of packs? - ANSWER✔️70 to 80 degree farenheit
How far from the floor should medical devices be stored? - ANSWER✔️8-10 inches from the
floor
How far should shelving be from outside walls? - ANSWER✔️2 inches
What kind of pressure should the sterilization area be under? - ANSWER✔️positive
What is the coldest area of the sterilizer? - ANSWER✔️drain line
What are the three parameters of steam sterilization? - ANSWER✔️1) Steam under pressure
2) time
3) Exposure/temperature
What are the two types of cycles in steam sterilization? - ANSWER✔️1) dynamic air removal
(pre-vac)
2) Gravity Displacement (immediate use)
What are the phases of the cycle? - ANSWER✔️1)conditioning (air is removed)
2)sterilization/Exposure/ Hold (temperature is held)
3) Exhaust (steam out drain line)
4) drying (approx. 30 min.)
It takes a certain ______ to reach a certain ____________ - ANSWER✔️Pressure
temperature
What are the types of sterilization processes used? - ANSWER✔️1) steam
2) EtO
3) Dry Heat
4) Gas plasma
5) Ozone
6) liquid chemical
What does a class on indicator respond to? - ANSWER✔️Only one parameter of the process
(ex.: autoclave tape)
Geobacillus steurothermophilus must be incubated at what temp.? - ANSWER✔️132 degrees
farenheit
