Page 1 of 141
Sterile Processing Study Material for
Certification Exam 2026|New Exam
Update with 290Qs&As|Already Graded
A+
Q1. A sterile processing technician accidentally splashes a
chemical disinfectant into their eyes. What is the FIRST action?
A) Call the supervisor immediately
B) Flush eyes at the emergency eyewash station for 15 minutes
C) Apply sterile eye patches
D) Neutralize the chemical with saline solution
Answer: B
Rationale: Immediate irrigation for 15 minutes is the standard
first aid for chemical splash. Delaying flushing to call supervisor
(A) is incorrect as time is critical. Eye patches (C) trap chemicals.
,Page 2 of 141
Neutralization (D) can cause exothermic reactions worsening
injury.
Q2. Which of the following microorganisms is the PRIMARY
concern for sterilization validation?
A) Staphylococcus aureus
B) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
C) Geobacillus stearothermophilus
D) Candida albicans
Answer: C
Rationale: G. stearothermophilus is the biological indicator
organism for steam sterilization due to its high heat resistance.
Staph (A) and Pseudomonas (B) are vegetative bacteria easily
killed. Candida (D) is a fungus with lower heat resistance.
,Page 3 of 141
Q3. SCENARIO: A technician is processing instruments from a
case known to have Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD). What is
the correct protocol?
A) Standard steam sterilization cycle
B) Ethylene oxide sterilization only
C) Immersion in 1:10 bleach for 1 hour followed by steam
sterilization
D) Discard all disposable items; reprocess reusable with
specialized prion protocol
Answer: D
Rationale: Prions are resistant to standard sterilization.
Specialized protocols (e.g., 1N NaOH + steam at 134°C for 18-
60 minutes per WHO/AAMI) are required. Bleach alone (C) is
insufficient. Many facilities discard reusable items due to
difficulty of prion inactivation.
, Page 4 of 141
Q4. What is the minimum recommended airborne particle count
for a sterile storage area?
A) ISO Class 5
B) ISO Class 7
C) ISO Class 8
D) No specific requirement
Answer: C (ISO Class 8)
Rationale: AAMI ST79 recommends ISO Class 8 or better for
sterile storage areas (previously Class 100,000). ISO 5 (A) is for
operating rooms. ISO 7 (B) is for cleanrooms. No requirement (D)
is incorrect.
Q5. Which type of glove provides the BEST chemical resistance
for handling high-level disinfectants?
A) Latex examination gloves
B) Vinyl gloves
Sterile Processing Study Material for
Certification Exam 2026|New Exam
Update with 290Qs&As|Already Graded
A+
Q1. A sterile processing technician accidentally splashes a
chemical disinfectant into their eyes. What is the FIRST action?
A) Call the supervisor immediately
B) Flush eyes at the emergency eyewash station for 15 minutes
C) Apply sterile eye patches
D) Neutralize the chemical with saline solution
Answer: B
Rationale: Immediate irrigation for 15 minutes is the standard
first aid for chemical splash. Delaying flushing to call supervisor
(A) is incorrect as time is critical. Eye patches (C) trap chemicals.
,Page 2 of 141
Neutralization (D) can cause exothermic reactions worsening
injury.
Q2. Which of the following microorganisms is the PRIMARY
concern for sterilization validation?
A) Staphylococcus aureus
B) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
C) Geobacillus stearothermophilus
D) Candida albicans
Answer: C
Rationale: G. stearothermophilus is the biological indicator
organism for steam sterilization due to its high heat resistance.
Staph (A) and Pseudomonas (B) are vegetative bacteria easily
killed. Candida (D) is a fungus with lower heat resistance.
,Page 3 of 141
Q3. SCENARIO: A technician is processing instruments from a
case known to have Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD). What is
the correct protocol?
A) Standard steam sterilization cycle
B) Ethylene oxide sterilization only
C) Immersion in 1:10 bleach for 1 hour followed by steam
sterilization
D) Discard all disposable items; reprocess reusable with
specialized prion protocol
Answer: D
Rationale: Prions are resistant to standard sterilization.
Specialized protocols (e.g., 1N NaOH + steam at 134°C for 18-
60 minutes per WHO/AAMI) are required. Bleach alone (C) is
insufficient. Many facilities discard reusable items due to
difficulty of prion inactivation.
, Page 4 of 141
Q4. What is the minimum recommended airborne particle count
for a sterile storage area?
A) ISO Class 5
B) ISO Class 7
C) ISO Class 8
D) No specific requirement
Answer: C (ISO Class 8)
Rationale: AAMI ST79 recommends ISO Class 8 or better for
sterile storage areas (previously Class 100,000). ISO 5 (A) is for
operating rooms. ISO 7 (B) is for cleanrooms. No requirement (D)
is incorrect.
Q5. Which type of glove provides the BEST chemical resistance
for handling high-level disinfectants?
A) Latex examination gloves
B) Vinyl gloves
