STERILE PROCESSING TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION EXAM PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of sterilization in a healthcare setting?
A. Reduce visible dirt
B. Eliminate all microorganisms
C. Kill viruses only
D. Remove organic material
Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life, including spores.
2. Which sterilization method uses saturated steam under pressure?
A. Ethylene oxide
B. Dry heat
C. Autoclave
D. Hydrogen peroxide plasma
Autoclaving uses high-pressure steam to achieve sterilization.
3. Which of the following items is considered non-critical and requires
only cleaning and low-level disinfection?
A. Scalpel
B. Endoscope
C. Blood pressure cuff
D. Surgical forceps
Non-critical items contact intact skin and do not require sterilization.
,4. What does the term "bioburden" refer to?
A. Amount of dust on instruments
B. Number of microorganisms present on a device before sterilization
C. Sterilization cycle parameters
D. Type of disinfectant used
Bioburden is the microbial load on instruments before cleaning or
sterilization.
5. Which type of chemical indicator changes color when exposed to
sterilization conditions?
A. Biological indicator
B. Mechanical indicator
C. Chemical indicator
D. Process indicator
Chemical indicators provide visual confirmation that the device has
been exposed to the sterilization process.
6. When should instruments be cleaned in the decontamination area?
A. After packaging
B. After sterilization
C. Immediately after use
D. Once per week
Cleaning immediately after use prevents drying of blood and debris,
which makes sterilization more effective.
7. Which of the following PPE items is required when cleaning
instruments manually?
A. Surgical gown only
B. Gloves, gown, and eye protection
C. Mask only
D. Shoe covers only
Proper PPE protects staff from exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
, 8. What is the main advantage of ultrasonic cleaning over manual
cleaning?
A. Uses hot water
B. Reaches small crevices and removes debris efficiently
C. Does not require PPE
D. Sterilizes instruments simultaneously
Ultrasonic cleaning uses sound waves to remove debris from hard-to-
reach areas.
9. Which type of sterilization indicator should be placed inside a
wrapped instrument pack?
A. Mechanical
B. Internal chemical indicator
C. External chemical indicator
D. Biological indicator
Internal chemical indicators confirm that sterilizing agent reached inside
the pack.
10. What is the recommended temperature for steam sterilization
(autoclave) of wrapped instruments?
A. 100°C
B. 121°C
C. 134°C
D. 150°C
134°C is the standard for gravity displacement and pre-vacuum steam
sterilizers.
11. How often should biological indicators be used to monitor
sterilization cycles?
A. Daily
B. Weekly
C. Each load of high-risk instruments
CERTIFICATION EXAM PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of sterilization in a healthcare setting?
A. Reduce visible dirt
B. Eliminate all microorganisms
C. Kill viruses only
D. Remove organic material
Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life, including spores.
2. Which sterilization method uses saturated steam under pressure?
A. Ethylene oxide
B. Dry heat
C. Autoclave
D. Hydrogen peroxide plasma
Autoclaving uses high-pressure steam to achieve sterilization.
3. Which of the following items is considered non-critical and requires
only cleaning and low-level disinfection?
A. Scalpel
B. Endoscope
C. Blood pressure cuff
D. Surgical forceps
Non-critical items contact intact skin and do not require sterilization.
,4. What does the term "bioburden" refer to?
A. Amount of dust on instruments
B. Number of microorganisms present on a device before sterilization
C. Sterilization cycle parameters
D. Type of disinfectant used
Bioburden is the microbial load on instruments before cleaning or
sterilization.
5. Which type of chemical indicator changes color when exposed to
sterilization conditions?
A. Biological indicator
B. Mechanical indicator
C. Chemical indicator
D. Process indicator
Chemical indicators provide visual confirmation that the device has
been exposed to the sterilization process.
6. When should instruments be cleaned in the decontamination area?
A. After packaging
B. After sterilization
C. Immediately after use
D. Once per week
Cleaning immediately after use prevents drying of blood and debris,
which makes sterilization more effective.
7. Which of the following PPE items is required when cleaning
instruments manually?
A. Surgical gown only
B. Gloves, gown, and eye protection
C. Mask only
D. Shoe covers only
Proper PPE protects staff from exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
, 8. What is the main advantage of ultrasonic cleaning over manual
cleaning?
A. Uses hot water
B. Reaches small crevices and removes debris efficiently
C. Does not require PPE
D. Sterilizes instruments simultaneously
Ultrasonic cleaning uses sound waves to remove debris from hard-to-
reach areas.
9. Which type of sterilization indicator should be placed inside a
wrapped instrument pack?
A. Mechanical
B. Internal chemical indicator
C. External chemical indicator
D. Biological indicator
Internal chemical indicators confirm that sterilizing agent reached inside
the pack.
10. What is the recommended temperature for steam sterilization
(autoclave) of wrapped instruments?
A. 100°C
B. 121°C
C. 134°C
D. 150°C
134°C is the standard for gravity displacement and pre-vacuum steam
sterilizers.
11. How often should biological indicators be used to monitor
sterilization cycles?
A. Daily
B. Weekly
C. Each load of high-risk instruments
