ACC Clean Needle Technique and Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is the correct order for hand hygiene before acupuncture needle insertion?
- Rinse, soap, scrub 20 seconds, rinse, dry
- Soap, scrub 20 seconds, rinse, dry (Correct answer)
- Rinse with water, dry, apply antiseptic
- Apply antiseptic gel, rub 10 seconds, air dry
Correct answer: Soap, scrub 20 seconds, rinse, dry
The CDC-recommended handwashing protocol is to apply soap, scrub all surfaces for at least 20 seconds, rinse thoroughly, and dry with a clean towel.
Question 2: A practitioner accidentally drops a needle on the floor mid-treatment. What is the appropriate action?
- Pick it up and place it in a sharps container immediately (Correct answer)
- Wipe it with an alcohol swab and continue use
- Pick it up and set it aside to be re-sterilized later
- Leave it on the floor until the treatment is complete
Correct answer: Pick it up and place it in a sharps container immediately
A dropped needle is contaminated and must be discarded immediately into a sharps container; it should never be reused or set aside.
Question 3: What is the minimum alcohol concentration recommended for skin antisepsis prior to acupuncture needle insertion?
- 50% isopropyl alcohol
- 70% isopropyl alcohol (Correct answer)
- 90% isopropyl alcohol
- 100% ethyl alcohol
Correct answer: 70% isopropyl alcohol
70% isopropyl alcohol is the standard recommended concentration for skin antisepsis because it provides optimal antimicrobial activity.
Question 4: In the context of clean needle technique, what does 'one patient, one needle, one time' mean?
- Each patient visit uses one needle for all points
- Each needle is used only once and never reused on any patient (Correct answer)
- One needle is kept sterile and reused within the same session
- One needle is shared between patients if sterilized between uses
Correct answer: Each needle is used only once and never reused on any patient
This principle mandates that every acupuncture needle is single-use and must never be reused on the same or different patient under any circumstance.
Question 5: Which condition at a needle insertion site is an absolute contraindication to needling?
- Mild muscle soreness
- Active local infection or open wound (Correct answer)
- Slight skin dryness
- Superficial scar tissue from old injury
Correct answer: Active local infection or open wound
Active infection or an open wound at a proposed needling site is an absolute contraindication because needling could introduce pathogens deeper into tissue or spread infection.
Question 6: How should used acupuncture needles be disposed of according to standard sharps disposal regulations?
- Wrapped in gauze and placed in regular trash
- Recapped and placed in a biohazard bag
- Uncapped and placed directly into an approved sharps container (Correct answer)
- Bent and then placed into any sealed container
Correct answer: Uncapped and placed directly into an approved sharps container
Used needles must be disposed of uncapped and immediately placed into an FDA-cleared, puncture-resistant sharps container to prevent needlestick injuries.
Question 7: A chiropractor notices a sharps container is three-quarters full. What is the appropriate next step?
- Continue using it until completely full to minimize waste
- Seal it and arrange for proper disposal, replacing it with a new container (Correct answer)
- Empty and clean the container for reuse
- Compress the contents and continue using the container
Correct answer: Seal it and arrange for proper disposal, replacing it with a new container
Sharps containers should be sealed and replaced when they reach the fill line (typically three-quarters full) to prevent overfilling, which can cause spills or needlestick injuries.
ACC Clean Needle Technique and Safety 2
Which of the following is the correct order for hand hygiene before acupuncture needle insertion?