CRCST CRCST Distribution and Delivery 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'par level' mean in central service supply management?
- The minimum quantity of an item that must be kept on hand (Correct answer)
- The maximum sterilization temperature
- The number of employees per shift
- The cost of each supply item
Correct answer: The minimum quantity of an item that must be kept on hand
Par level is the minimum quantity of a supply item that must be maintained to meet demand without running out.
Question 2: Which action should a CS technician take when a requested sterile item is out of stock?
- Substitute with any available sterile item
- Notify the requesting department and supervisor immediately (Correct answer)
- Skip the item and complete the rest of the order
- Send an unsterile substitute
Correct answer: Notify the requesting department and supervisor immediately
Immediately notifying the requesting department and supervisor allows for timely alternative arrangements and prevents surgical delays.
Question 3: Why should sterile packages NOT be stored directly on the floor?
- It is inconvenient for retrieval
- Floor storage risks moisture, contamination, and physical damage (Correct answer)
- It violates fire codes only
- It is too cold at floor level
Correct answer: Floor storage risks moisture, contamination, and physical damage
Storing sterile packages on the floor exposes them to moisture, dirt, and physical damage that can compromise package integrity and sterility.
Question 4: What is the recommended minimum distance from the floor for sterile storage shelves?
- 2 inches
- 8–10 inches (Correct answer)
- 18 inches
- 36 inches
Correct answer: 8–10 inches
Sterile items should be stored at least 8–10 inches above the floor to protect them from moisture and contamination during mopping.
Question 5: When a sterile tray is returned unused from the OR, what must be done before it is redistributed?
- Visually inspect and redistribute immediately
- Reprocess the tray through decontamination and sterilization (Correct answer)
- Just re-wrap and re-label it
- Store it in the sterile area for 24 hours
Correct answer: Reprocess the tray through decontamination and sterilization
Any tray returned from the OR is considered contaminated and must be fully reprocessed before redistribution to maintain patient safety.
Question 6: What is the role of the CS technician during a sterility recall event?
- Ignore it and continue normal operations
- Locate and quarantine all affected items and notify the appropriate departments (Correct answer)
- Discard all sterile stock immediately
- Contact the media
Correct answer: Locate and quarantine all affected items and notify the appropriate departments
During a sterility recall, CS technicians must promptly locate and quarantine affected items and notify relevant departments to prevent patient harm.
CRCST CRCST Distribution and Delivery 2
What does 'par level' mean in central service supply management?