CIS - Certified Instrument Specialist Storage and Distribution of Surgical Instruments Questions and Answers Flashcards
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Read the first 6 CIS - Certified Instrument Specialist Storage and Distribution of Surgical Instruments Questions and Answers flashcards as text
Which relative humidity level should be maintained in a sterile storage area according to AAMI ST79?
Answer: 35–70%
AAMI ST79 recommends maintaining relative humidity between 35–70% in sterile storage areas to protect packaging integrity without causing static electricity from overly dry conditions.
What does a compromised peel-pouch seal indicate when inspecting an instrument before use?
Answer: The sterile barrier has been breached and the item must be reprocessed
A compromised peel-pouch seal means the sterile barrier is no longer intact, and the item must be reprocessed through the full sterilization cycle before use.
What is the primary reason sterile and non-sterile items must never be stored together?
Answer: To prevent cross-contamination and accidental use of non-sterile items in procedures
Mixing sterile and non-sterile items creates a risk that non-sterile items could be mistakenly used in sterile procedures, potentially causing patient infections.
When transporting sterile instrument sets to the OR, which container type is preferred to protect packaging integrity?
Answer: Enclosed covered cart or case cart
Enclosed covered case carts protect sterile packaging from contamination, moisture, and physical damage during transport through hospital corridors.
Which of the following would NOT be considered an 'event' that compromises sterile package integrity?
Answer: Package stored in cool, dry closed cabinet for 8 months
Under event-related sterility, a package stored under proper controlled conditions for any length of time is considered sterile unless a specific event compromises the barrier.
What action should be taken when an entire lot of sterile instruments must be recalled due to sterilizer malfunction?
Answer: Identify all items from the load using tracking data, retrieve them, and reprocess
A complete lot recall requires using tracking data to identify every item from the failed load, retrieving all sets from storage and any already in use, and reprocessing them.