Standards and Guidelines Flashcards
6 cards from real IAHCSMM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Standards and Guidelines flashcards as text
The purpose of a Bowie-Dick test in steam sterilization is to:
Answer: Detect air leaks and inadequate air removal in pre-vacuum steam sterilizers
The Bowie-Dick test detects air pockets and inadequate air removal in pre-vacuum (dynamic air removal) steam sterilizers, which would prevent steam penetration.
Which class of chemical indicator provides the most information about sterilization process parameters by measuring multiple variables?
Answer: Class 5 (integrating indicators)
Class 5 (integrating indicators) respond to all critical sterilization parameters (time, temperature, and steam presence) and are designed to equal or exceed BI performance.
According to standard practice, how frequently must biological indicator testing be performed on steam sterilizers used for implantable devices?
Answer: Every load containing implants, with results reviewed before release
Every load containing implantable devices must be tested with a biological indicator, and results must be reviewed and confirmed negative before the implants are released for use.
The primary purpose of a sterilization load record is to:
Answer: Provide documentation of sterilization cycle parameters for quality assurance, traceability, and recall capability
Sterilization load records document cycle parameters, load contents, and monitoring results to enable quality assurance review, instrument traceability, and recall actions if sterilization failures occur.
Which statement about single-use devices (SUDs) in the CS department is MOST accurate?
Answer: Reprocessing of SUDs is prohibited unless performed by FDA-cleared third-party reprocessors following validated protocols
Reprocessing of SUDs in the U.S. is regulated by the FDA and must be performed by FDA-cleared third-party reprocessors using validated protocols - not by hospitals without FDA clearance.
The concept of sterility maintenance refers to:
Answer: The conditions required to keep a sterile item free from contamination after sterilization until point of use
Sterility maintenance encompasses the conditions - proper packaging, storage, handling, and transport - that keep a sterile item uncontaminated from the time it is sterilized until it is used.