MDRAO Practice Test Video Answers
1. B
The primary role of an MDR Technician is to clean, disinfect, sterilize, and maintain reusable medical devices. They do not monitor patients or dispose of single-use items.
2. B
According to MDRAO, cleaning and decontamination must always occur first before packaging and sterilization.
3. B
Leak tests on flexible endoscopes help detect internal damage or holes that could allow fluid entry, which can ruin the device and compromise patient safety.
4. C
Chemical indicators only show exposure to a sterilization process (e.g., a color change) but do not prove sterility.
5. B
The Spaulding Classification categorizes devices by infection risk: critical (must be sterile), semi-critical (high-level disinfection), and non-critical (low-level disinfection).
6. B
Sterile packages should be stored at 18–23°C with 30–60% relative humidity for best shelf life and package integrity.
7. C
Instruments must be dried and placed in an open position before steam sterilization so steam penetrates all surfaces.
8. C
Enzymatic detergents break down organic material such as blood and tissue, making cleaning effective before sterilization.
9. B
PPE is required in decontamination to protect staff from bloodborne pathogens and chemical exposure.
10. B
Heavy items should be placed at the bottom of instrument sets to prevent damage to delicate instruments.
11. A
Biological indicators contain live spores and confirm sterilization effectiveness by detecting whether viable microorganisms remain.
12. B
Ethylene oxide gas is used for heat- and moisture-sensitive devices because steam would damage them.
13. C
A Bowie-Dick test checks for air removal and steam penetration in pre-vacuum sterilizers.
14. C
Mechanical monitoring records (time, temperature, pressure) must be reviewed after every cycle to confirm correct operation.
15. C
Handling sterile packs with wet or damp hands can compromise sterility, even if packaging looks intact.
16. B
Ultrasonic cleaning uses cavitation to clean complex lumens and areas that are hard to reach manually.
17. B
Biological testing is done weekly, or daily when sterilizers process implantable devices, to ensure reliability.
18. C
Damaged instruments must be removed from circulation and sent for repair or disposal to ensure patient safety.
19. C
Organic soil left on instruments reduces the effectiveness of high-level disinfectants, especially for endoscopes.
20. B
The purpose of decontamination is to remove bioburden and make devices safe for staff handling before sterilization.
21. B
The clean assembly and packaging area must maintain positive air pressure to keep contaminants from entering.
22. B
Instrument tracking must be updated at each step of reprocessing (cleaning, packaging, sterilization, storage, and distribution).
23. C
Treated or deionized water is required for the final rinse before sterilization to prevent deposits or corrosion.
24. C
Event-related shelf life means sterility depends on package integrity, not a fixed expiration date.
25. B
Load control labels allow staff to trace a sterilized pack back to the sterilizer cycle and date for recall if needed.
26. B
After manual cleaning, instruments must be air-dried or dried with lint-free towels before packaging.
27. B
Hinged instruments must be sterilized in an open position so steam or gas reaches all surfaces.
28. C
A successful sterilizer cycle is verified by reviewing mechanical readings plus biological and chemical indicator results.
29. B
A process challenge device (PCD) simulates the most difficult items to sterilize, testing sterilization effectiveness for the entire load.
30. B
If an internal chemical indicator shows incomplete color change, the package must be considered non-sterile and reprocessed.
31. C
A load record with cycle parameters (time, temp, pressure) and operator initials must be kept for every sterilization cycle.