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CRCST Sterile Processing Technician Exam — Practice

Preparation and Packaging: practice questions

Our CRCST bank has 52 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

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Question 1

Where should heavier instruments go in a tray?

  1. Outside the tray in a separate bag
  2. Only in peel pouches, never in trays
  3. On the bottom, delicate items on top
  4. On top of the delicate instruments
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C. On the bottom, delicate items on top — Heavy items on the bottom keep them from crushing delicate instruments.

Question 2

What should be done when double-pouching items in peel packs?

  1. Seal both pouches together in a single heat seal
  2. Inner pouch flat inside the outer, paper facing paper
  3. Fold the inner pouch so it fits the outer pouch
  4. Place the plastic side of one against the paper of the other
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B. Inner pouch flat inside the outer, paper facing paper — Inner pouches stay flat and oriented the same way so sterilant can pass through the paper sides.

Question 3

Why must the chemical indicator match the sterilization method?

  1. All indicators work in any sterilization method
  2. It makes the package lighter for the sterilizer
  3. Indicators are made for specific processes
  4. It changes the cycle temperature automatically
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C. Indicators are made for specific processes — A steam indicator won't respond correctly in ETO or hydrogen peroxide; the outline lists 'intended cycle'.

Question 4

What should wrapping be done to avoid?

  1. Folding the corners
  2. Adding indicator tape
  3. Tenting and gapping
  4. Using two sheets
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C. Tenting and gapping — CDC: wrap to avoid tenting and gapping, which can compromise the barrier.

Question 5

A technician is assembling a tray using the manufacturer's IFU for a new device. What does the IFU usually specify?

  1. Hospital parking and visitor rules
  2. Staff vacation and overtime policy
  3. Patient billing codes and charge amounts
  4. Validated cleaning, packaging and sterilization steps
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D. Validated cleaning, packaging and sterilization steps — IFUs give validated reprocessing steps; deviating from them can cause failures.

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