Medical Device Reprocessing Association of Ontario (MDRAO) Practice Exam

What parameters do sterilizers commonly monitor during their operation?

1. Time, temperature, flow rate

2. Humidity, pH, pressure

3. Time, temperature, pressure

4. Temperature, pressure, chemical concentration

The correct answer is: Time, temperature, pressure

Sterilizers are critical devices used in medical settings to ensure that all microbial life, including spores, are effectively killed to maintain patient safety. The parameters commonly monitored during a sterilization cycle are time, temperature, and pressure. Time is crucial because each sterilization method requires a specific duration to ensure that all microorganisms are destroyed. Temperature is another vital factor, as different sterilization techniques, such as steam sterilization or dry heat sterilization, operate at distinct temperature ranges to achieve effective sterilization. Pressure is particularly significant in steam sterilization, where maintaining the correct pressure is essential to reach the boiling point of water and ensure steam penetration into the items being sterilized. While humidity, pH, and flow rate are important in certain contexts and types of sterilization, they are not universally monitored across all sterilizer types. Similarly, chemical concentration applies to specific sterilization methods like chemical vapor sterilization but is not standard for all sterilization processes. Thus, time, temperature, and pressure encompass the fundamental parameters that are consistently monitored to ensure effective sterilization in a variety of settings.