Decontamination area air pressure

CRCST practice question · Cleaning, Decontamination & Disinfection

Which air pressure relationship should the decontamination area have relative to adjacent areas?

  • A. Positive pressure, so air flows out of decontamination into the corridor
  • B. Negative pressure, so air flows into decontamination rather than out of it
  • C. Neutral pressure, so air does not move between decontamination and other areas
  • D. Alternating pressure that switches between positive and negative each hour

Answer

B. Negative pressure, so air flows into decontamination rather than out of it

The decontamination area is kept under negative pressure so contaminated aerosols are drawn in and do not escape to clean areas. Positive pressure is used for clean areas such as prep and pack and sterile storage. Neutral or alternating pressure would not contain contaminants.

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