CRCST practice questions

Sterile Storage, Transport & Inventory: CRCST practice questions and answers

Event-related sterility, storage conditions, stock rotation, transport and inventory systems. This topic is about 9% of the CRCST exam. Try each question before opening the answer.

1. 1. Before dispensing a sterile peel pouch to the OR, what should a technician check?

   • A. Package integrity, seal quality, external chemical indicator change, and correct labeling
   • B. Only the date on the label
   • C. Only whether the item is the correct size
   • D. The weight of the package compared with similar items
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   A. Package integrity, seal quality, external chemical indicator change, and correct labeling

   Each sterile item should be inspected for tears, intact seals, an external indicator showing exposure, and proper labeling before distribution. Checking only the date ignores events that may have compromised sterility.

2. 2. A technician pulls a wrapped tray from sterile storage and notices a small tear in the outer wrap. Under event-related sterility, what should be done?

   • A. Tape over the tear and return it to the shelf
   • B. Consider it contaminated, remove it from use, and send it for reprocessing
   • C. Use it only if the expiration date has not passed
   • D. Open it and inspect the inner wrap before deciding
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   B. Consider it contaminated, remove it from use, and send it for reprocessing

   With event-related sterility, a package remains sterile until an event such as a tear compromises it, so a torn package must be reprocessed. Taping over the tear does not restore the barrier, and a date label does not override physical damage.

3. 3. What does the term event-related sterility mean?

   • A. An item is sterile for exactly 30 days after processing
   • B. An item is sterile only if it is used during the same event it was processed for
   • C. An item stays sterile until something happens that compromises its packaging, not because of the passage of time alone
   • D. An item loses sterility each time a sterilizer is serviced
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   C. An item stays sterile until something happens that compromises its packaging, not because of the passage of time alone

   Event-related sterility recognizes that contamination is caused by events like moisture, tears, or improper handling rather than a fixed time period. Facilities still rotate stock, but package integrity determines usability.

4. 4. A sterile storage shelf is installed so its lowest shelf sits directly on the floor. Why is this a problem?

   • A. The lowest shelf must be at least 3 feet above the floor
   • B. Floor-level shelving is only allowed for implant trays
   • C. Items should be kept at least 8–10 inches above the floor to protect them from floor cleaning and dust
   • D. Storage on the floor causes chemical indicators to change color
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   C. Items should be kept at least 8–10 inches above the floor to protect them from floor cleaning and dust

   Sterile items are kept 8–10 inches above the floor so mopping splash, dust and foot traffic do not contaminate them. Floor storage is not acceptable for any sterile items, including implants.

5. 5. When restocking sterile supplies, a technician places newly processed trays in front of older ones. What principle is being violated?

   • A. First-in, first-out (FIFO) stock rotation
   • B. Last-in, first-out inventory rotation
   • C. Event-related sterility
   • D. Just-in-time ordering
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   A. First-in, first-out (FIFO) stock rotation

   FIFO means older items are used first, so new stock goes behind or below existing stock. Putting new items in front leads to older items sitting unused and increases the chance of package damage over time.