CRCST Practice Exam

Question: 1 / 400

What is the consequence of using expired sterilization indicators?

They can be more reliable than current indicators

They may not provide accurate results

Using expired sterilization indicators may lead to inaccurate results, which directly impacts the effectiveness of the sterilization process. Sterilization indicators are designed to confirm that a sterilization cycle has reached the appropriate conditions necessary to eliminate pathogens. Once an indicator has expired, its chemical properties and reliability may degrade, meaning it could fail to accurately reflect the conditions present during the sterilization process.

If an expired indicator is utilized, there is a significant risk that a sterilization cycle may appear successful when, in fact, it may not have adequately sterilized the items. This can result in the use of contaminated instruments and increase the potential for infections in a clinical setting. Therefore, it is essential to utilize only current, unexpired sterilization indicators to ensure accurate monitoring of the sterilization process and maintain patient safety.

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They are preferred for long-term storage

They can improve sterilization results

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