✓ TradeExamPro

TradeExamPro › Healthcare Support › Medical assistant

Infection procedures practice questions

29 questions from the medical assistant practice test.

Infection procedures practice test

10 questions, graded as you go, with the reason for every answer. No sign-up.

What this covers

Sample questions

After a blood draw, where does a gauze pad soaked with blood belong?

  1. Biohazard bag
  2. Soiled linen hamper
  3. Regular trash can
  4. Sharps container
Show the answer

A. Biohazard bag

Items saturated with blood are regulated waste and go in a labeled biohazard (red) bag. The sharps container is reserved for objects that can cut or puncture.

Reference: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, regulated waste

When must hands be washed with soap and water instead of an alcohol-based hand rub?

  1. Before entering every exam room
  2. After removing clean gloves
  3. When hands are visibly soiled
  4. Before taking a blood pressure
Show the answer

C. When hands are visibly soiled

Alcohol rub does not remove visible dirt, blood or body fluids, so soap and water are required when hands are visibly soiled (and after caring for a patient with C. difficile). For routine contact with clean-looking hands, alcohol rub is acceptable.

Reference: CDC hand hygiene guidance for healthcare settings

Before instruments are disinfected or sterilized, they must first be:

  1. Wrapped and dated for storage
  2. Sanitized to remove debris
  3. Soaked in sterile saline overnight
  4. Rinsed in alcohol and air dried
Show the answer

B. Sanitized to remove debris

Sanitization (cleaning with detergent and water, by hand or in an ultrasonic cleaner) removes organic material that would shield microorganisms. Wrapping comes after cleaning, just before the autoclave.

Reference: Medical asepsis: sanitization, disinfection, sterilization

Other topics