CRCST documentation and quality assurance practice questions, with every answer explained

1. The surgeon's name, the patient diagnosis and the room temperature
2. Sterilizer ID, cycle number, date, contents and operator
3. Only the date, since the printout already shows everything else
4. The color of the wrap and the number of staff on shift

Answer: B. A sterilizer load record identifies the sterilizer, the cycle or load number, the date, the contents of the load, the cycle parameters and the person who ran it. This lets the department trace every item to its cycle and recall it if a problem is found.

Why not A: Load records describe the sterilization process and contents, not patient diagnoses or room temperature.

Why not C: The record must identify the sterilizer, cycle, contents and operator so the load can be traced and recalled.

Why not D: Wrap color and staffing levels do not allow a load to be traced or its process verified.

Exam tactic: Which machine, which cycle, what was in it, who ran it.

1. It is not a problem because the strip passed
2. It only matters if the strip had failed
3. Strip results are kept by the manufacturer, not the facility
4. There is no proof the test was done

Answer: D. Each minimum effective concentration test of a high-level disinfectant, along with the solution temperature, date and technician, is recorded in a log. In quality and regulatory reviews, a task that is not documented is treated as not done.

Why not A: A passing test that is not documented cannot be verified during audits or investigations.

Why not B: Both passing and failing results are recorded so every use of the solution is traceable.

Why not C: The facility documents its own concentration tests. The manufacturer does not keep these records.

Exam tactic: Not documented = not done.

1. Record every result and act on any failure
2. Look at the result and discard it if the washer passed
3. Record results only when the washer fails the test
4. Send the results to the manufacturer and keep no local copy

Answer: A. Washer efficacy tests are documented with the equipment, date, result and person who ran the test. A failure triggers removing the washer from service and corrective action, which is also documented.

Why not B: Passing results are also recorded. They show the washer was working on that date.

Why not C: Documenting only failures leaves no evidence of performance on the other days.

Why not D: The facility must keep its own records of equipment testing.

Exam tactic: Every test, pass or fail, goes on the record.

1. Only that the sterilizer is back in service
2. Nothing, because the vendor keeps its own service reports anyway
3. Date, problem, work done, technician and testing before use
4. Only the cost of the repair for the budget file

Answer: C. Maintenance records for each sterilizer list the date, the reason for service, the work performed, who performed it and any testing done before the unit returned to use. This history supports troubleshooting and recall investigations.

Why not A: A bare note gives no history of the problem or the repair and does not show the required testing.

Why not B: The facility must keep its own maintenance history for each piece of equipment.

Why not D: Cost data alone does not show what was repaired or that the sterilizer was tested before use.

Exam tactic: Repair record: when, what, who, tested.

1. A copy of the purchase order for the new instruments
2. Signed records of training and competency validation for each technician
3. A verbal statement from the manager that everyone was shown
4. The vendor's sales brochure filed in the department

Answer: B. Facilities document initial training and ongoing competency for each technician on the processes and devices they handle, including new devices. These records are reviewed by accreditors and support safe practice.

Why not A: A purchase order shows the item was bought, not that staff can reprocess it.

Why not C: Verbal assurances cannot be verified. Training and competency must be documented.

Why not D: A brochure is marketing material and says nothing about staff competency.

Exam tactic: If they were trained, prove it on paper.

1. As long as facility policy requires, per applicable law
2. Until the end of the current shift when the logs are filed
3. Only until the next sterilizer test is run
4. Only until the items in the load are used

Answer: A. The retention period for sterilization, testing and maintenance records is set by facility policy, which reflects legal and regulatory requirements. Technicians follow that policy and never discard records early.

Why not B: Records are needed for recalls, audits and investigations long after the shift ends.

Why not C: Records are kept for the policy period, not replaced by the next test.

Why not D: Use of the items does not end the need for records. They support later investigations.

Exam tactic: Retention: policy decides.

1. Cover it with correction fluid and write over it
2. Scribble it out completely so it cannot be read
3. Tear out the page and rewrite the whole log neatly from the start
4. Single line through it, correct entry, initials and date

Answer: D. Errors on paper records are corrected with a single line through the entry so it stays readable, followed by the correct information, the initials of the person correcting it and the date. Records are never erased, obscured or removed.

Why not A: Correction fluid hides the original entry, which is not acceptable on a legal record.

Why not B: The original entry must remain readable to show what was changed.

Why not C: Removing pages destroys records and looks like falsification.

Exam tactic: One line, initial, date.

1. Only the test BI result, since the control is not part of the test
2. Only whether the chemical indicator in the test pack changed
3. Test and control BI results, lot number, sterilizer and load
4. Nothing until a test BI becomes positive

Answer: C. Biological indicator records include the test BI result, the control BI result from the same lot, the BI lot number, the sterilizer and load identification, the date and the person reading it. A valid result is a negative test BI with a positive control.

Why not A: The control BI result is recorded too. It confirms the BI lot was viable and incubated correctly.

Why not B: A chemical indicator does not replace the BI result in the record.

Why not D: Negative results are recorded as well, to show the sterilizer was monitored.

Exam tactic: Log both BIs: test negative, control positive.

1. Identifying the one person to blame and discipline
2. Writing an incident report to close the file quickly
3. Proving that the department followed every policy
4. Finding the system and process failures that allowed the event

Answer: D. A root cause analysis asks why the event happened, repeatedly, until underlying system and process causes are found. Corrective actions target those causes so the event does not recur.

Why not A: Root cause analysis looks beyond individual blame to the underlying processes.

Why not B: A report alone does not identify why the event happened or prevent it.

Why not C: The goal is to learn what failed, not to defend the department.

Exam tactic: Ask why until you hit the process.

1. Check
2. Plan
3. Do
4. Act

Answer: A. In the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle, the Check step compares results after the change with the baseline to see whether it improved performance. Act then standardizes or revises the change.

Why not B: Plan is when the problem is analyzed and the change is designed.

Why not C: Do is when the change is carried out, first on a small scale.

Why not D: Act is when the change is adopted, adjusted or abandoned based on what Check showed.

Exam tactic: Check = did it work?