CRCST Practice Exam

Sterile loads containing implants must be monitored with:

1. Chemical Indicator

2. Heat Integration Monitor

3. Biological Indicator

4. Steam Quality Monitor

The correct answer is: Biological Indicator

Sterile loads containing implants must be monitored with a Biological Indicator (BI) because implants are critical items that come into contact with sterile tissue or mucous membranes. Biological Indicators contain live bacterial spores that are more resistant to sterilization than typical microorganisms found on surgical instruments. Using Biological Indicators provides the most rigorous and accurate method for verifying that the sterilization process effectively kills all forms of microbial life, including the highly resistant spores. This ensures the safety of patients who receive implants during surgical procedures. Chemical Indicators and Heat Integration Monitors are helpful tools for monitoring sterilization processes, but they do not provide the same level of assurance as Biological Indicators when it comes to implant sterilization. Steam Quality Monitors are used to monitor the quality of steam in the sterilization process but do not specifically address the effectiveness of sterilizing implants.