AAMA CMA Practice Question

Before sterilization, instruments must be thoroughly cleaned of all debris and dried. For effective steam penetration, hinged instruments must be placed in an open position. They are then placed in special packaging, such as a sterilization pouch, which allows steam to enter but maintains sterility after the process is complete. A chemical indicator is included in or on each package to provide visual confirmation that the items were exposed to the necessary sterilization parameters, such as high temperature. While biological indicators are used to definitively confirm the effectiveness of sterilization, chemical indicators are required for monitoring each load.