American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) Phlebotomy Practice Exam

What is the process that uses heat, steam, and chemicals to prevent infectious diseases called?

1. Disinfecting

2. Sterilizing

3. Cleansing

4. Sanitizing

The correct answer is: Sterilizing

The process that employs heat, steam, and chemicals to eliminate all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores, is categorized as sterilizing. This method is essential in a healthcare setting, particularly for ensuring that surgical instruments and other critical equipment are free from all pathogenic microorganisms. Sterilization achieves a higher level of microbial kill compared to other methods such as disinfecting or sanitizing, which only reduce the number of pathogens to safe levels but do not eliminate all microbes. The use of heat and steam, especially in autoclaving processes, is a standard sterilization technique in many medical and laboratory environments. Understanding the intricacies of these processes is crucial for phlebotomists and other healthcare professionals who must maintain the highest standards of infection control to protect both patients and themselves.