Infection ControlQuestion 62 of 100
Contaminated instruments cannot be cleaned right away because the office is short-staffed. Why are they placed in a holding solution?
a.It sterilizes the instruments while they wait
b.It replaces the need for ultrasonic cleaning
c.It sharpens the cutting edges of the instruments
d.It keeps blood and debris from drying and hardening on the instruments
Explanation
A holding solution keeps bioburden moist so it does not dry onto the instruments, which would make later cleaning far more difficult and could shield microorganisms from the sterilant. A holding solution does not sterilize or disinfect and never replaces mechanical cleaning in an ultrasonic unit or instrument washer. It has no effect on instrument sharpness.
Law Reference: CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care SettingsPractice all 100 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- An assistant's hands are visibly soiled with saliva after removing gloves. What is the correct hand hygiene action?
- The team is preparing for an oral surgical procedure. Which hand hygiene method is indicated before donning sterile gloves?
- How should an instrument processing area be laid out?
- Why is an ultrasonic cleaner or instrument washer preferred over hand scrubbing contaminated instruments?
- Which gloves should be worn when cleaning contaminated instruments and disinfecting operatory surfaces?
- How often should a dental office perform biological (spore) monitoring of each sterilizer?
Last reviewed: · editorial process
PrepPass Editorial Team · Verified against DANB Radiation Health & Safety (RHS) + Infection Control (ICE) Exams · How we review