DecontaminationQuestion 11 of 100
A technician fills the wash sink with very hot water to speed up cleaning. Why must manual cleaning water stay below approximately 140 degrees F (60 degrees C)?
a.Higher temperatures cause the detergent to foam excessively and overflow the sink
b.Higher temperatures make it impossible to see instruments below the water line
c.Heat above that point coagulates protein soil and bonds it to the instrument surface
d.Higher temperatures deactivate the chlorides that dissolve blood
Explanation
Protein denatures and coagulates with heat, so hot water effectively bakes blood and tissue onto instruments and makes removal much harder. Enzymatic detergents also lose activity outside the temperature window on the label. Foaming, visibility, and chloride activity are not the reason for the temperature limit.
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Related questions on this topic
- A technician is orienting a student at the ultrasonic cleaner and is asked what actually removes the soil from the instruments. What is the correct answer?
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