CRCST Practice Exam 2025 - Free CRCST Practice Questions and Study Guide

The maintenance of sterilizers is critical to ensure their proper functioning and to meet safety and efficacy standards. Routine cleaning is essential to prevent the buildup of residues and contaminants that could compromise sterility. Functional testing is performed to verify that the sterilizer operates correctly under set parameters, ensuring that cycles achieve the necessary temperature and pressure levels required to effectively sterilize instruments and materials. Calibration is also important, as it ensures that the readings and operations of the sterilizer are accurate, directly affecting its ability to provide effective sterilization.

While options focusing solely on monthly deep cleaning or yearly servicing by a third party may touch on aspects of maintenance, they do not encompass the comprehensive approach required to maintain sterilizers effectively. Additionally, using harsh chemicals for cleaning can damage specific components and is not a standard practice, as it may impair the sterilizer's performance or safety. Therefore, the most accurate representation of the necessary maintenance protocols involves a combination of routine cleaning, functional testing, and calibration to ensure optimal performance.