Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

Which technique is used for an invasive procedure?

1. Clean

2. Sterile

3. Autoclave

4. Micro-clean

The correct answer is: Sterile

The correct response is focused on the necessity of maintaining a sterile environment for invasive procedures. Invasive procedures, which include surgeries or any medical actions that penetrate the skin or enter body cavities, require strict adherence to sterile techniques to minimize the risk of infection. Using sterile technique involves a process that ensures all instruments and equipment are free from all microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses. This is typically accomplished through methods such as using sterilized tools, wearing gloves, and maintaining a sterile field during the procedure. In contrast, clean techniques may reduce the number of pathogens but do not eliminate them completely, making them unsuitable for invasive procedures. Autoclaving is a specific method used to sterilize equipment and instruments but is not a technique applied directly during the procedure itself. Micro-clean does not specifically pertain to established medical practices for invasive procedures. Thus, the sterile technique is essential and explicitly intended for situations where the highest level of infection control is necessary.