Oregon Written Tattoo Practice Test

What do you call the procedure to destroy all microbial life including highly resistant bacterial endospores?

1. Autoclave

2. Disinfect

3. Sanitize

4. Sterilization

The correct answer is: Sterilization

The procedure to destroy all microbial life, including highly resistant bacterial endospores, is referred to as sterilization. This term specifically denotes a process that eliminates or destroys all forms of microbial life on a particular object or surface. Sterilization can be achieved through various methods, including heat, chemical agents, and radiation, but it is characterized by its ability to eradicate even the most resilient contaminants, such as bacterial spores. In contrast, while other options involve reducing or eliminating microbes, they do not reach the definitive level of sterilization. Disinfecting typically refers to the process of killing or inactivating most pathogenic microorganisms on surfaces or objects, but it may not eliminate all microbial life, particularly resistant forms. Sanitizing is a process that reduces the number of pathogens to a safe level as judged by public health standards but, again, it does not guarantee the complete destruction of all microorganisms. An autoclave is a device often used to achieve sterilization by applying high-pressure steam, but the term itself describes the procedure rather than the outcome. Thus, sterilization is the appropriate term for the comprehensive destruction of all microorganisms, including the toughest spores.