Surgical Tech Practice Exam

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Prepare for your Surgical Tech Exam using comprehensive quizzes and practice questions tailored to enhance your knowledge and readiness. Each question comes with hints and detailed explanations, helping you confidently approach your test.

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What term describes the state of being free from all microorganisms, including spores?

Aseptic
Sterile
Contaminated
Disinfected

The correct answer is: Sterile

The term that describes the state of being free from all microorganisms, including spores, is indeed sterile. Sterility indicates the complete absence of viable microorganisms, which is critical in surgical settings and other healthcare environments where preventing infection is paramount. Aseptic technique, while related, refers more to procedures and practices designed to create and maintain a sterile environment rather than the state of being sterile itself. Contaminated would indicate the presence of microorganisms, and disinfected refers to surfaces or instruments that have been cleaned to reduce harmful pathogens but may still harbor some microorganisms. Thus, sterile is the precise term that conveys total microbial absence.