PSI Texas State Board Nail Tech practice exam

What procedure would prepare implements that may accidentally be exposed to blood or body fluid?

1. Cleaning

2. Disinfection

3. Sterilization

4. Sanitization

The correct answer is: Disinfection

The procedure that prepares implements that may accidentally be exposed to blood or body fluid is disinfection. Disinfection is a critical process in maintaining hygiene and safety in nail and beauty services. It involves using chemical agents to destroy or inactivate most pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can pose a risk of infection. When implements come into contact with blood or bodily fluids, they can become contaminated with harmful pathogens. Disinfection helps to ensure that these implements are safe to use on clients by significantly reducing the microbial load. Unlike cleaning, which primarily removes dirt and debris, disinfection specifically targets infection-causing organisms and is a necessary step before using the implements on another client. Sterilization, while even more thorough than disinfection as it eliminates all forms of microbial life, is typically reserved for procedures requiring absolute sterility, such as in medical settings. For most nail tech applications where exposure to blood or body fluids is a concern, disinfection is the appropriate procedure since it is sufficient to reduce the risk of infection for non-invasive procedures. Sanitization refers to processes that reduce the number of microorganisms to a safe level but may not fully eliminate all pathogens. Therefore, it is not adequate for implements that may have been exposed to blood or body