Infection Prevention and Control — A Practical Study Guide
Ontario dental practice · English edition v1.0. Written for the person who has to answer the inspector, not for someone memorising theory. Every requirement below carries its official citation, and every section ends with a What to do list.
- Section 0 · First, establish who regulates you
- Section 1 · Biological monitoring (BI) — where teams lose the most marks
- Section 2 · Chemical indicators — placed by package
- Section 3 · Instrument reprocessing
- Section 4 · PPE and hand hygiene
- Section 5 · Sharps, specimens and the environment
- Section 6 · Records and retention — what an inspector actually reads
- Section 7 · Staff education and training
- Section 8 · Self-test (10 questions)
- Appendix A · Sources (each one checked on 2026-10-07)
- Appendix B · Note on item numbering
CliniEco Medical · Infection Control Training Assets · 2026-10-07
How to use this material
- Every section ends with a "What to do" list — actions, not facts to memorise.
- Every requirement carries an official citation: organisation + document title + item or page + date checked + URL.
- Section 8 has ten self-test questions. Anything you answer wrongly sends you back to the section that covers it.
- This material is not a substitute for compliance advice. Where a regulator's currently published text differs from anything here, the published text governs.
Scope of this edition: Ontario dental practice. Quebec has its own primary source (ODQ) and its own monitoring frequency — see Section 1.1 and question 8. Ontario requirements must not be presented as national requirements.
Section 0 · First, establish who regulates you
Infection prevention and control (IPAC) requirements for an Ontario dental practice come from four layers, not from a single document.
| Layer | Who | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Legislation | Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations | PPE, blood-borne pathogens, sharps — these are legislated duties, not suggestions |
| Regulator | RCDSO (Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario) | Standards of practice, IPAC requirements, record keeping |
| Public health guidance | PHO / PIDAC (Public Health Ontario / Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee) | Best-practice guidance that the provincial checklists are built on |
| Inspection tool | Public Health Ontario, developed in collaboration with RCDSO, CDHO and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care | The two dental IPAC checklists a public health unit actually works from |
The key idea: at an inspection you are measured against the checklist, not against a general guideline. Every item on the checklist carries a requirement level and a risk level.
| Level | Meaning (verbatim from the checklist legend) |
|---|---|
| LR — Legislated Requirement | Must be compliant with the relevant Act or regulation (e.g., Occupational Health and Safety Act). |
| H — High Risk | Immediate health hazard exists. Correct the specific high risk activity/activities immediately. |
| M — Medium Risk | Correct the medium risk activity/activities. Timelines for compliance or agreement on alternate process to be determined during the inspection. |
| IE — Inform and Educate | Provide information on best practices and mandatory legislated practice requirements (where applicable). Just-in-time education may be provided. |
The checklist also states that these categories represent the minimum risk level: the public health unit may increase the risk category.
Sources: Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements, 1st revision July 2019 (first published October 2017) — legend and "When to use this checklist" page — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing of Dental/Medical Equipment/Devices, 1st revision July 2019 — legend page — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf
Section 1 · Biological monitoring (BI) — where teams lose the most marks
1.1 Frequency: Ontario is daily, not weekly
Requirement (High risk): "Sterilizer is tested with a BI in a process challenge device (PCD) each day the sterilizer is used and with each type of cycle used that day."
The common trap: the general baseline many people quote is weekly. That is not the Ontario requirement. A practice open five days a week needs monitoring on each of those five days — not once a week.
Source: Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing of Dental/Medical Equipment/Devices, 1st revision July 2019, item 7.13 (H) — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf (date checked 2026-10-07)
Comparative note (Quebec): Quebec's own primary source states that daily verification is recommended but weekly is required, for each type of cycle used. Do not present the Ontario frequency as a Canadian requirement. See Section 1.6.
1.2 Do not forget the control
Requirement (Medium risk): "A control BI from the same lot number as the test BI and unexposed to sterilant is incubated according to the MIFU each day that routine BIs are incubated."
Therefore the real consumption is 2 BIs per day per cycle type:
| Configuration | Daily use | Monthly use (20 working days) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 sterilizer × 1 cycle type | 2 | 40 |
| 1 sterilizer × 2 cycle types | 4 | 80 |
| 1 sterilizer × 3 cycle types | 6 | 120 |
Ordering trap: practices that plan on "20 a month" run out mid-month. The self-audit form for Ontario practices lists the requirement as "BI plus a control test completed once daily for each type of cycle".
Sources: Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing, 1st revision July 2019, item 7.14 (M) — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · RCDSO, IPAC Self-Audit Review Form, document 5542 (03/24), p. 8 — https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5542_IPAC%20Self%20Audit%20Review%20Form_v2_RD_ACC.pdf (date checked 2026-10-07)
1.3 Cycle type: each type must be covered
Requirement: monitoring covers "each type of cycle used that day" — a wrapped cycle and an unwrapped cycle are separate types.
Most common gap: treating every load as one category, so one cycle type is never monitored.
Source: Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing, 1st revision July 2019, item 7.13 — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf (date checked 2026-10-07)
1.4 Bowie-Dick: pre-vacuum only, and never a substitute for a BI
| Sterilizer | Air removal test required? |
|---|---|
| Pre-vacuum | Yes — every day the sterilizer is used, in an empty chamber |
| Gravity displacement | No |
Two things must stay separate:
- The air removal test answers "was the air removed?" — "An air removal test with a Type 2 chemical indicator (Bowie-Dick) is used specifically for testing pre-vacuum sterilizers."
- A BI answers "was the load actually sterilized?"
- A passed Bowie-Dick test does not replace a BI.
Sources: Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing, 1st revision July 2019, item 7.18 (H) — "If a pre-vacuum sterilizer is used, an air-detection PCD (e.g., Bowie-Dick test pack) is done, in an empty chamber, every day the sterilizer is used." — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · RCDSO, Standard of Practice — Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office, document 5539 (03/24), p. 23 — https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5539_Standard%20of%20Practice_Infection%20Prevention%20and%20Control_v3_ACC.pdf (date checked 2026-10-07)
1.5 A positive BI — the order of steps is not negotiable
"In the event of a positive BI, it must be assumed that the cycle load was not sterilized, and that the sterilizer has malfunctioned, until a full investigation has proven otherwise. Immediate steps must be taken to take the sterilizer out of service, quarantine the cycle load and begin look-back procedures."
The published sequence:
- Remove the sterilizer from service.
- Quarantine the load; identify and reprocess affected instruments.
- Review all records of physical and chemical indicators since the last negative BI, and review procedures to determine whether operator error could be responsible.
- Repeat the BI immediately, using the same cycle that produced the failure. The sterilizer must remain out of service while waiting for the repeat result.
- Only if the repeat BI is negative and all physical and chemical indicators demonstrate adequate reprocessing may the sterilizer be put back into service.
What is not acceptable: continuing to treat patients and waiting for the next day's result. A positive result means the day's load cannot be assumed sterile.
Sources: RCDSO, Potential Causes of a Positive Biological Indicator, document 5541 (v3) — https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5541_Potential%20Causes%20of%20a%20Positive%20BI_v3_ACC.pdf · RCDSO, Standard of Practice — Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office, document 5539, p. 25 — https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5539_Standard%20of%20Practice_Infection%20Prevention%20and%20Control_v3_ACC.pdf (date checked 2026-10-07)
1.6 Quebec is different, and says so in writing
Quebec's provincial guidance states, for a process challenge device containing a biological indicator and a Type 5 chemical indicator: it is recommended to verify each sterilizer daily, "mais cela est exigé de façon hebdomadaire pour chaque type de cycle qui est utilisé (p. ex., le cycle emballé ou le cycle non emballé)" — that is, daily is recommended, weekly is required, for each type of cycle used (for example, the wrapped cycle or the unwrapped cycle).
Translation of the operative words: "mais cela est exigé de façon hebdomadaire" = "but this is required weekly". The French original is quoted above so the wording can be checked directly; do not paraphrase it into a different obligation.
Source: Ordre des dentistes du Québec, Lignes directrices — Prévention et contrôle des infections et retraitement des dispositifs médicaux, revision February 2026 — https://www.odq.qc.ca/accueil/lignes-directrices-sur-la-prevention-et-controle-des-infections-et-le-retraitement-des-dispositifs-medicaux/ (date checked 2026-10-07)
Section 2 · Chemical indicators — placed by package
Requirement (High risk): "CIs are placed appropriately in (internal – minimum Type 4) and on (external – Type 1) each package, if not built into the pouch/package."
The same requirement in the RCDSO standard reads: "each package must have external and internal chemical indicators. Place a Type 1 chemical indicator on the outside of each instrument package. Also, place a Type 4, Type 5 or Type 6 chemical indicator inside each package. Some pouches incorporate Type 1 external and Type 4 internal chemical indicators."
Practical judgement: where a pouch already incorporates an internal indicator, the case for buying an additional Type 5 indicator for every package is weaker. The external Type 1 indicator is not optional.
On the labels "Type" and "Class": Canadian standards and guidance (CSA, RCDSO, PHO) use Type 1 to Type 6. PIDAC's cleaning, disinfection and sterilization guidance and many AAMI/ISO documents use Class I to Class 6. They refer to the same six indicator types — the label differs between documents, the indicator does not. When quoting a source, quote the label that source uses.
Sources: Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing, 1st revision July 2019, item 7.9 (H) — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · RCDSO, Standard of Practice — Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office, document 5539, p. 23 — https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5539_Standard%20of%20Practice_Infection%20Prevention%20and%20Control_v3_ACC.pdf (date checked 2026-10-07)
Section 3 · Instrument reprocessing
3.1 Classification (critical / semi-critical / non-critical)
| Category | Definition (verbatim, RCDSO glossary) | Reprocessing |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | Items that penetrate soft tissue or contact bone | Cleaning followed by sterilization |
| Semi-critical | Items that contact mucous membranes or non-intact skin, but ordinarily do not penetrate them | Cleaning followed by sterilization |
| Non-critical | Items that contact intact skin, but not mucous membranes, or do not directly contact the patient | Cleaning followed by low-level disinfection |
The Ontario checklist follows the same logic: "Critical and semicritical dental/medical equipment/devices are either disposable or sterilized using an approved sterilization process."
Sources: RCDSO, Standard of Practice — Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office, document 5539, p. 19 (classification table) and p. 38 (glossary definitions) — https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5539_Standard%20of%20Practice_Infection%20Prevention%20and%20Control_v3_ACC.pdf · Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing, item 7.1 (H) — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf (date checked 2026-10-07)
3.2 The reprocessing sequence
- Pre-clean at the point of use — "Immediately after use, the dental/medical equipment/devices are pre-cleaned (e.g., wiped, gross soil removed manually) at the point of use before transport for further manual or mechanical cleaning." (item 5.3, M)
- Transport — if cleaning cannot be done immediately, keep the items moist in a transport/holding container using a product intended for that purpose, per the manufacturer's instructions for use (MIFU) (item 5.4, M)
- Clean — manually with friction and a detergent or enzymatic solution, or mechanically in a washer/disinfector or ultrasonic cleaner (item 5.7, H)
- Rinse and dry — rinse thoroughly to remove residues; dry before sterilization (items 5.14 and 5.15, M)
- Package — according to the MIFU for both the packaging and the device; the package must allow steam to contact all surfaces (items 7.4 and 7.5)
- Sterilize — "Dental/medical equipment/devices are sterilized in accordance with the MIFU (e.g., recommended cycle parameters)." (item 7.11, H)
- Store — "Sterile dental/medical equipment/devices are stored in their sterile packaging until time of use." (item 8.1, H); stored securely so they stay clean, dry and free of contamination (item 8.2, H)
New instruments: "Newly purchased, non-sterile critical and semicritical dental/medical equipment/devices are inspected and reprocessed prior to use, according to their intended use, as per MIFU." (item 5.1, H). Manufacturing, transport and storage do not guarantee sterility.
If the packaging is compromised: "Processed packages that are unsealed, damaged, wet, visibly soiled or have been dropped on the floor are considered contaminated and are reprocessed through the full reprocessing cycle." (item 7.20, M). The RCDSO standard adds: "If the packaging is compromised (e.g. unsealed, damaged, wet, visibly soiled or dropped on the floor), the instruments must be cleaned, packaged and sterilized again." A sterile barrier that has failed means sterility can no longer be assumed.
Source: Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing of Dental/Medical Equipment/Devices, 1st revision July 2019 — items 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.7, 5.14, 5.15, 7.1, 7.4, 7.5, 7.11, 7.20, 8.1, 8.2 — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · RCDSO, Standard of Practice — Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office, document 5539, p. 25 — https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5539_Standard%20of%20Practice_Infection%20Prevention%20and%20Control_v3_ACC.pdf (date checked 2026-10-07)
Section 4 · PPE and hand hygiene
In Ontario, PPE is a legislated requirement, not a recommendation.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| ABHR at reception / waiting area | "Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) at 70-90% and masks are available at reception and in the waiting area with signage for appropriate use." (item 1.3, M) |
| ABHR or soap at point of care | "ABHR or liquid soap and water, if hands are visibly soiled, is available and accessible at point of care." (item 4.2, H) |
| PPE available | "PPE, such as gown, gloves, mask, and eye protection, is available." — requirement level LR (item 5.1) |
| PPE selected by risk assessment | Selection is based on a risk assessment of the procedure and the likelihood of exposure (item 5.2) |
| Patients with symptoms of a communicable disease | "There is a process for managing patients/clients with symptoms of communicable disease(s) (e.g., acute respiratory infection) to prevent transmission to others." (item 1.2, M) — a process, not an improvised decision |
| Furniture and touch surfaces | "Furniture, items, and touch surfaces are clean. Toys, if available, are cleanable." (item 1.5, IE) |
Blood-borne pathogens (section 21, Occupational health and safety): "There is a policy or procedure in place to prevent the transmission of blood-borne pathogens (i.e., hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV) that includes an immunization policy for hepatitis B vaccination and a record of documented immunity to hepatitis B by serology." (item 21.2, IE). "There is a blood-borne pathogen post-exposure management policy or procedure that incorporates worker education and facilitation of timely access to a medical assessment for appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis PEP if indicated (e.g., HIV PEP medications)." (item 21.3, IE). The same section expects that responsible dentists, dental hygienists, owners, operators and managers understand their duties under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (item 21.1, LR), and that there is a healthy workplace policy with a clear expectation that staff do not come to work when ill with symptoms of infection (item 21.4, IE).
Sources: Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements, 1st revision July 2019 — items 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 21.1 to 21.4 — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1 — https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90o01 (date checked 2026-10-07)
Section 5 · Sharps, specimens and the environment
5.1 Sharps
Container specification (Medium risk): "Sharps containers are: clearly labelled as sharps containers, preferably with a biohazard symbol, or colour-coded according to the employer's safe work practices; puncture-resistant; tamper-proof; closable, contained sharps are to not be able to fall out with normal use; leak proof on both sides and bottom; and not filled past the fill line, usually at the 3/4 mark." (item 14.1, M)
Placement and removal: a puncture-resistant sharps container at the point of use, and/or sharps transported to the reprocessing area in a covered container or cassette (item 14.2, M); filled containers stored securely for timely and safe removal according to local legislated biomedical waste by-laws (item 14.3, M).
Safety-engineered devices: "Needles are safety-engineered medical sharps (SEMS) whenever possible." — requirement level LR, citing Ontario Regulation 474/07 (Needle Safety) (item 14.4).
Written procedures: "There are written policies and procedures to prevent and manage injuries from sharp objects." — requirement level LR (item 14.5).
5.2 Specimens
"There is a policy or procedure for handling of all blood and body fluids. This includes blood specimens obtained through venipuncture (e.g., platelet rich plasma for bone grafts) and biopsy specimens." (item 15.1, IE). There is also a designated storage area for specimens separate from clean supplies (item 15.2, IE) and a dedicated specimen refrigerator, with specimens not stored with medications or food (item 15.3, M).
5.3 Dental unit waterlines
Section 7 of the core checklist covers waterlines and water quality. Items include: staff trained in water quality, biofilm formation, water treatment methods and maintenance protocols (7.1, M); waterlines monitored for damage or visible contamination and replaced as needed or as directed by the manufacturer (7.2, M); waterline heaters are not used (7.3, M); all waterlines purged at the beginning of each workday by flushing thoroughly with water for at least two minutes, with handpieces, air/water syringe tips and ultrasonic tips removed first (7.4, M); handpieces using water coolant run for a minimum of 20 seconds after patient care, then removed, with clinical contact surfaces cleaned and disinfected before another sterilized handpiece is attached (7.5, M); sterile water or sterile saline used when irrigating open surgical sites and whenever bone is cut during invasive surgical procedures (7.6, M).
Sources: Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements, 1st revision July 2019 — items 14.1 to 14.5, 15.1 to 15.3, 7.1 to 7.6 — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Ontario Regulation 474/07 (Needle Safety) — https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/070474 (date checked 2026-10-07)
Section 6 · Records and retention — what an inspector actually reads
An inspector is not asking whether you passed once. An inspector is asking whether you can show that the process ran consistently.
Requirement (High risk): a log of test results during sterilization is maintained and reviewed. The information to be recorded includes:
- load control label (sterilizer number, load number, and date of sterilization)
- chart/printout of physical parameters of the sterilization cycle
- load contents
- person responsible for the sterilization cycle
- chemical indicator (CI) monitoring results
- biological indicator (BI) monitoring results
Other logs — efficacy testing and maintenance for the ultrasonic cleaner and the washer/disinfector — are kept as per the MIFU (item 1.2, M).
Why the load control label matters: it is what connects a result to a specific load. Without the sterilizer number, load number and date, a result cannot be traced back to the instruments that were in the chamber. That is the line between "a record" and "evidence".
Retention: the self-audit form for Ontario practices lists "Logbook kept for 10 years after last entry"; the RCDSO standard states the log book "must be maintained for at least 10 years from the date of the last entry in that record".
Lot numbers and BI validity: RCDSO's list of common operator errors includes "Expired BI lot number — Can cause an invalid result" and "Confusing the BI test strip with the control strip — Control strip should always be positive".
Sources: Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing, 1st revision July 2019, items 1.1 (H) and 1.2 (M) — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · RCDSO, IPAC Self-Audit Review Form, document 5542, p. 9 — https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5542_IPAC%20Self%20Audit%20Review%20Form_v2_RD_ACC.pdf · RCDSO, Standard of Practice — Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office, document 5539, p. 25 — https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5539_Standard%20of%20Practice_Infection%20Prevention%20and%20Control_v3_ACC.pdf · RCDSO, Potential Causes of a Positive Biological Indicator, document 5541 — https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5541_Potential%20Causes%20of%20a%20Positive%20BI_v3_ACC.pdf (date checked 2026-10-07)
Section 7 · Staff education and training
Ontario requirement (RCDSO standard): "All OHCWs must receive office-specific training in IPAC as part of their orientation, and whenever new tasks, procedures or equipment are introduced. This training should be supplemented whenever necessary and reviewed at least annually by means of staff meetings, attendance at continuing education courses and through self-learning programs." The standard also requires that all OHCWs receive appropriate and ongoing training in IPAC, and that the Office Manual include a process for recording and reporting attendance.
The deciding question at an inspection: no record means the work cannot be shown to have happened.
Checklist items:
| Item | Requirement level |
|---|---|
| "Staff receive office-specific training in IPAC as part of their orientation, whenever new tasks and procedures or equipment are introduced. This training is supplemented whenever necessary and reviewed at least annually." (20.1) | IE |
| "There is a process for recording and reporting of attendance at staff education and training sessions." (20.3) | IE |
| "Staff assigned to reprocess dental/medical equipment/devices receive device-specific reprocessing instructions from the device manufacturer…" (reprocessing checklist 9.2) | M |
| A policy specifying the requirements for, and frequency of, education and training at regular intervals, as well as competency assessment for all personnel involved in reprocessing (9.3) | IE |
| Records of training and continuing education are maintained (9.4) | IE |
| Where reprocessing is performed, a designated individual responsible for reprocessing, trained to the level required for the volume and complexity of the equipment (9.5) | M |
Certification path (optional, separate from the compliance layer):
| Credential | Entry requirement (verbatim, CBIC) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| a-IPC™ | "There are no job-specific or education requirements to be eligible for the a-IPC™." | Entry-level certification; intended for the novice and for those interested in pursuing careers in infection prevention and control |
| CIC® | "At least one year full-time employment OR Two (2) years part-time employment OR Completed 3,000 hours of infection prevention work experience earned during the previous three (3) years" | Certification is maintained through CBIC's recertification process — by examination, or by continuing education / infection prevention units (IPUs) |
| LTC-CIP® | Long-term care certification; eligibility set out in CBIC's LTC eligibility guidelines | Aligned with the long-term care IPAC lead role |
Ontario long-term care context: the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 requires every licensee to ensure the home has an infection prevention and control program (s. 23) and an infection prevention and control lead whose primary responsibility is the home's infection prevention and control program (s. 23(4)); the lead's qualifications are provided for in the regulations (O. Reg. 246/22, s. 102 "Infection prevention and control program"). The Act and regulation set the requirements; they do not name a specific certification.
On continuing education units: CBIC approval is issued to providers. Its IPU Provider Approval process covers "a continuing education offering that is eligible for infection prevention units (IPUs)", reviewed by CBIC's IPU Committee. Until a provider holds that approval, training can only be described as training with a certificate of completion. This material is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, CBIC.
Sources: RCDSO, Standard of Practice — Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office, document 5539, p. 13 — https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5539_Standard%20of%20Practice_Infection%20Prevention%20and%20Control_v3_ACC.pdf · Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements, 1st revision July 2019, items 20.1 and 20.3 — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Public Health Ontario, IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing, 1st revision July 2019, items 9.1 to 9.5 — https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · CBIC, a-IPC™ — https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Get-Certified/Get-Started/a-IPC.htm · CBIC, CIC® Eligibility Guidelines — https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Candidate-Handbook/Eligibility-Requirements/Updated-CIC-Eligibility-Requirements.htm · CBIC, Recertify — https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify.htm · CBIC, IPU Provider Approval Requests — https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education/IPU-Provider-Approval-Requests.htm · Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, S.O. 2021, c. 39, Sched. 1, s. 23 — https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/21f39 · O. Reg. 246/22, s. 102 — https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r22246 (date checked 2026-10-07)
Section 8 · Self-test (10 questions)
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A sterilizer is used four days a week. How many biological monitoring tests are required?
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How many BI tests does one sterilizer need per day, per cycle type?
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Does a gravity displacement sterilizer need a Bowie-Dick test?
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Can a passed Bowie-Dick test replace a BI?
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What is the reprocessing requirement for critical items?
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How are chemical indicators placed?
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What concentration of ABHR must be available at reception and in the waiting area?
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In Ontario, what is the requirement level of the PPE items on the checklist?
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Which record element connects a result to a specific load?
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How long must the sterilization log book be kept?
Scored badly on a question? Go back to the section that covers it and re-read.
Appendix A · Sources (each one checked on 2026-10-07)
| # | Source | Document / item | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCDSO | Standard of Practice — Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office (document 5539, 03/24), pp. 13, 19, 23, 25, 38 | https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5539_Standard%20of%20Practice_Infection%20Prevention%20and%20Control_v3_ACC.pdf |
| 2 | RCDSO | IPAC Self-Audit Review Form (document 5542, 03/24), pp. 8, 9, 17 | https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5542_IPAC%20Self%20Audit%20Review%20Form_v2_RD_ACC.pdf |
| 3 | RCDSO | Potential Causes of a Positive Biological Indicator (document 5541, v3) | https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5541_Potential%20Causes%20of%20a%20Positive%20BI_v3_ACC.pdf |
| 4 | RCDSO | How to Use Chemical Indicators, Biological Indicators and Process Challenge Devices to Monitor Sterilization (document 5543, 02/24) | https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5543_IPAC%20How%20to%20Use%20Chemical%20Indicators%20Flowchart_v2_ACC.pdf |
| 5 | RCDSO | IPAC resource page (document set index) | https://www.rcdso.org/en-ca/standards-guidelines-resources/standards-guidelines-advisories/infection-prevention-and-control |
| 6 | Public Health Ontario | IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements (published October 2017; 1st revision July 2019) | https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf |
| 7 | Public Health Ontario | IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing of Dental/Medical Equipment/Devices (1st revision July 2019) | https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf |
| 8 | PIDAC (Public Health Ontario) | Best Practices for Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization in All Health Care Settings, May 2013 | https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/B/2013/bp-cleaning-disinfection-sterilization-hcs.pdf |
| 9 | PIDAC (Public Health Ontario) | Infection Prevention and Control for Clinical Office Practice (published June 2013; 1st revision April 2015) | https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/B/2013/bp-clinical-office-practice.pdf |
| 10 | ODQ (Ordre des dentistes du Québec) | Lignes directrices — Prévention et contrôle des infections et retraitement des dispositifs médicaux, revision February 2026 | https://www.odq.qc.ca/accueil/lignes-directrices-sur-la-prevention-et-controle-des-infections-et-le-retraitement-des-dispositifs-medicaux/ |
| 11 | CSA Group | CAN/CSA-Z314-18, Canadian medical device reprocessing | https://www.csagroup.org/store/product/CAN-CSA-Z314-18/ |
| 12 | ISO | ISO 17665:2024 — Sterilization of health care products — Moist heat — Requirements for the development, validation and routine control of a sterilization process for medical devices | https://www.iso.org/standard/80271.html |
| 13 | ISO | ISO 11138-1:2017 — Sterilization of health care products — Biological indicators — Part 1: General requirements | https://www.iso.org/standard/66442.html |
| 14 | ISO | ISO 11139:2018 — Sterilization of health care products — Vocabulary of terms used in sterilization and related equipment and process standards | https://www.iso.org/standard/66262.html |
| 15 | CBIC | a-IPC™ | https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Get-Certified/Get-Started/a-IPC.htm |
| 16 | CBIC | CIC® Eligibility Guidelines | https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Candidate-Handbook/Eligibility-Requirements/Updated-CIC-Eligibility-Requirements.htm |
| 17 | CBIC | Recertify | https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify.htm |
| 18 | CBIC | IPU Provider Approval Requests | https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education/IPU-Provider-Approval-Requests.htm |
| 19 | Ontario | Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, S.O. 2021, c. 39, Sched. 1, s. 23 | https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/21f39 |
| 20 | Ontario | O. Reg. 246/22: General, s. 102 (Infection prevention and control program) | https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r22246 |
| 21 | Ontario | Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1 | https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90o01 |
| 22 | Ontario | O. Reg. 474/07: Needle Safety | https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/070474 |
Appendix B · Note on item numbering
The Ontario dental IPAC checklists were first published in October 2017 and revised in July 2019 ("1st Revision: July 2019"). The July 2019 revision restructured the item numbering — for example, the 2017 core checklist's reprocessing items (numbered 11.x) were separated into a dedicated Reprocessing of Dental/Medical Equipment/Devices checklist, where they appear as items 5.x and 7.x, and the education and policies items became sections 19 and 20 of the core checklist.
Item numbers quoted in this guide are those of the July 2019 revision (the version served by the URLs in Appendix A). If you are working from a printed 2017 copy, match on the item text, not the number.
This material is provided for study and training purposes. It is not compliance advice. Always work from the regulator's and public health unit's currently published text. CliniEco Medical · Infection Control Training Assets · 2026-10-07
This material is educational and is not a substitute for compliance advice. Where a regulator’s currently published text differs from anything here, the published text governs. Ontario requirements are not presented as national requirements; Québec has its own primary source. CliniEco Medical holds a Health Canada Medical Device Establishment Licence (MDEL 35334) as an importer and distributor; we are not a certification body.