IPAC Practice Question Bank — Ontario Dental Practice (Free, 50 Questions)

IPAC Practice Question Bank — Ontario Dental Practice

50 scenario questions. Each one carries its official citation and an explanation of why the other options are wrong — because the useful part is the reasoning, not the letter. Organised by province and setting, not by generic concept.

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Practice set (mixed)Q1
Biological monitoring frequency (Ontario · dental)

A dental practice in Ontario uses one sterilizer four days a week. How many biological monitoring tests does that sterilizer require?

Correct answer: B. The Ontario checklist requires the sterilizer to be tested with a BI in a process challenge device "each day the sterilizer is used and with each type of cycle used that day" (item 7.13, High risk). A: weekly is the general baseline quoted in some other guidance; it is not the Ontario requirement. C: there is no monthly option. D: a chemical indicator shows that conditions were met, not that the load was sterilized; the checklist also states that physical and chemical indicators do not ensure sterilization has been achieved.
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
Practice set (mixed)Q2
The control test (Ontario · general)

A practice runs one sterilizer and uses a single cycle type each day. How many BI-related tests does it need to prepare per day?

Correct answer: B. Alongside the test BI, the checklist requires a control BI to be incubated. The self-audit form used in Ontario practices puts it as "BI plus a control test completed once daily for each type of cycle". That is why a single-sterilizer practice uses about 40 BIs a month (2 a day × 20 working days), not 20. A and C: the requirement is one test BI plus one control BI per cycle type per day. D: package count does not change the BI requirement (a BI in a PCD is a separate requirement for loads containing implantable devices).
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, 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
Practice set (mixed)Q3
Cycle type coverage (Ontario · dental)

A practice runs both a wrapped instrument cycle and an unwrapped cycle. What must biological monitoring cover?

Correct answer: C. The requirement is "each day the sterilizer is used and with each type of cycle used that day". Treating every load as one category is the most common gap in smaller practices. A and B: selecting one cycle type leaves another unmonitored. D: the checklist sets the requirement, not the practice's preference.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 7.13 (H). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Practice set (mixed)Q4
Bowie-Dick and sterilizer type (Ontario · pre-vacuum)

Does a gravity displacement sterilizer need a Bowie-Dick test before use each day?

Correct answer: B. "An air removal test with a Type 2 chemical indicator (Bowie-Dick) is used specifically for testing pre-vacuum sterilizers." The checklist item reads: "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." A and C: wrong sterilizer type and wrong frequency. D: the test answers a different question from a BI — air removal, not sterility — and it does not replace one.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 7.18 (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 (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
Practice set (mixed)Q5
Chemical indicator placement (Ontario · packaging)

Where must chemical indicators be placed?

Correct answer: A. The checklist requires that CIs are placed "in (internal – minimum Type 4) and on (external – Type 1) each package, if not built into the pouch/package". The RCDSO standard says the same in different words: a Type 1 on the outside of each instrument package, and a Type 4, Type 5 or Type 6 inside each package. B: the external indicator is required but not sufficient. C: the external Type 1 is not optional. D: physical, chemical and biological monitoring are complementary in the standard, not alternatives.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, 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
Practice set (mixed)Q6
Records retention (Ontario · general)

How long must the sterilization monitoring log book be kept?

Correct answer: D. 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", and the Ontario self-audit form lists "Logbook kept for 10 years after last entry". A, B and C: shorter periods do not meet the requirement. In practice the harder question is not the retention period but whether each entry carries the elements that make a load traceable — see Q10 and Q30.
Source: 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. *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 · Date checked 2026-10-07
Practice set (mixed)Q7
Response to a positive BI (cross-jurisdiction · general)

A morning BI result is positive. Which of the following is NOT one of the immediate steps?

Correct answer: C. RCDSO guidance states: "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." Waiting a day means instruments that cannot be assumed sterile stay in circulation. A, B and D are the published steps; the sterilizer returns to service only if the repeat BI is negative and all physical and chemical indicators demonstrate adequate reprocessing.
Source: 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
Practice set (mixed)Q8
Two-province practice (Canada · Ontario and Quebec)

One organisation operates a clinic in Ontario and a clinic in Quebec. Which statement about biological monitoring is correct?

Correct answer: B. Ontario: a BI in a PCD on each day the sterilizer is used and with each type of cycle used that day. Quebec's own primary source states: "Il est recommandé d'utiliser un DPE avec IB et IC de type 5 pour vérifier chaque stérilisateur quotidiennement, mais cela est exigé de façon hebdomadaire pour chaque type de cycle qui est utilisé" — daily is recommended, weekly is required, for each type of cycle used. A: treating one province's rule as the other's is the most common attribution error. C and D: neither matches either primary source.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 7.13 (H). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Ordre des dentistes du Québec. *Lignes directrices — Prévention et contrôle des infections et retraitement des dispositifs médicaux*, revision February 2026 (French original quoted above). 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
Practice set (mixed)Q9
Reading and recording BI results (practical)

Why does the checklist expect the sterilizer's display, printout or USB record to be checked, verified and signed for each cycle, and why does RCDSO list misread indicators as a common operator error?

Correct answer: B. The checklist requires that "Sterilizer mechanical display, print out, or USB is checked, verified, and signed for each cycle by the person sterilizing the medical equipment/devices" (item 7.12, H), and RCDSO's list of common operator errors includes "Misinterpretation of the BI test result — BI was read incorrectly", "Confusing the BI test strip with the control strip — Control strip should always be positive" and "Expired BI lot number — Can cause an invalid result". Standardising incubation and reading, and recording the result against the cycle, addresses exactly those failure modes. A: there is no such prohibition in the sources. C: incubation and reading do not change the sterilization cycle's parameters. D: a BI detects the test organism's survival; the equipment used to incubate it does not change what the test is.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 7.12 (H). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · 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 · Date checked 2026-10-07
Practice set (mixed)Q10
Records versus format

A practice still records sterilization monitoring on paper. Which point does the checklist care about most?

Correct answer: B. The checklist specifies the information to be recorded: load control label (sterilizer number, load number, and date of sterilization); chart/printout of physical parameters; load contents; person responsible; CI monitoring results; and BI monitoring results. A record without those elements cannot be traced back to a load. A and C: appearance is not a checklist item. D: the checklist does not require software — paper logs are used, provided the required information is captured.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 1.1 (H). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Instrument reprocessingQ11
Classification

A probe that contacts mucous membrane but does not penetrate tissue is classified how?

Correct answer: B. "Semi-critical items: items that contact mucous membranes or non-intact skin, but ordinarily do not penetrate them." Reprocessing is cleaning followed by sterilization. A: critical items penetrate soft tissue or contact bone. C: non-critical items contact intact skin only. D: every reusable patient-care item falls into one of the three classes, and the class determines the reprocessing requirement.
Source: RCDSO. *Standard of Practice — Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office*, document 5539, pp. 19 and 38. 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*, items 5.1 and 7.1. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Instrument reprocessingQ12
Critical items

What is the required reprocessing for instruments that penetrate soft tissue or contact bone?

Correct answer: C. "Critical items: items that penetrate soft tissue or contact bone… Reprocessing of critical items involves meticulous cleaning followed by sterilization." The checklist states that critical and semicritical devices "are either disposable or sterilized using an approved sterilization process". A and B: high-level and low-level disinfection apply to semi-critical and non-critical items respectively; neither is an accepted alternative for critical items. D: frequency of use does not change the classification.
Source: RCDSO. *Standard of Practice — Infection Prevention and Control in the Dental Office*, document 5539, p. 38. 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
Instrument reprocessingQ13
At the point of use

Immediately after an instrument has been used at the chair, what is the required first step?

Correct answer: B. "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). Where cleaning cannot follow immediately, the devices are kept moist in a transport/holding container using a product intended for that purpose, per the MIFU (item 5.4, M). A: leaving soil to dry is the problem this step exists to prevent. C: delays cleaning. D: rinsing alone is not pre-cleaning and does not address bioburden.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, items 5.3 and 5.4 (M). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Instrument reprocessingQ14
New instruments

A newly purchased non-sterile critical instrument arrives from a supplier. May it be used straight from the packaging?

Correct answer: B. "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. A and C: intact packaging protects the item in transit; it does not establish sterility. D: the requirement is set by the checklist, and the procedure by the manufacturer's instructions — not by brand preference.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 5.1 (H). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Instrument reprocessingQ15
Packaging integrity

A reprocessed instrument package is found torn, wet or dropped on the floor. What is the required action?

Correct answer: B. The checklist states: "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." Repackaging without reprocessing does not restore the sterile barrier, and the checklist requires sterile devices to be stored in their sterile packaging until time of use (item 8.1). A and C: an intact sterile barrier is what allows sterility to be assumed. D: the requirement is not a matter of preference.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, items 7.20 (M), 8.1 and 8.2 (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. 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
Biological monitoring & indicatorsQ16
Frequency in a five-day practice

A sterilizer was used on five days this week. What must the biological monitoring record show?

Correct answer: B. The requirement is a BI in a PCD on "each day the sterilizer is used and with each type of cycle used that day". A: weekly testing does not meet Ontario's requirement. C: monitoring is not scheduled by workload. D: the checklist sets the frequency.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 7.13 (H). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Biological monitoring & indicatorsQ17
Consumption per day

Per sterilizer, per day, per cycle type, how many BIs does the Ontario requirement involve?

Correct answer: B. The checklist requires the test BI in a PCD (item 7.13) and a control BI from the same lot number, unexposed to sterilant, incubated according to the MIFU each day that routine BIs are incubated (item 7.14). The Ontario self-audit form states it as "BI plus a control test completed once daily for each type of cycle". A: omits the control. C: no third test is required. D: package count is not the driver; cycle type is.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, items 7.13 and 7.14. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · RCDSO. *IPAC Self-Audit Review Form*, document 5542, 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
Biological monitoring & indicatorsQ18
Cycle coverage

A practice runs a wrapped cycle and an unwrapped cycle. What must monitoring cover?

Correct answer: C. Coverage is by cycle type. A and B: leaving a cycle type unmonitored is the most frequently missed item in small practices. D: the requirement is set by the checklist.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 7.13 (H). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Biological monitoring & indicatorsQ19
Air removal testing

Does a gravity displacement sterilizer require a daily Bowie-Dick test?

Correct answer: B. "An air removal test with a Type 2 chemical indicator (Bowie-Dick) is used specifically for testing pre-vacuum sterilizers." For pre-vacuum sterilizers the test is done in an empty chamber every day the sterilizer is used (item 7.18, H). A and C: wrong sterilizer type or wrong frequency. D: an air removal test does not replace a BI and is not run as a substitute for it.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 7.18 (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
Biological monitoring & indicatorsQ20
Indicator placement

Which placement of chemical indicators is correct?

Correct answer: A. The checklist requires CIs "in (internal – minimum Type 4) and on (external – Type 1) each package, if not built into the pouch/package". Where a pouch already incorporates an internal Type 4 indicator, the case for an extra Type 5 in every package is weaker — but the external Type 1 is required either way. D: physical, chemical and biological monitoring are complementary; a BI is not a substitute for packaging indicators.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, 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
Biological monitoring & indicatorsQ21
Positive result

A morning BI is positive. Which action is NOT part of the published response?

Correct answer: C. A positive BI means the load cannot be assumed sterile. The sterilizer stays out of service while the repeat test is pending. A, B and D are the published steps: remove from service, quarantine the load and begin look-back, review physical and chemical indicator records since the last negative BI, check operator practice, repeat the BI with the same cycle, and return to service only if the repeat is negative with all other indicators demonstrating adequate reprocessing.
Source: 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
PPE & hand hygieneQ22
Hand rub at reception

What concentration of alcohol-based hand rub must be available at reception and in the waiting area?

Correct answer: A. The checklist item reads: "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). The Ontario self-audit form lists "Alcohol-based hand rub 70-90% (ABHR) and masks are available". B, C and D: none matches the published concentration range and availability requirement.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, item 1.3 (M). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · RCDSO. *IPAC Self-Audit Review Form*, document 5542, p. 2. https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5542_IPAC%20Self%20Audit%20Review%20Form_v2_RD_ACC.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
PPE & hand hygieneQ23
Requirement level of PPE

On the Ontario checklist, what is the requirement level for having PPE such as gown, gloves, mask and eye protection available?

Correct answer: B. Item 5.1 ("PPE, such as gown, gloves, mask, and eye protection, is available") carries the requirement level **LR — Legislated Requirement**, meaning it must be compliant with the relevant Act or regulation; the same item shows a risk level of M. Selection of PPE is based on a risk assessment (item 5.2). A: IE items are information-and-education items. C: PPE is not optional. D: the checklist does not limit the requirement to surgical procedures.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, items 5.1 and 5.2. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
PPE & hand hygieneQ24
Patients with symptoms of a communicable disease

A patient arrives with symptoms of an acute respiratory infection. What does the checklist require?

Correct answer: B. Item 1.2 requires "a process for managing patients/clients with symptoms of communicable disease(s) (e.g., acute respiratory infection) to prevent transmission to others" (M). The self-audit form adds that where the dental condition is urgent, every effort must be made to separate such patients from others as soon as possible. A and D: the requirement is a documented process, not an improvised decision. C: refusing all treatment is not what the item asks for.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, item 1.2 (M). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · RCDSO. *IPAC Self-Audit Review Form*, document 5542, p. 2. https://cdn.agilitycms.com/rcdso/pdf/ipac/RCDSO_5542_IPAC%20Self%20Audit%20Review%20Form_v2_RD_ACC.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
PPE & hand hygieneQ25
Environment

What does the checklist require for waiting-area furniture and high-touch surfaces such as chairs and toys?

Correct answer: B. Item 1.5 reads: "Furniture, items, and touch surfaces are clean. Toys, if available, are cleanable." The environmental cleaning sections require written procedures for cleaning each area of the setting, and cleanable, non-porous, seamless surfaces where possible. A: no weekly schedule is specified in the item. C: reactivity to visible soil is not the requirement. D: the core checklist covers environment at items 1.5 and section 2.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, item 1.5 (IE), sections 1 and 2. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Sharps, specimens & environmentQ26
Sharps container specification

The checklist specifies that sharps containers are clearly labelled, puncture-resistant, tamper-proof, closable, leak proof, and not filled past the fill line. What risk level does that item carry?

Correct answer: B. The container specification is item 14.1, rated **M (Medium Risk)** — "correct the medium risk activity/activities… timelines for compliance to be determined during the inspection". Other items in the same section carry a Legislated Requirement level: needles must be safety-engineered medical sharps wherever possible, citing *Ontario Regulation 474/07* (item 14.4, LR), and there must be written policies and procedures to prevent and manage injuries from sharp objects (item 14.5, LR). A: the LR level sits with those two items, not with the container specification. C and D: neither matches item 14.1.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, items 14.1 to 14.5. 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
Sharps, specimens & environmentQ27
Blood-borne pathogen exposure

Does a dental practice need a blood-borne pathogen post-exposure policy?

Correct answer: B. Item 21.3 requires 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 where indicated (IE). The same section requires a policy to prevent transmission of blood-borne pathogens, including an immunization policy for hepatitis B vaccination and a record of documented immunity by serology (item 21.2, IE), and expects responsible dentists, hygienists, owners, operators and managers to understand their duties under Ontario's *Occupational Health and Safety Act* (item 21.1, LR). A: rarity is not a criterion. C: the checklist applies to dental practice settings. D: this is an employer duty, not an individual choice.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, section 21 (items 21.1, 21.2, 21.3). 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
Sharps, specimens & environmentQ28
Specimen handling

What does the checklist require for handling blood and body fluids, including biopsy specimens?

Correct answer: B. Item 15.1 reads: "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" (IE). The section also requires a designated storage area for specimens separate from clean supplies (15.2, IE) and a dedicated specimen refrigerator, with specimens not stored with medications or food (15.3, M). A, C and D: each omits the policy requirement the item states.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, items 15.1 to 15.3. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Sharps, specimens & environmentQ29
Dental unit waterlines

Which set of waterline requirements appears in the checklist?

Correct answer: B. Section 7 covers waterlines and water quality: staff trained regarding 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 (7.5, M); sterile water or sterile saline used when irrigating open surgical sites and whenever bone is cut during invasive procedures (7.6, M). A, C and D: none matches the section.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, items 7.1 to 7.6 (M). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Sharps, specimens & environmentQ30
Traceability of a record

What makes a sterilization record traceable to a specific load?

Correct answer: B. The checklist specifies the recorded information as: load control label (sterilizer number, load number, and date of sterilization); chart/printout of physical parameters; load contents; person responsible; CI monitoring results; and BI monitoring results. Without the load control label a result cannot be linked back to the instruments that were in the chamber. A and C: not checklist items. D: software is not required; the information is.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 1.1 (H). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Staff education & trainingQ31
How the RCDSO standard frames training

How does the RCDSO standard of practice frame IPAC training for oral health care workers?

Correct answer: B. The standard states: "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." It 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. A and D: the standard uses "must". C: the requirement is ongoing, not a one-time induction step.
Source: 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 · Date checked 2026-10-07
Staff education & trainingQ32
What the policies must be based on

What does the checklist require of the practice's written IPAC policies and procedures?

Correct answer: B. Item 19.1 reads: "There are written IPAC policies and procedures that are based on the most current best practices"; item 19.2 adds that they are "developed and reviewed on an ongoing basis and are based on current scientific literature and best practices" (both IE). A and D: neither the checklist nor good practice supports a one-time document. C: the requirement is for written policies and procedures.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, items 19.1 and 19.2. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Staff education & trainingQ33
Training records

Why does the checklist require a process for recording and reporting attendance at staff education?

Correct answer: B. Item 20.3 requires "a process for recording and reporting of attendance at staff education and training sessions" (IE), and the RCDSO standard requires the Office Manual to include a process for recording and reporting attendance. Where documentation is absent, training cannot be shown to have happened. A: the purpose is broader than filing. C and D: neither matches the item.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, item 20.3 (IE). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · 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 · Date checked 2026-10-07
Staff education & trainingQ34
Who has to be trained

Who must receive IPAC training in a dental setting?

Correct answer: C. The RCDSO standard addresses "all OHCWs": office-specific training at orientation and whenever new tasks, procedures or equipment are introduced, reviewed at least annually. The reprocessing checklist adds that "Staff assigned to reprocess dental/medical equipment/devices receive device-specific reprocessing instructions from the device manufacturer" (9.2, M), and that there is a policy specifying the frequency of education and training as well as competency assessment for all personnel involved in reprocessing (9.3, IE). A, B and D: each is narrower than the sources.
Source: 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 — Reprocessing*, items 9.2 and 9.3. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Staff education & trainingQ35
Training versus certification

How do compliance training and professional certification relate?

Correct answer: B. Two layers. The compliance layer: office-specific IPAC training for all OHCWs, reviewed at least annually, with attendance recorded; competency assessment for personnel involved in reprocessing. The certification layer: a-IPC™ (no job-specific or education requirement), CIC® (at least one year of full-time infection prevention experience, or two years part-time, or 3,000 hours in the previous three years) and LTC-CIP®. A and C: the sources do not condition the right to practise on a certification. D: equipment does not replace training.
Source: 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 · 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 · Date checked 2026-10-07
Organisation & processQ36
Form of the policies

In what form must IPAC policies and procedures exist?

Correct answer: B. Item 19.1 begins "There are written IPAC policies and procedures that are based on the most current best practices." A, C and D: none satisfies the requirement for a written document set.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, item 19.1. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Organisation & processQ37
Keeping policies current

What must the IPAC policies be based on?

Correct answer: B. Item 19.1 requires policies "based on the most current best practices"; item 19.2 requires that they are "developed and reviewed on an ongoing basis and are based on current scientific literature and best practices" (both IE). A, C and D: none of these is a recognised basis under the item.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, items 19.1 and 19.2. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Organisation & processQ38
High risk

On the Ontario dental IPAC checklists, what does "High Risk (H)" mean?

Correct answer: B. The legend reads: "High Risk (H): Immediate health hazard exists. Correct the specific high risk activity/activities immediately. The act or failure to act immediately may lead to the transmission of infection or risk of illness or injury." The legend also defines LR as "must be compliant with the relevant Act or regulation", M as "correct the medium risk activity/activities" with timelines set during the inspection, and IE as "provide information on best practices and mandatory legislated practice requirements". A, C and D: each understates the level.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, legend page. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, legend page. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Organisation & processQ39
What the checklists are built on

Which document is named as the basis of the two Ontario dental IPAC checklists?

Correct answer: B. The core elements checklist states: "The content of this checklist is based on the Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee's (PIDAC) Infection Prevention and Control for Clinical Office Practice, June 2013 and consolidates legislation, published standards and recommendations from government, agencies, regulatory bodies and professional associations, as relevant to the dental context." The reprocessing checklist states the same for PIDAC's *Best Practices for Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization of Medical Equipment/Devices*, May 2013. A, C and D: each appears as an additional resource in places, but neither is the named basis.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, introduction page. 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, introduction page. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · PIDAC. *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 · PIDAC. *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 · Date checked 2026-10-07
Organisation & processQ40
Who published the checklists

Who published the Ontario dental IPAC checklists?

Correct answer: B. The checklists state: "Public Health Ontario (PHO) has developed this checklist for IPAC Core Elements in Dental Practice in collaboration with the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO), the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO), and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC)." That multi-party development is why the checklist functions as an inspection tool. A, C and D: none published the document.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, 1st revision July 2019, introduction page. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Applied scenariosQ41
One day, three cycle types

A practice runs one sterilizer and three different cycle types in a single day. How many BIs does that day require at minimum?

Correct answer: B. The requirement is per sterilizer, per day the sterilizer is used, per cycle type used that day — and each test BI is paired with a control BI. Three cycle types × (one test + one control) = six. A and C: both omit either the cycle-type split or the control. D: neither element is reflected.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, items 7.13 and 7.14. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · RCDSO. *IPAC Self-Audit Review Form*, document 5542, 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
Applied scenariosQ42
Monthly consumption

A practice runs one sterilizer with one cycle type, about 20 working days a month. What is the closest monthly BI requirement?

Correct answer: B. Two per day (test plus control) × 20 working days = 40. A is the figure many practices order, and it runs out mid-month. C and D: neither follows from the requirement.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, items 7.13 and 7.14. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · RCDSO. *IPAC Self-Audit Review Form*, document 5542, 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
Applied scenariosQ43
One organisation, two provinces

An organisation operates one clinic in Ontario and one in Quebec. Which statement is correct?

Correct answer: B. Ontario requires a BI in a PCD on each day the sterilizer is used and with each type of cycle used that day. Quebec's guidance states that daily verification is recommended but weekly is required for each type of cycle used — "mais cela est exigé de façon hebdomadaire pour chaque type de cycle qui est utilisé". A: attributing the Quebec rule to Ontario, or the reverse, is a common error. C and D: neither matches either primary source.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 7.13 (H). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · 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
Applied scenariosQ44
Pre-inspection self-check

When preparing for an inspection, which of these matters least?

Correct answer: C. The checklist specifies the information to be recorded and requires documentation of test results, monitoring results and training attendance. Appearance is not a checklist item. A, B and D are the substance: traceability, cycle-type coverage and documented handling of failures.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, item 1.1 (H). 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 · Date checked 2026-10-07
Applied scenariosQ45
New employee, first day on reprocessing

A new employee is scheduled to reprocess instruments on their first day. What is the correct order?

Correct answer: B. The RCDSO standard requires office-specific IPAC training at orientation and whenever new tasks, procedures or equipment are introduced. The reprocessing checklist requires that staff assigned to reprocess devices receive device-specific reprocessing instructions from the manufacturer (9.2, M), and that there is a policy specifying the frequency of education and training and competency assessment for all personnel involved in reprocessing (9.3, IE). A and D: working before instruction, and working without a record, are both excluded by those items. C: a signature does not substitute for the training and the record.
Source: 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 — Reprocessing*, items 9.2 and 9.3. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07
Concepts & certificationQ46
Sterility assurance level

What does a sterility assurance level of 10⁻⁶ mean?

Correct answer: B. SAL is expressed as a probability. It is a property of a validated sterilization process, established through validation and routine monitoring — not through testing each individual instrument. That is why routine monitoring uses physical parameters, chemical indicators and biological indicators in a process challenge device rather than per-item testing. A: sterile is defined by a probability, not by certainty. C and D: neither follows from the term.
Source: 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 · 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 · Date checked 2026-10-07
Concepts & certificationQ47
D value

What does the D value describe?

Correct answer: B. The D value describes the resistance of the biological challenge — the time (or dose) to reduce the test population by one logarithm (90%) under stated conditions. It is a property of the test organism and the exposure conditions, not of a particular sterilizer's performance on a given day. A, C and D: each confuses the term with something else.
Source: ISO. *ISO 11139:2018 — Vocabulary of terms used in sterilization and related equipment and process standards*. https://www.iso.org/standard/66262.html · ISO. *ISO 11138-1:2017 — Sterilization of health care products — Biological indicators — Part 1: General requirements*. https://www.iso.org/standard/66442.html · Date checked 2026-10-07
Concepts & certificationQ48
Certification entry requirements

Which statement about infection prevention certification entry requirements is correct?

Correct answer: B. CBIC states for a-IPC™: "There are no job-specific or education requirements to be eligible for the a-IPC™." For CIC®, the exam "is geared toward the professional who has had at least one year of full-time experience in infection prevention and control"; the eligibility guidelines give the alternatives as at least one year full-time, two years part-time, or 3,000 hours of infection prevention work experience in the previous three years. A, C and D: each contradicts one of those statements.
Source: 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. *CIC® — About the Examination*. https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/CIC-Certification/About-the-Examination.htm · Date checked 2026-10-07
Concepts & certificationQ49
Continuing education units

A long-term care operator wants its staff training to provide infection prevention units (IPUs). What is the correct position?

Correct answer: B. CBIC's 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, describing a course as earning or counting toward units misstates the position. A and D: approval sits with the provider, not with the learner. C: the mechanism exists and is published.
Source: CBIC. *IPU Provider Approval Requests*. https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/Recertify/Recertification-by-Continuing-Education/IPU-Provider-Approval-Requests.htm · Date checked 2026-10-07
Concepts & certificationQ50
Why the record carries the weight

Why is a monitored record treated as more important than a single passing result?

Correct answer: B. The checklists require a maintained and reviewed log of test results with specified contents, other logs for efficacy testing and maintenance, and periodic review of policies. A pass on one day says nothing about the other days; the record is what allows an inspector to see whether the process is being run consistently, and whether failures were detected and handled. A, C and D: none is a reason the requirement exists.
Source: Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Reprocessing*, items 1.1 and 1.2. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-reprocessing.pdf · Public Health Ontario. *IPAC Checklist for Dental Practice — Core Elements*, item 19.2. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/2019/checklist-ipac-dental-core.pdf · PIDAC. *Best Practices for Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization in All Health Care Settings*, May 2013 (written procedures for monitoring, recall and reprocessing). https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/B/2013/bp-cleaning-disinfection-sterilization-hcs.pdf · Date checked 2026-10-07

Not affiliated with or endorsed by CBIC. These are practice questions written from published Canadian sources; they are not official CBIC material, no continuing-education credit is offered, and passing them does not certify anyone. CliniEco Medical is a Health Canada licensed medical device importer and distributor (MDEL 35334) — we are not a certification body.