Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET) Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-In-One Guide for Exam Success!

An autoclave is specifically designed for sterilizing medical equipment using high-pressure steam. This process involves subjecting items to high temperatures and pressure to effectively kill all microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and spores, which are often resistant to other forms of disinfection. The method is highly effective and is considered the gold standard for sterilization in medical and laboratory settings.

The steam penetrates the materials being sterilized, ensuring that even difficult-to-reach areas are thoroughly sterilized. Because of its ability to achieve high temperatures, the autoclave is capable of delving deep into porous materials and ensuring that surgical instruments are completely free of contaminants before they are used on patients. This is critical for maintaining patient safety and preventing infections during surgical procedures.

While cleaning surgical tools is an important step in the preparation process, it does not achieve sterilization on its own, which is distinct from the autoclave's intended purpose. Disinfecting surfaces is also a necessary aspect of maintaining hygiene in medical settings but is not the function of an autoclave. Storing medical supplies is unrelated to the sterilization process altogether. Thus, the primary function of an autoclave, as indicated, is to sterilize medical equipment using high-pressure steam.