Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) SLC Practice Exam

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How long should materials be exposed to dry heat at 340°F for sterilization?

30 minutes
1 hour
2 hours
45 minutes

The correct answer is: 1 hour

The correct duration for exposing materials to dry heat at 340°F for sterilization is 1 hour. This temperature and time combination is widely accepted in sterilization protocols for ensuring the effective killing of microorganisms, including bacteria and spores. The heat penetrates the materials, effectively inactivating pathogens through denaturation of proteins and other cellular structures. When evaluating the effectiveness of sterilization, it's vital to ensure that the time and temperature are appropriately balanced. Too short of a duration at this high temperature could result in ineffective sterilization, as some resistant spores may survive. Therefore, maintaining the exposure time at 1 hour at 340°F is crucial for achieving complete sterilization of the materials in question.