Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What is the significance of maintaining higher pressure in a steam sterilization process?

1. It increases the temperature of the steam

2. It reduces the time required for sterilization

3. It prevents water loss during the process

4. It improves the effectiveness of detergent

The correct answer is: It increases the temperature of the steam

Maintaining higher pressure in a steam sterilization process is pivotal because it leads to an increase in the temperature of the steam. Steam sterilizers operate on the principle that both temperature and pressure play critical roles in achieving effective sterilization. When pressure is elevated, the boiling point of water rises, allowing the steam to reach temperatures that are higher than 100 degrees Celsius, which is necessary for effective sterilization. At higher temperatures, the steam can penetrate materials more effectively and kill microorganisms, including spores, more reliably. This process not only ensures that the items being sterilized are subjected to sufficient heat to achieve sterilization but also helps in reducing the overall time required for the sterilization cycle, as higher temperatures can expedite the process, although this is not the primary role of pressure. While other factors such as prevention of water loss during the process and the effectiveness of detergents are important in different contexts, they do not directly relate to the primary function of maintaining higher pressure during steam sterilization. Therefore, the significance of higher pressure lies fundamentally in its ability to increase steam temperature, thereby enhancing the sterilization efficacy.