Certified Manager Of Animal Resources (CMAR) AR Practice Exam

The standard autoclave sterilization cycle commonly cited is:

15 minutes at 250°F at 15 psi 30 minutes at 200°F at 10 psi 5 minutes at 180°F at 5 psi 60 minutes at 300°F at 20 psi

Correct Answer:

15 minutes at 250°F at 15 psi

Explanation:

Steam under pressure makes autoclaving effective by driving the temperature up to about 121°C (250°F). At this temperature, proteins in microorganisms denature and most spores are killed when the exposure is long enough. The commonly cited standard cycle uses 121°C at about 15 psi for 15 minutes, which reliably sterilizes typical wrapped instruments and loads while keeping the process efficient. The other options either don’t reach a sufficient temperature or time to guarantee sterility, or impose a higher temperature for longer than the standard routine, which isn’t the typical cycle referenced for general autoclave sterilization.

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