Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) Practice Test 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Maintaining the channel of a High-Level Disinfected (HLD) endoscope in a dry state before storage is crucial for preventing bacterial growth. When the channel remains wet, it creates an environment conducive to microbial contamination, which can lead to infections if the endoscope is later used on patients. Dry storage helps ensure that any residual moisture is eliminated, thereby minimizing the risk of bacterial proliferation.

This practice aligns with the standards set by ANSI/AAMI ST-91, which provide guidelines for the reprocessing of flexible and semi-rigid endoscopes, emphasizing the importance of keeping the endoscopes dry during storage. Proper storage procedures not only protect the integrity of the endoscope but also safeguard patient safety by reducing the likelihood of infections stemming from improperly stored medical devices.

Other options, such as wet storage or keeping the endoscope in a saline solution, can promote the opposite effect, increasing the risk of contamination. Sealing in a plastic bag could be a potential storage method but does not specifically address the moisture concern that is critical for infection control.