Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) Practice Test 2026 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Cross-contamination in endoscope reprocessing primarily occurs when contaminated instruments come into contact with clean instruments or surfaces. This transmission can happen at various points in the reprocessing cycle, where if safeguards and protocols are not strictly followed, pathogens from the contaminated instruments can be transferred to those that are meant to be sterile.

For instance, if a contaminated endoscope or accessory touches a surface that has not been properly disinfected, this can lead to the spread of infectious agents. This interaction emphasizes the importance of meticulous handling and thorough cleaning protocols throughout the entire reprocessing procedure to ensure that contamination does not occur at any stage.

In contrast, while using improper disinfectants and improper storage of sterile instruments can lead to failures in achieving sterility or adequate disinfection, they do not directly cause cross-contamination during the handling of instruments. Similarly, while transportation may pose a risk, it is not the only scenario in which cross-contamination can occur; multiple opportunities exist throughout the reprocessing workflow. Thus, ensuring that clean and contaminated items are never in contact is critical in preventing cross-contamination.