Free Hazardous Drug Management Certificate Exam Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Hazardous Drug Management Certificate Exam practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A technician will compound a nonsterile hazardous-drug powder for which aseptic processing is unnecessary. Which cabinet type does NIOSH identify as potentially sufficient for this work?

   1. A.Compounding aseptic isolator (CAI)
   2. B.Containment ventilated enclosure (CVE)Correct answer: B
   3. C.Laminar airflow workbench (LAFW)
   4. D.Restricted access barrier system (RABS)

   Explanation: NIOSH states, "When asepsis is not required, a Class I BSC, a containment ventilated enclosure (CVE), or an isolator intended for containment applications (a “containment isolator”) may be sufficient." A CVE supplies containment for this nonaseptic task; aseptic equipment without hazardous-drug containment is not the equivalent selection.

   Reference: Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare Settings — Section 6.2, printed p. 12

2. 2A pharmacy's procedure calls for chemically rendering a hazardous drug inactive on a work surface. Which process is being described?

   1. A.Decontamination
   2. B.Disinfection
   3. C.DeactivationCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Cleaning

   Explanation: NIOSH defines deactivation as "Renders a hazardous drug compound inert or inactive." Decontamination removes drug residue, disinfection targets microorganisms, and cleaning removes soil.

   Reference: Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare Settings — Glossary, printed p. xiii

3. 3A technician compares gloves for handling a hazardous drug in a particular diluent. Which information should guide selection under NIOSH's recommendation?

   1. A.The glove's nominal material thickness
   2. B.The glove's dry tensile-strength test data
   3. C.The glove's drug-and-diluent permeation test dataCorrect answer: C
   4. D.The glove's mechanical puncture-resistance data

   Explanation: NIOSH recommends data demonstrating "permeation resistance to specific hazardous drugs, including any solvents or diluents present." Thickness and resistance to mechanical damage do not establish chemical permeation resistance for the drug-and-diluent combination.

   Reference: Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare Settings — Section 6.4, Gloves, printed p. 17

4. 4A technician receives a carton identified as containing hazardous drugs. What initial check does OSHA describe before proceeding with unpacking?

   1. A.Reconcile each vial count against the purchase invoice.
   2. B.Inspect the carton for outward damage or breakage.Correct answer: B
   3. C.Verify each product's catalog number against the order.
   4. D.Compare each lot's expiration date against stock rotation.

   Explanation: OSHA calls "Visual examination of such cartons for outward signs of damage or breakage" an important first step. Inspecting the shipping container can reveal a need for damaged-package precautions before handling the contents.

   Reference: Controlling Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs — Section V, Storage and Transport, Receiving Damaged HD Packages

5. 5While helping evaluate a drug for hazardous handling, a technician reads evidence that the substance can damage or mutate DNA. Which toxicity characteristic describes that evidence?

   1. A.Teratogenicity
   2. B.Carcinogenicity
   3. C.Cytotoxicity
   4. D.GenotoxicityCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: NIOSH defines genotoxicity as "The ability to damage or mutate DNA." This is distinct from producing cancer, injuring cells generally, or causing developmental defects.

   Reference: Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare Settings — Glossary, printed p. xiii

6. 6A technician is newly assigned to hazardous-drug handling. When should the initial training be completed under NIOSH guidance?

   1. A.Before the technician first handles a hazardous drugCorrect answer: A
   2. B.After the technician completes the first supervised shift
   3. C.At the next scheduled annual competency review
   4. D.After the first month of routine hazardous-drug work

   Explanation: NIOSH states, "Initial training should be conducted before any workers handle a hazardous drug". Supervision or a future annual review does not replace pre-assignment training.

   Reference: Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare Settings — Section 6.3, printed p. 16

7. 7During sterile hazardous-drug compounding, a technician is offered a CSTD as the sole containment control. How should the technician apply NIOSH's recommendation?

   1. A.Use the CSTD in place of the externally ventilated cabinet.
   2. B.Use the CSTD in place of the room's ventilation system.
   3. C.Use the CSTD together with the primary engineering control.Correct answer: C
   4. D.Use the CSTD in place of the cabinet's exhaust filtration.

   Explanation: NIOSH describes supplemental controls that "should be used only in combination with primary engineering controls". A CSTD supplements the cabinet; it does not replace primary containment, room ventilation, or exhaust filtration.

   Reference: Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare Settings — Section 6.2, printed pp. 10, 12

8. 8A technician disinfects a sterile hazardous-drug cabinet with alcohol. Which effect should the technician attribute to this step?

   1. A.Disinfecting microbial contaminationCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Deactivating hazardous-drug molecules
   3. C.Neutralizing residual hypochlorite
   4. D.Removing all hazardous-drug residue

   Explanation: OSHA describes alcohol as "disinfecting (deactivating microbial contamination)" and states it "will not deactivate any HDs". Alcohol disinfection cannot substitute for hazardous-drug deactivation or decontamination.

   Reference: Controlling Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs — Section V, Decontamination, Deactivation, and Cleaning

9. 9A technician wants to prevent glove lubricant powder from adsorbing and retaining hazardous drugs. Which glove specification directly addresses this concern?

   1. A.Powder-freeCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Extended-cuff
   3. C.Textured-finish
   4. D.Ambidextrous

   Explanation: NIOSH states, "Use powder-free gloves because the powder can contaminate the work area and might adsorb and retain hazardous drugs." The powder-free specification removes this source of retained contamination; cuff length, surface texture, and handedness describe other glove properties.

   Reference: Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare Settings — Section 6.4, Gloves, printed p. 17

10. 10A facility decides to open a damaged hazardous-drug shipping container to recover usable items. Where does NIOSH recommend opening it?

    1. A.In the general stockroom receiving station
    2. B.In the medication room beside a handwashing sink
    3. C.In the shipping office beside an exhaust grille
    4. D.Inside a fume hood or suitable containment enclosureCorrect answer: D

    Explanation: NIOSH states, "Open damaged containers inside of a fume hood, Class 1 BSC, or HEPA-filtered enclosure." General room ventilation or proximity to a sink is not equivalent to enclosed containment.

    Reference: Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare Settings — Section 8.2, Receiving, unpacking, and storing all types of hazardous drugs, printed p. 36