New York Nail Technician License Practice Test

What level of decontamination completely destroys all living organisms?

1. Disinfection

2. Sanitation

3. Sterilization

4. Degerming

The correct answer is: Sterilization

Sterilization is the level of decontamination that completely destroys all living organisms, including bacteria, viruses, spores, and fungi. This process is essential in settings where the highest level of cleanliness and safety is required, such as in medical or surgical environments and when implementing procedures that involve invasive techniques. In nail care practices, understanding sterilization is crucial for ensuring that all tools and surfaces are free from any potential pathogens, thereby preventing infections and cross-contamination between clients. The goal of sterilization is to achieve a state of absolute cleanliness, ensuring that no viable microorganisms remain. The term sanitation refers to maintaining cleanliness to promote health and prevent illness, but it does not guarantee the elimination of all microorganisms. Disinfection reduces the number of harmful organisms but may not kill all pathogens, especially resistant spores. Degerming involves reducing the number of microbes through gentle scrubbing and washing, but it also does not achieve complete sterilization. Therefore, among these options, sterilization is the only method that reliably ensures that all living organisms are completely destroyed.