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Free ICE Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style DANB Infection Control (ICE) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free ICE practice test to study every exam domain.

Question 1

A dental assistant has finished assisting with a procedure and is removing their personal protective equipment. To avoid contaminating the skin and clothing, which item should be removed FIRST?

  1. Gloves
  2. Protective eyewear
  3. Mask
  4. Gown
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Gloves

Question 2

A dental assistant's hands are visibly soiled with debris after a procedure. Which hand hygiene method is appropriate before treating the next patient?

  1. An alcohol-based hand rub, because it is the most effective option
  2. A waterless antiseptic foam followed by gloving
  3. Washing with soap and water
  4. An alcohol-based hand rub applied twice for added contact time
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Washing with soap and water

Question 3

During an oral surgical procedure involving the cutting of bone, what type of water or solution must be used to cool the bur and irrigate the surgical site?

  1. Treatment water meeting the ≤500 CFU/mL drinking-water standard
  2. Sterile water or sterile saline
  3. Filtered water from a self-contained reservoir bottle
  4. Distilled water run through the dental unit waterline
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Sterile water or sterile saline

Question 4

A clinical contact surface in the operatory is visibly contaminated with blood after a procedure. After cleaning, which level of EPA-registered disinfectant should be used on that surface?

  1. A low-level disinfectant with an HIV/HBV label claim
  2. Any general-purpose detergent is sufficient once the surface is wiped
  3. An intermediate-level (tuberculocidal) disinfectant
  4. A high-level disinfectant such as glutaraldehyde
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - An intermediate-level (tuberculocidal) disinfectant

Question 5

To reduce the risk of backflow of previously suctioned fluids into a patient's mouth, a dental assistant should advise the patient to do which of the following while a saliva ejector is in use?

  1. Tilt the head toward the side being treated
  2. Breathe only through the nose for the duration of the suctioning
  3. Rinse vigorously several times before the saliva ejector is placed
  4. Avoid closing the lips tightly around the ejector tip
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Avoid closing the lips tightly around the ejector tip

Question 6

A sterilizer load has correct time, temperature, and pressure readings, and the autoclave tape on each pouch has changed color. Which monitoring result would actually confirm that sterilization was achieved?

  1. The color change on the external chemical indicator tape
  2. A negative biological (spore) test result
  3. The correct time, temperature, and pressure on the printout
  4. An internal multi-parameter chemical integrator that passed
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - A negative biological (spore) test result

Question 7

A weekly spore test comes back positive, but the mechanical readings and chemical indicators for that same cycle were all normal. What is the FIRST action the dental team should take?

  1. Take the sterilizer out of service and immediately repeat the spore test
  2. Continue using the sterilizer, since the physical and chemical indicators passed
  3. Recall and re-sterilize every instrument processed in the past six months
  4. Discard the sterilizer and purchase a replacement unit
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Take the sterilizer out of service and immediately repeat the spore test

Question 8

Between patients, how must a reusable dental handpiece that attaches to the air/waterline be reprocessed?

  1. Wiped down thoroughly with an intermediate-level surface disinfectant
  2. Immersed in a liquid chemical high-level disinfectant for 20 minutes
  3. Heat-sterilized according to the manufacturer's instructions
  4. Flushed with water and then wiped with an alcohol-based solution
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Heat-sterilized according to the manufacturer's instructions

Question 9

Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, when must the hepatitis B vaccination series be made available to a newly assigned dental employee who has occupational exposure, and who bears the cost?

  1. After a 90-day probationary period, with the cost shared by employer and employee
  2. Within 10 working days of assignment, at no cost to the employee
  3. Only after the employee has a documented exposure incident, at the employer's cost
  4. Within 30 days of assignment, with the employee reimbursed after one year
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Within 10 working days of assignment, at no cost to the employee

Question 10

A dental office is determining which body's requirements carry the force of law versus which are recommendations. Which agency issues and ENFORCES legally binding workplace safety regulations such as the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?

  1. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the federal public-health agency
  2. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
  3. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
  4. OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

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