Airborne and Bloodborne Pathogens Test Questions

Preparing for an airborne and bloodborne pathogens certification test? If so, here are a few test questions we’ve developed to help you review.

Airborne Pathogens Test Questions

Which of the following is a common way to contract an airborne pathogen?

1. Sharing a toothbrush with an infected person.
2. Having sex with an infected person.
3. Standing too close to an infected person, and breathing in the pathogen when they cough or sneeze.
4. Eating food that has been contaminated by the pathogen.

Which of the following airborne pathogens can currently be prevented with a vaccine?

1. Influenza
2. COVID-19
3. Tuberculosis
4. HIV

Which of the following airborne pathogens are viruses?

1. Tuberculosis
2. COVID-19
3. Diphtheria
4. Brucellosis

Proper respiratory etiquette includes:

1. Covering your mouth with your hand when you cough.
2. Only coughing when facing away from other people.
3. Coughing into a tissue, then immediately discarding it.
4. Only coughing when standing at least six feet away from others.

When should you wash your hands at work?

1. After using the restroom.
2. After using a shared touchscreen at work.
3. After removing PPE.
4. All of the above.

What is the minimum alcohol percentage hand sanitizer needs to be effective?

1. 50%
2. 20%
3. 80%
4. 60%

Which of the following is not an example of an engineering control?

1. Glass or plastic barriers to separate cashiers from customers.
2. Markers on the ground to ensure spacing of 6 feet between people waiting in line.
3. Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette supplies placed in high-traffic areas.
4. A new rule saying everyone must wear masks inside the building.

Which of the following is a true statement about PPE?

1. You’re 100% protected from airborne pathogens if you wear PPE.
2. PPE does not provide perfect protection from airborne pathogens, but can reduce the risk considerably.
3. Your employer is required to provide you with PPE by law.
4. It is usually safe to reuse PPE and share it between co-workers.

Which is the most effective type of mask for protecting against airborne pathogens?

1. A cloth face mask.
2. A surgical mask.
3. An N95 respirator.
4. A cloth bandanna.

Before cleaning a facility that has been contaminated by an airborne pathogen, you should:

1. Keep the facility closed and off limits for at least 24 hours to let any pathogens in the building die.
2. Cover all surfaces in plastic tarp.
3. Reduce the amount of traffic into the facility to reduce the risk of infection.
4. All of the above.

Before beginning to clean a contaminated facility, the following steps should be taken:

1. Send cleaners in immediately upon discovering a contamination.
2. Close off the building for at least 12 hours before beginning the cleaning process.
3. Close off the building for at least 24 hours before beginning the cleaning process.
4. Turn off all electrical power to the contaminated building or area.

What is an example of an engineering control?

1. Rules about disposing of tissues immediately after use.
2. Asking someone to cover their mouth when they cough.
3. Glass or plastic barriers to separate workers from the public.
4. Sending an email asking employees to bring in their own soap for hand washing.

Steps you should take before cleaning a facility where airborne contamination may have occurred include:

1. Block off any rooms the infected person may have used.
2. Ensure you are familiar with your company's protocols on reporting potentially contaminated spaces.
3. Report any issues that could pose a challenge to safe cleaning.
4. All of the above.

Things you should clean in a facility where airborne pathogen contamination occurred include:

1. All surfaces, especially those in high-traffic spots.
2. All shared tools and touchscreens.
3. Soft surfaces, such as rugs and drapes.
4. All of the above.

When laundering bedding and clothing, you should:

1. Avoid shaking or agitating the laundry too much, as this could disseminate the pathogen into the air.
2. Use the coldest water setting possible.
3. Shake laundry vigorously before washing to remove any dust or dirt.
4. All of the above.

Transmission-Based Precautions are:

1. Designed to replace Standard Precautions in cases of more serious infection.
2. A second level of infection control, to be implemented on top of Standard Precautions when an infected person is in the building.
3. A third level of infection control, to be implemented when a person known to be infected with an airborne pathogen is in the building.
4. None of the above.

Airborne Precautions are:

1. Designed to replace Standard Precautions in cases of airborne infection.
2. Common-sense precautions that anyone can use, even if there are no known cases of infection.
3. To be used in conjunction with Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions when those infected with airborne pathogens are in the building.
4. None of the above.

Bloodborne Pathogens Test Questions

Which of the following is not a way to contract HIV-AIDS?

1. By having sex with an infected person
2. By drinking an infected person’s breast milk
3. By sharing needles with an infected person
4. By breathing in air near an infected person

What’s the least likely way to transmit HBV?

1. By having sex with an infected person
2. By sharing a toothbrush with an infected person
3. By breathing in the same air as an infected person
4. By sharing needles with an infected person

Which statement is TRUE about HCV?

1. There is no vaccine for HCV, but it can be cured.
2. There is no cure for HCV, but there is a vaccine.
3. There is no vaccine and no cure for HCV.
4. There is both a vaccine and a cure for HCV.

You work in a hospital. During the course of your work, you discover a blood spill. You aren’t sure where the blood came from or whether it’s infected. You should: 

1. Analyze the blood to see if it’s infected.
2. Treat it as if it’s infected and take all precautions.
3. Clean up the blood with a paper towel and disinfectant.
4. Wash your hands before attempting to clean up the spill.

Which is NOT considered an engineering control?

1. Puncture-resistant, leak-proof, clearly-labeled containers for sharps storage.
2. Signs reminding people of proper bloodborne pathogens precautions.
3. A rule saying you have to dispose of sharps needles properly.
4. Tongs, forceps, dustpans, and other tools for picking up contaminated sharps.

What is the right way to remove personal protective equipment (PPE)?

1. Take off your gloves, then your gown, then your mask.
2. Take off your gown, then your gloves, then anything else you’re wearing.
3. Take off your goggles, then your gloves, then your gown.
4. Always take your gloves off last.

Which of the following is a true statement?

1. After you are exposed to a bloodborne pathogen, your employer must provide you with a free, confidential medical evaluation and follow-up.
2. After you are exposed to a bloodborne pathogen, your employer must provide you with an affordable medical evaluation only.
3. Your employer is under no obligation to provide a medical evaluation if you are exposed to a bloodborne pathogen.
4. Your employer can sue you if it feels you haven’t taken adequate precautions against bloodborne pathogens.

---

---