Patient Care Technician Certification (PCTC) AMCA Practice Exam

What does treating human blood as if it were infectious refer to?

1. Standard precautions

2. Personal protective equipment

3. Bio-hazard identification

4. Emergency procedures

The correct answer is: Standard precautions

Treating human blood as if it were infectious is referred to as standard precautions. This practice is a critical component in healthcare settings and is designed to minimize the risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens, such as HIV and hepatitis. Standard precautions involve assuming that all blood and certain body fluids are potentially infectious, regardless of the patient's known or unknown health status. As a result, healthcare workers are trained to use protective measures, such as gloves, masks, and other barriers, whenever they may come into contact with blood. This approach not only protects healthcare workers but also prevents the spread of infections to other patients. While personal protective equipment is an important aspect of these precautions, it is only one part of the broader standard precautions protocol. Bio-hazard identification is related but focuses on identifying hazardous materials rather than the universal assumption of blood being infectious. Emergency procedures may include actions taken in response to exposure, but they do not encompass the foundational mindset established by standard precautions.