What is the correct order for putting on PPE?

Gown, mask, goggles, then gloves

Gloves, gown, mask, then goggles

Mask, gloves, goggles, then gown

Goggles, gloves, gown, then mask

How should a suspected fracture be splinted?

Immobilize the joints above and below the injury

Straighten the bone forcefully first, then wrap it tightly with an elastic bandage

When should hand hygiene be performed in relation to gloves?

Before putting them on and after taking them off

Never, since wearing gloves fully replaces the need for hand hygiene

Only if gloves were visibly torn

While teaching a patient about infection prevention, the medical assistant describes the body's innate (first-line) barrier defenses. Which is an example of this type of defense?

Mucus lining the airways that traps bacteria

Antibodies made after receiving a tetanus vaccine

Lasting protection after recovering from chickenpox

Lymphocytes that remember a specific antigen

How does surgical asepsis differ from medical asepsis?

Surgical asepsis keeps an area free of all microorganisms

Surgical asepsis only reduces the number of microbes on a surface

Medical asepsis is used for surgery

A medical assistant is wiping down an exam table with a hospital-grade disinfectant. What does the product's contact (dwell) time refer to?

How long the disinfectant must stay in contact with the surface, kept wet, to be effective

How long a diluted disinfectant solution stays effective after it is mixed

How long to wait after cleaning a surface before applying the disinfectant

How often a high-touch surface should be disinfected during the workday

CMA · 13% of the exam

Safety and Infection Control practice questions

10 free Safety and Infection Control questions for the CMA (AAMA) Certified Medical Assistant Exam (CMA) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questions Free 10-question CMA quiz

What this domain covers

Keeping patients and staff safe: infection control, asepsis, sterilisation and workplace safety.

Exam weight: 13%
On a real exam: ≈ 26 questions
In our bank: 80 questions

Topics that come up most

Standard and transmission-based precautions
Hand hygiene and personal protective equipment
Medical and surgical asepsis
Sterilisation, disinfection and sanitisation
OSHA, sharps and biohazard waste

How to study it

Put the chain of infection on one page with the step each precaution breaks; scenario questions ask which action stops transmission.

Sample Safety and Infection Control questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

Question 1
What is the correct order for putting on PPE?
- AGloves, gown, mask, then goggles
- BGown, mask, goggles, then gloves
- CMask, gloves, goggles, then gown
- DGoggles, gloves, gown, then mask
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) Gown, mask, goggles, then gloves
- AIncorrect. Gloves go on last.
- BCorrect. Gloves go on last.
- CIncorrect. The gown goes on first.
- DIncorrect. The gown goes on first.
Question 2
How should a suspected fracture be splinted?
- AImmobilize the joints above and below the injury
- BStraighten the bone forcefully first, then wrap it tightly with an elastic bandage
- CSplint only the joint below
- DRub the area to reduce pain
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A) Immobilize the joints above and below the injury
- ACorrect. Check circulation afterward.
- BIncorrect. Don't realign it.
- CIncorrect. Include above and below.
- DIncorrect. Immobilize it.
Question 3
The first step to control external bleeding is:
- AIce only
- BA tourniquet first
- CDirect pressure
- DWashing the wound
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C) Direct pressure
- AIncorrect. Pressure comes first.
- BIncorrect. Tourniquets are for severe limb bleeding that pressure can't control.
- CCorrect. Apply firm, direct pressure with a clean dressing.
- DIncorrect. Control bleeding first.
Question 4
When should hand hygiene be performed in relation to gloves?
- ABefore putting them on and after taking them off
- BOnly before putting them on
- CNever, since wearing gloves fully replaces the need for hand hygiene
- DOnly if gloves were visibly torn
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A) Before putting them on and after taking them off
- ACorrect. Gloves can have tiny holes.
- BIncorrect. Also clean hands after removal.
- CIncorrect. Hand hygiene is still needed.
- DIncorrect. Clean hands every time.
Question 5
While teaching a patient about infection prevention, the medical assistant describes the body's innate (first-line) barrier defenses. Which is an example of this type of defense?
- AAntibodies made after receiving a tetanus vaccine
- BMucus lining the airways that traps bacteria
- CLasting protection after recovering from chickenpox
- DLymphocytes that remember a specific antigen
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B) Mucus lining the airways that traps bacteria
Innate immunity includes physical and chemical barriers such as skin, mucus, the cough reflex, enzymes in tears and skin oils, and stomach acid. Antigen-specific responses from vaccines or past infections are acquired immunity.
- AIncorrect. Vaccines work by triggering acquired immunity, which builds a defense against a specific antigen. They do not create a physical barrier.
- BCorrect. MedlinePlus lists mucus that traps bacteria, along with skin, the cough reflex, enzymes in tears and skin oils, and stomach acid, as innate barriers that keep harmful material out of the body.
- CIncorrect. Immunity that develops after exposure to an antigen is acquired immunity, not an innate barrier.
- DIncorrect. Antigen-specific memory is a feature of acquired immunity, which develops over time. It is not part of the body's barrier defenses.
Question 6
How does surgical asepsis differ from medical asepsis?
- ASurgical asepsis keeps an area free of all microorganisms
- BSurgical asepsis only reduces the number of microbes on a surface
- CThey're the same
- DMedical asepsis is used for surgery
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A) Surgical asepsis keeps an area free of all microorganisms
- ACorrect. Medical asepsis reduces them.
- BIncorrect. That's medical asepsis.
- CIncorrect. They differ.
- DIncorrect. Surgical asepsis is used.
Question 7
For C. difficile, which hand hygiene method is preferred?
- ASoap and water
- BAlcohol-based gel
- CDry paper towels only
- DGloves without washing
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A) Soap and water
- ACorrect. Alcohol gels don't reliably kill C. diff spores; washing removes them.
- BIncorrect. It is less effective against spores.
- CIncorrect. This does not clean hands.
- DIncorrect. Hands still need washing.
Question 8
After a needlestick injury, the medical assistant should first:
- AWash the site and report
- BWait until end of shift
- CIgnore small sticks
- DSqueeze and bandage only
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A) Wash the site and report
- ACorrect. Wash with soap and water, then report immediately for evaluation.
- BIncorrect. Report immediately.
- CIncorrect. All exposures need follow-up.
- DIncorrect. Reporting is essential.
Question 9
Signs of shock include:
- AClammy skin
- BFlushed, warm skin
- CSlow, strong pulse
- DHigh blood pressure
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A) Clammy skin
- ACorrect. Shock also causes rapid pulse and falling blood pressure.
- BIncorrect. This is not typical of shock.
- CIncorrect. Pulse is usually rapid and weak.
- DIncorrect. Blood pressure falls.
Question 10
A medical assistant is wiping down an exam table with a hospital-grade disinfectant. What does the product's contact (dwell) time refer to?
- AHow long the disinfectant must stay in contact with the surface, kept wet, to be effective
- BHow long a diluted disinfectant solution stays effective after it is mixed
- CHow long to wait after cleaning a surface before applying the disinfectant
- DHow often a high-touch surface should be disinfected during the workday
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A) How long the disinfectant must stay in contact with the surface, kept wet, to be effective
Contact (dwell) time is how long a disinfectant must stay in contact with the surface, kept wet until it dries, to reach its labeled effectiveness.
- ACorrect. CDC defines contact time as the time a disinfectant is in direct contact with the surface, from when it is applied until it has completely dried. The surface must stay wet for the labeled time for the product to work.
- BIncorrect. This describes the use-life of a prepared solution, not how long the product must stay on a surface.
- CIncorrect. Contact time starts when the disinfectant is applied. It is not a waiting period between cleaning and disinfecting.
- DIncorrect. This describes how often to disinfect, which is set by facility policy. It is not the product's contact time.

Safety and Infection Control: FAQs

How much of the CMA exam is Safety and Infection Control?

Safety and Infection Control is 13% of the CMA exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 200-question form works out to roughly 26 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Safety and Infection Control domain cover?

Keeping patients and staff safe: infection control, asepsis, sterilisation and workplace safety.

How should I study Safety and Infection Control for CMA?

Put the chain of infection on one page with the step each precaution breaks; scenario questions ask which action stops transmission.

Where can I practise more Safety and Infection Control questions?

This page has 10 free Safety and Infection Control questions with answers. The ExamWize CMA question bank has 80 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Get Safety and Infection Control exam-ready

The full CMA bank has 80 Safety and Infection Control questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

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Not affiliated with AAMA; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.