Tools and equipment must be cleaned and disinfected after each use and before they may be used ______.

• A. during use
• B. on another client
• C. after storage
• D. on the same client

Answer: (B)

Preventing cross-contamination between clients is the goal. After tools touch skin or fluids, they can carry microorganisms. Cleaning removes debris and oils; disinfection then kills many pathogens, making the tools safe for the next person. That’s why tools must be cleaned and disinfected after each use and before they may be used on another client. Using them during a service without disinfecting would risk passing microbes to the current client, and waiting to disinfect after storage would leave the tools contaminated for the next person. Reusing on the same client is not the issue here—the safety standard is to disinfect before using on a different client.