California Cosmetology Written ExamNail CareHard
During a manicure, a technician uses a wooden orangewood stick to push back a client's cuticle. After the service, per California Code of Regulations Title 16, what must the technician do with this implement before the next client?
- AImmerse it in an EPA-registered disinfectant for 10 minutes and reuse it
- BAutoclave it for 30 minutes before returning it to inventory
- CDiscard it, since porous single-use items cannot be disinfected
- DWipe it with 70% alcohol and store it in a clean, covered container
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Discard it, since porous single-use items cannot be disinfected
Under CCR Title 16, porous items such as orangewood sticks, buffer blocks, and pumice stones cannot be adequately disinfected because they cannot withstand hospital-grade liquid disinfection without being damaged or retaining contamination. Therefore, they are classified as single-use and must be discarded immediately after use on each client.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Porous wood items cannot be validly disinfected by immersion; they must be discarded, not reused.
- B. Autoclaving is not standard practice in salons and wood items are still meant to be single-use.
- D. Wiping with alcohol does not meet disinfection requirements and porous items still cannot be reused.
Single-Use (Porous) Implements
Items like orangewood sticks, buffer blocks, and pumice stones that cannot be disinfected and must be discarded after one use.
- Porous materials trap bacteria and cannot be sanitized reliably
- Must be disposed of immediately after each client
- Examples: orangewood sticks, wooden nail files, pumice stones, buffer blocks
Memory trick: Porous wood = 'once and done' — toss it after one use.