What is decontamination?

• A. Storing waste securely
• B. Destroying all life forms
• C. Removing pathogenic microorganisms from objects or surfaces
• D. Repackaging waste for transport

Answer: (C)

Decontamination means removing or neutralizing infectious agents on objects or surfaces so they are safe to handle. That description matches the idea of taking pathogens off or reducing them to safe levels on items or areas you touch. In practice, decontamination can involve cleaning to remove soil, disinfection to kill most pathogens, or sterilization to eliminate all microbial life, depending on the risk and context. The other options describe activities that aren’t about removing pathogens from surfaces: securely storing waste is about containment, destroying all life forms is sterilization rather than decontamination, and repackaging for transport is about packaging, not cleaning or disinfecting.