Prepare for the Red Seal Cosmetology Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations to get exam ready. Start your journey towards certification!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What is the process that destroys all microbial life called?

  1. Sterilization

  2. Decontamination

  3. Sanitization

  4. Disinfection

The correct answer is: Sterilization

Sterilization is the process that eliminates or destroys all forms of life, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Sterilization can be achieved through various methods such as physical, chemical, or radiation processes. Decontamination is the removal of harmful substances or contaminants from an environment or surface, but it does not necessarily eliminate all microbial life. Sanitization reduces the number of microbes on a surface but does not completely eliminate all microbial life. Disinfection is the process of reducing the number of microbes to a safe level, but it does not completely eliminate all forms of microbial life. Therefore, sterilization is the only process that completely destroys all microbial life, making it the correct answer.