What do chemical indicators verify in the decontamination process?

• A. Chemical indicators verify exposure conditions such as temperature and time.
• B. Biological indicators verify exposure.
• C. Process indicators verify instrument cleanliness.
• D. Chemical indicators confirm packaging integrity.

Answer: (A)

Chemical indicators verify exposure conditions: they change colour when the sterilization cycle reaches the required temperature and time, giving a quick check that the load has experienced the necessary conditions. They do not prove sterility—that job belongs to biological indicators—and they do not assess packaging integrity themselves. Packaging indicators serve a different purpose, confirming that the package has undergone processing rather than guaranteeing its integrity.