In a typical decontamination setup, which sequence correctly lists the rooms from exterior to interior?

• A. Clean Room (outside), Shower (middle), Equipment or Dirty Room (inside)
• B. Shower (middle), Clean Room (outside), Equipment or Dirty Room (inside)
• C. Clean Room (outside), Equipment or Dirty Room (inside), Shower (middle)
• D. Equipment or Dirty Room (inside), Shower (middle), Clean Room (outside)

Answer: (A)

In decontamination flow, you move from cleaner areas toward dirtier ones, using a transition step to remove contaminants before entering the next space. The outer area should be the cleanest, the middle space acts as the decontamination step, and the innermost area is where contamination is most likely to be encountered.

So the correct sequence from exterior to interior is: outer Clean Room, then the Shower (the decontamination step), and finally the Equipment or Dirty Room inside. The Shower removes residual contaminants before you or items move into the inner, more contaminated area, helping prevent the spread of contamination inward. Putting the dirty area inside after a decontamination step preserves the clean outer areas and maintains containment.