Which of the following is an appropriate disinfection technique for routine use on an examination table

Ultrasonic cleaning is a method that utilizes high-frequency sound waves to agitate a fluid, effectively removing contaminants from instruments or surfaces. While it is effective for cleaning, it does not specifically disinfect surfaces, making it less appropriate for routine use on examination tables where disinfection is required.

Sterilization refers to the process of eliminating all forms of microbial life, including spores, typically through methods like autoclaving. Although sterilization is critical for surgical instruments and certain medical equipment, it is not necessary for routine disinfection of examination tables and is more resource-intensive than needed for this purpose.

An autoclave is a device that uses steam under pressure to achieve sterilization. Like sterilization, this method is vital for surgical tools and medical devices but is excessive for the routine disinfection of examination tables, which only require a reduction of pathogens, not complete sterilization.