Final answer:
The statement that sterile gloved hands must always be kept above the waist is true, as it is a key practice for maintaining asepsis in clinical or laboratory settings to prevent contamination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Sterile gloved hands must always be kept above the waist" is true. This is a fundamental concept in maintaining a sterile environment when performing procedures that require strict asepsis. The guidelines to maintain sterility include avoiding any direct contact with non-sterile surfaces, such as your own hands, skin, or lab surfaces. Therefore, keeping gloved hands above the waist ensures that they remain uncontaminated. For example, when using a pipette and media that are sterile, touching them with hands or allowing them to come into contact with lab surfaces risks contamination. Similarly, hand washing procedures emphasize keeping hands below the forearms to prevent potentially contaminated water from moving from the hands to the forearms. Lastly, while working with cultures, wearing gloves is essential, and after completing your work, gloves should be disposed of properly in the biohazard garbage, emphasizing the importance of not contaminating yourself or the environment after handling potentially hazardous materials.