Final answer:
The correct statement regarding the seven steps for instrument processing is that critical instruments can be cold sterilized.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement regarding the seven steps for instrument processing is:
D. Critical instruments can be cold sterilized.
Instrument processing involves several steps to ensure that medical instruments are properly cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized. Cold sterilization is a method that can be used for noncritical instruments, but critical instruments must undergo a high-level sterilization method, such as steam sterilization, to ensure complete elimination of microbes.