ABSA Surgical Assistant Certification (SA-C) Study Guide | 2026
Verified Exam Prep
THIS EXAM INCLUDES:
➢ ABSA Surgical Assistant Certification
➢ Study Guide | 2026
➢ Verified Exam Prep
➢ GradedA+
➢ Assured pass
, ABSA Surgical Assistant Certification (SA-C) Study
Guide
1. Which is not considered part of a sterile field?
A. Gloves of sterile person who has folded his arms
B. Sterile drape surface
C. Sterile instrument table
D. Sterile gown front from waist to chest
Answer: A
2. The presence of only one living microorganism means an object is:
A. Sterile
B. Clean
C. Contaminated
D. Disinfected
Answer: C
3. Which statement concerning masks is not true?
A. Masks should cover nose and mouth
B. Masks are changed between cases
C. Ties may be tied crisscross on top of head
D. Wet masks are ineffective
Answer: C
4. In draping a table, the scrub nurse drapes from ____ to ____, protecting her
gloves ____:
A. Back, front, by cuffing drape edge
B. Front, back, by cuffing drape edge
C. Left, right, with glove guards
D. Top, bottom, by changing gloves
Answer: B
5. The purpose of the hand scrub by the team is to render their skin:
A. Sterile
B. Surgically clean
C. Disinfected
,D. Antiseptic
Answer: B
6. After steam sterilization, which items should not be considered
sterile? (Select all that apply – but in ABCD, choose best single answer if forced)
A. Suction tips attached to tubing
B. Asepto syringes with bulbs attached
C. Cautery tips bound with rubber bands
D. All of the above
Answer: D
7. Because there is less chance contamination, the preferred method of gloving
is ____. For changing only a glove during a case, this method ____ be used.
A. Open, can
B. Closed, cannot
C. Open, cannot
D. Closed, can
Answer: B
8. Which directive for loading a pressure steam sterilizer is incorrect?
A. Place packs on edge
B. Do not overload
C. Loading liquids first to prevent spillage on packs
D. Allow steam circulation
Answer: C
9. If the prep site contains a colostomy or draining sinus which cannot be sealed
off, it should be scrubbed:
A. First with reusable sponges
B. Last with sponges used once and discarded
C. With alcohol only
D. With povidone-iodine only
Answer: B
10. Operating room floors should be flooded with ____ and ____ at the end of
each ____:
A. Water, bleach, day
B. Detergent germicide, wet-vacuumed, case
, C. Alcohol, water, shift
D. Iodine, dry-mopped, week
Answer: B
11. What are some potential sources for surgical infection?
A. Circulating air
B. Patient’s bronchial tree
C. Scrub team’s hair
D. All of the above
Answer: D
12. Which statement regarding the use of masks is false?
A. Masks should be changed every 2 hours
B. Cross strings behind the head for better aeration
C. Masks cover nose and mouth
D. Masks are not touched after placement
Answer: B
13. Strike-through:
A. Breaking a sterile glove
B. Soaking of moisture through unsterile layers to sterile layers or vice versa
C. Puncturing a drape
D. Opening a sterile package incorrectly
Answer: B
14. Which statement concerning the use of boiling water as a sterilizing agent is
false?
A. Minimum boiling period is 10 minutes
B. Boiling does not kill all spores
C. It is not reliable for sterilization
D. It is affected by altitude
Answer: A
15. The OR ventilating system ensures controlled air supply: ____ air exchanges
per hour are recommended for infection control and a ____ percent humidity is
mandatory to suppress static electricity.
A. 15, 30
B. 25, 50
Verified Exam Prep
THIS EXAM INCLUDES:
➢ ABSA Surgical Assistant Certification
➢ Study Guide | 2026
➢ Verified Exam Prep
➢ GradedA+
➢ Assured pass
, ABSA Surgical Assistant Certification (SA-C) Study
Guide
1. Which is not considered part of a sterile field?
A. Gloves of sterile person who has folded his arms
B. Sterile drape surface
C. Sterile instrument table
D. Sterile gown front from waist to chest
Answer: A
2. The presence of only one living microorganism means an object is:
A. Sterile
B. Clean
C. Contaminated
D. Disinfected
Answer: C
3. Which statement concerning masks is not true?
A. Masks should cover nose and mouth
B. Masks are changed between cases
C. Ties may be tied crisscross on top of head
D. Wet masks are ineffective
Answer: C
4. In draping a table, the scrub nurse drapes from ____ to ____, protecting her
gloves ____:
A. Back, front, by cuffing drape edge
B. Front, back, by cuffing drape edge
C. Left, right, with glove guards
D. Top, bottom, by changing gloves
Answer: B
5. The purpose of the hand scrub by the team is to render their skin:
A. Sterile
B. Surgically clean
C. Disinfected
,D. Antiseptic
Answer: B
6. After steam sterilization, which items should not be considered
sterile? (Select all that apply – but in ABCD, choose best single answer if forced)
A. Suction tips attached to tubing
B. Asepto syringes with bulbs attached
C. Cautery tips bound with rubber bands
D. All of the above
Answer: D
7. Because there is less chance contamination, the preferred method of gloving
is ____. For changing only a glove during a case, this method ____ be used.
A. Open, can
B. Closed, cannot
C. Open, cannot
D. Closed, can
Answer: B
8. Which directive for loading a pressure steam sterilizer is incorrect?
A. Place packs on edge
B. Do not overload
C. Loading liquids first to prevent spillage on packs
D. Allow steam circulation
Answer: C
9. If the prep site contains a colostomy or draining sinus which cannot be sealed
off, it should be scrubbed:
A. First with reusable sponges
B. Last with sponges used once and discarded
C. With alcohol only
D. With povidone-iodine only
Answer: B
10. Operating room floors should be flooded with ____ and ____ at the end of
each ____:
A. Water, bleach, day
B. Detergent germicide, wet-vacuumed, case
, C. Alcohol, water, shift
D. Iodine, dry-mopped, week
Answer: B
11. What are some potential sources for surgical infection?
A. Circulating air
B. Patient’s bronchial tree
C. Scrub team’s hair
D. All of the above
Answer: D
12. Which statement regarding the use of masks is false?
A. Masks should be changed every 2 hours
B. Cross strings behind the head for better aeration
C. Masks cover nose and mouth
D. Masks are not touched after placement
Answer: B
13. Strike-through:
A. Breaking a sterile glove
B. Soaking of moisture through unsterile layers to sterile layers or vice versa
C. Puncturing a drape
D. Opening a sterile package incorrectly
Answer: B
14. Which statement concerning the use of boiling water as a sterilizing agent is
false?
A. Minimum boiling period is 10 minutes
B. Boiling does not kill all spores
C. It is not reliable for sterilization
D. It is affected by altitude
Answer: A
15. The OR ventilating system ensures controlled air supply: ____ air exchanges
per hour are recommended for infection control and a ____ percent humidity is
mandatory to suppress static electricity.
A. 15, 30
B. 25, 50
