Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Exam Prep 2026 |
Comprehensive Practice Q&A with Detailed Rationales
1. Sterile Field Contamination
Question:
During surgery, a sterile surgical glove touches the edge of a non-sterile table. What should
the surgical technologist do first?
A. Continue the procedure
B. Ignore it if no one noticed
C. Change the contaminated glove immediately
D. Cover the glove with sterile gauze
Correct Answer: C. Change the contaminated glove immediately
Rationale:
Any contact with a non-sterile surface contaminates the glove. Surgical asepsis requires
immediate correction to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs). Covering contamination does
not restore sterility.
2. Instrument Used for Clamping Blood Vessels
Question:
Which instrument is primarily used to clamp bleeding vessels during surgery?
A. Kelly clamp
B. Allis clamp
C. Babcock forceps
D. Tenaculum
Correct Answer: A. Kelly clamp
Rationale:
Kelly clamps are hemostatic instruments designed to clamp blood vessels and control
bleeding. Allis clamps grasp tissue, while Babcock forceps are used on delicate tissue.
3. Surgical Hand Antisepsis
Question:
The main purpose of the surgical scrub is to:
A. Remove transient microorganisms and reduce resident flora
,B. Eliminate all microorganisms permanently
C. Sterilize the hands completely
D. Improve glove fit
Correct Answer: A. Remove transient microorganisms and reduce resident flora
Rationale:
A surgical scrub decreases microbial counts and minimizes infection risk. Sterilization of skin
is impossible because resident flora naturally exist within deeper skin layers.
4. Positioning for Thyroidectomy
Question:
A patient undergoing thyroid surgery is commonly placed in which position?
A. Lithotomy
B. Reverse Trendelenburg
C. Fowler’s
D. Prone
Correct Answer: C. Fowler’s
Rationale:
The Fowler’s position extends the neck and improves exposure of the thyroid gland while
promoting respiratory function.
5. Instrument Count Responsibility
Question:
Who is primarily responsible for performing sponge and instrument counts during surgery?
A. Surgeon only
B. Surgical technologist and circulator
C. Anesthesia provider
D. Recovery nurse
Correct Answer: B. Surgical technologist and circulator
Rationale:
The surgical technologist and circulator jointly perform counts to prevent retained surgical
items, ensuring patient safety and legal compliance.
6. Sterilization Method
,Question:
Which sterilization method uses steam under pressure?
A. Ethylene oxide
B. Dry heat
C. Autoclaving
D. Radiation
Correct Answer: C. Autoclaving
Rationale:
Autoclaving uses steam under pressure to destroy microorganisms and spores effectively. It is
widely used for heat-resistant surgical instruments.
7. Classification of Surgical Wound
Question:
An uninfected operative wound in which no inflammation is encountered is classified as:
A. Dirty
B. Contaminated
C. Clean
D. Infected
Correct Answer: C. Clean
Rationale:
Clean wounds involve sterile operative conditions without entering contaminated body
systems. These wounds have the lowest infection risk.
8. Medication Labeling
Question:
When should sterile medications on the field be labeled?
A. At the end of the procedure
B. Immediately after pouring
C. Only if multiple medications are present
D. After surgeon request
Correct Answer: B. Immediately after pouring
Rationale:
, Immediate labeling prevents medication errors and enhances patient safety during surgery.
9. Instrument for Suturing
Question:
Which instrument is specifically designed to hold a suture needle?
A. Hemostat
B. Needle holder
C. Retractor
D. Curette
Correct Answer: B. Needle holder
Rationale:
Needle holders securely grasp suturing needles, allowing controlled tissue closure.
10. Electrosurgery Safety
Question:
To prevent burns during electrosurgery, the grounding pad should be placed:
A. Over bony prominences
B. Near metal implants
C. On clean, dry muscle tissue
D. Directly over scar tissue
Correct Answer: C. On clean, dry muscle tissue
Rationale:
Proper grounding pad placement ensures safe electrical dispersion and prevents thermal
injury.
11. Biological Indicator Purpose
Question:
Biological indicators are used to verify:
A. Instrument sharpness
B. Proper sterilization process
C. Surgical count accuracy
D. Air quality in the OR
Comprehensive Practice Q&A with Detailed Rationales
1. Sterile Field Contamination
Question:
During surgery, a sterile surgical glove touches the edge of a non-sterile table. What should
the surgical technologist do first?
A. Continue the procedure
B. Ignore it if no one noticed
C. Change the contaminated glove immediately
D. Cover the glove with sterile gauze
Correct Answer: C. Change the contaminated glove immediately
Rationale:
Any contact with a non-sterile surface contaminates the glove. Surgical asepsis requires
immediate correction to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs). Covering contamination does
not restore sterility.
2. Instrument Used for Clamping Blood Vessels
Question:
Which instrument is primarily used to clamp bleeding vessels during surgery?
A. Kelly clamp
B. Allis clamp
C. Babcock forceps
D. Tenaculum
Correct Answer: A. Kelly clamp
Rationale:
Kelly clamps are hemostatic instruments designed to clamp blood vessels and control
bleeding. Allis clamps grasp tissue, while Babcock forceps are used on delicate tissue.
3. Surgical Hand Antisepsis
Question:
The main purpose of the surgical scrub is to:
A. Remove transient microorganisms and reduce resident flora
,B. Eliminate all microorganisms permanently
C. Sterilize the hands completely
D. Improve glove fit
Correct Answer: A. Remove transient microorganisms and reduce resident flora
Rationale:
A surgical scrub decreases microbial counts and minimizes infection risk. Sterilization of skin
is impossible because resident flora naturally exist within deeper skin layers.
4. Positioning for Thyroidectomy
Question:
A patient undergoing thyroid surgery is commonly placed in which position?
A. Lithotomy
B. Reverse Trendelenburg
C. Fowler’s
D. Prone
Correct Answer: C. Fowler’s
Rationale:
The Fowler’s position extends the neck and improves exposure of the thyroid gland while
promoting respiratory function.
5. Instrument Count Responsibility
Question:
Who is primarily responsible for performing sponge and instrument counts during surgery?
A. Surgeon only
B. Surgical technologist and circulator
C. Anesthesia provider
D. Recovery nurse
Correct Answer: B. Surgical technologist and circulator
Rationale:
The surgical technologist and circulator jointly perform counts to prevent retained surgical
items, ensuring patient safety and legal compliance.
6. Sterilization Method
,Question:
Which sterilization method uses steam under pressure?
A. Ethylene oxide
B. Dry heat
C. Autoclaving
D. Radiation
Correct Answer: C. Autoclaving
Rationale:
Autoclaving uses steam under pressure to destroy microorganisms and spores effectively. It is
widely used for heat-resistant surgical instruments.
7. Classification of Surgical Wound
Question:
An uninfected operative wound in which no inflammation is encountered is classified as:
A. Dirty
B. Contaminated
C. Clean
D. Infected
Correct Answer: C. Clean
Rationale:
Clean wounds involve sterile operative conditions without entering contaminated body
systems. These wounds have the lowest infection risk.
8. Medication Labeling
Question:
When should sterile medications on the field be labeled?
A. At the end of the procedure
B. Immediately after pouring
C. Only if multiple medications are present
D. After surgeon request
Correct Answer: B. Immediately after pouring
Rationale:
, Immediate labeling prevents medication errors and enhances patient safety during surgery.
9. Instrument for Suturing
Question:
Which instrument is specifically designed to hold a suture needle?
A. Hemostat
B. Needle holder
C. Retractor
D. Curette
Correct Answer: B. Needle holder
Rationale:
Needle holders securely grasp suturing needles, allowing controlled tissue closure.
10. Electrosurgery Safety
Question:
To prevent burns during electrosurgery, the grounding pad should be placed:
A. Over bony prominences
B. Near metal implants
C. On clean, dry muscle tissue
D. Directly over scar tissue
Correct Answer: C. On clean, dry muscle tissue
Rationale:
Proper grounding pad placement ensures safe electrical dispersion and prevents thermal
injury.
11. Biological Indicator Purpose
Question:
Biological indicators are used to verify:
A. Instrument sharpness
B. Proper sterilization process
C. Surgical count accuracy
D. Air quality in the OR
