Surgical Tech CST practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q21Instruments are transported to the decontamination area and kept moist primarily to:
✓ Correct answer: A. Prevent blood and debris from drying and hardening on surfaces
Keeping soiled instruments moist prevents organic debris from drying onto surfaces, which would make cleaning difficult and could harbor microorganisms. Effective cleaning must occur before sterilization.
Q22Which of the following is true regarding the height at which sterile items are considered sterile on a draped table?
✓ Correct answer: B. Anything that falls below table level is contaminated
Only the top surface of a draped table is considered sterile; anything hanging or falling below the level of the tabletop is regarded as contaminated and must not be brought back up.
Q23A load control number (lot number) on a sterilized package allows the facility to:
✓ Correct answer: C. Trace and recall items if a sterilization failure occurs
Each sterilizer load is assigned a control/lot number so that, if a biological indicator fails or a problem is detected, every item in that load can be located and recalled. This traceability is a core quality-control practice.
Q24Low-temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization is unsuitable for items made of:
✓ Correct answer: D. Cellulose materials such as paper, linen, and cotton
Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization cannot process cellulose-based materials (paper, linens, cotton) because they absorb the peroxide and abort the cycle. It is well suited to many heat-sensitive metals and plastics.
Q25A fundamental principle of asepsis states that a sterile item touching a nonsterile item:
✓ Correct answer: A. Becomes contaminated
A core principle of aseptic technique is that sterile touching nonsterile results in contamination. There is no acceptable brief or minor contact; the item must be considered contaminated.
Q26If a biological indicator from a routine (non-implant) steam load returns a positive (growth) result, the facility should:
✓ Correct answer: B. Recall the load and items if possible and investigate the sterilizer
A positive biological indicator signals a possible sterilization failure. Best practice is to recall processed items where feasible, quarantine, reprocess, and investigate/repair the sterilizer before returning it to service.
Q27When a scrubbed person dons a sterile gown, they should pick it up by:
✓ Correct answer: C. The inside neckline area
The gown is grasped at the inside near the neckline, allowed to unfold downward without touching nonsterile surfaces, and the arms are slid into the sleeves. Touching the outside front would risk contamination from the wearer's hands.
Q28The restricted area of the surgical suite requires personnel to wear:
✓ Correct answer: D. Full surgical attire including a mask when open sterile supplies are present
The restricted area (including the OR) requires full surgical attire and a surgical mask when sterile supplies are open or scrubbing/operating is underway. This minimizes microbial shedding into the sterile environment.
Q29Which three parameters must all be satisfied for effective steam sterilization?
✓ Correct answer: A. Time, temperature, and steam (moisture) contact
Steam sterilization depends on adequate exposure time, sufficient temperature, and direct contact with saturated steam (moisture). If any one parameter is inadequate, sterilization may fail even if the others are met.
Q30A wrapped tray removed from the steam sterilizer with visible moisture (a 'wet pack') should be:
✓ Correct answer: B. Considered contaminated and reprocessed
Moisture provides a wicking pathway for microorganisms from the nonsterile exterior to the contents, so a wet pack is considered contaminated and must be repackaged and resterilized.
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