CETA EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Category 1 CSP. Answer: A CSP assigned a BUD of 12 hours or less
at controlled room temperature or 24 hours or less refrigerated.
◉ Category 2 CSP. Answer: A CSP assigned in a BUD of greater than
12 hours room temperature or greater than 24 hours refrigerated.
◉ Immediate use CSP. Answer: Administration begins within 4 hrs
following the start of the preparation. Must not involve more that 3
sterile products.
◉ Glove Fingertip Sampling. Answer: One plate per hand, TSA to
support bacterial and fungal growth, label each device, do not spray
hands with IPA, Incubate 30-35 for 48 H and 20-25 for 5 days, record
CFU, Determine if CFU action level is exceeded by counting the total
number of CFU from both hands
◉ Media Fill Testing Procedure. Answer: Simulate compounding
activities if sterile to sterile use soybean-casein digest media, if non
sterile use commerically available nonsterile soybean-casein digest
powder to make a 3% non-sterile solution. Preparer at least 1 container
as a positive control.
,Once compounding simulations are completed perform gloved fingertip
and thumb sampling on each hand and surface sample of DCA inside the
PEC. Take samples prior to disinfecting.
Incubate 20-25 and 30-35 for a minimum of 7 days at each temperature.
Failure is indicated by visible turbidity or other growth in one more
containers on or before 14 days.
◉ Action Level for Gloved fingertip and thumb sampling. Answer:
After Garbing greater than 0 CFU
After media-fill testing greater than 3 CFU
Action levels based on total CFU count from both hands
◉ Compounder - ongoing training and competency. Answer: Training
and Competency in compounding sterile principles - at least every 12
months
Garbing Competency - Category 1 and 2 at least every 6 months,
Category 3 every months
Media Fill with Post GFT and Surface sampling - Category 1 and 2 at
least every 6 months, Category 3 at least every 3 months
◉ Designated Persons - ongoing training and competency. Answer:
Training and Competency in compounding sterile principles - at least
every 12 months unless compounding
,Garbing Competency - At least every 12 months unless compounding
Media Fill with Post GFT and Surface sampling -at least every 12
months unless compounding
◉ Personnel who restock or clean and disinfect the sterile compounding
area- ongoing training and competency. Answer: Defined by facilities
SOP
◉ Handwashing procedures. Answer: Clean under fingernails under
warm running water using nail cleaner
Wash hands and forearms up to elbows for 30 s.
Dry hands and forearms up to elbows completely with low-lint
disposable towels.
Apply an alcohol-based hand rub to dry skin
Apply product to one hand and rub hands together
Allow hands to dry before donning sterile gloves
◉ Minimum Garb requirements in category 2 and 3. Answer: Low Lint
garment with sleves
, Low Lint shoe covers
Low Lint cover for head and facial hair
Low Lint face mask
Sterile powder free gloves
If using a RABS disposable gloves should be worn inside the RABS
sleeves.
◉ Additional garbing requirements for category 3. Answer: No exposed
skin in the buffer room (face/neck)
All lo-lint outer garb must be sterile, including use of over gauntlet
sleeves in the RABS
Disposable garbing items must not be reused, laundered garb must not
be reused without being laundered and re-sterilized with a validated
cycle
Facilities SOPs must describe procedures for using goggles, respirators,
and other reusable equipment
TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Category 1 CSP. Answer: A CSP assigned a BUD of 12 hours or less
at controlled room temperature or 24 hours or less refrigerated.
◉ Category 2 CSP. Answer: A CSP assigned in a BUD of greater than
12 hours room temperature or greater than 24 hours refrigerated.
◉ Immediate use CSP. Answer: Administration begins within 4 hrs
following the start of the preparation. Must not involve more that 3
sterile products.
◉ Glove Fingertip Sampling. Answer: One plate per hand, TSA to
support bacterial and fungal growth, label each device, do not spray
hands with IPA, Incubate 30-35 for 48 H and 20-25 for 5 days, record
CFU, Determine if CFU action level is exceeded by counting the total
number of CFU from both hands
◉ Media Fill Testing Procedure. Answer: Simulate compounding
activities if sterile to sterile use soybean-casein digest media, if non
sterile use commerically available nonsterile soybean-casein digest
powder to make a 3% non-sterile solution. Preparer at least 1 container
as a positive control.
,Once compounding simulations are completed perform gloved fingertip
and thumb sampling on each hand and surface sample of DCA inside the
PEC. Take samples prior to disinfecting.
Incubate 20-25 and 30-35 for a minimum of 7 days at each temperature.
Failure is indicated by visible turbidity or other growth in one more
containers on or before 14 days.
◉ Action Level for Gloved fingertip and thumb sampling. Answer:
After Garbing greater than 0 CFU
After media-fill testing greater than 3 CFU
Action levels based on total CFU count from both hands
◉ Compounder - ongoing training and competency. Answer: Training
and Competency in compounding sterile principles - at least every 12
months
Garbing Competency - Category 1 and 2 at least every 6 months,
Category 3 every months
Media Fill with Post GFT and Surface sampling - Category 1 and 2 at
least every 6 months, Category 3 at least every 3 months
◉ Designated Persons - ongoing training and competency. Answer:
Training and Competency in compounding sterile principles - at least
every 12 months unless compounding
,Garbing Competency - At least every 12 months unless compounding
Media Fill with Post GFT and Surface sampling -at least every 12
months unless compounding
◉ Personnel who restock or clean and disinfect the sterile compounding
area- ongoing training and competency. Answer: Defined by facilities
SOP
◉ Handwashing procedures. Answer: Clean under fingernails under
warm running water using nail cleaner
Wash hands and forearms up to elbows for 30 s.
Dry hands and forearms up to elbows completely with low-lint
disposable towels.
Apply an alcohol-based hand rub to dry skin
Apply product to one hand and rub hands together
Allow hands to dry before donning sterile gloves
◉ Minimum Garb requirements in category 2 and 3. Answer: Low Lint
garment with sleves
, Low Lint shoe covers
Low Lint cover for head and facial hair
Low Lint face mask
Sterile powder free gloves
If using a RABS disposable gloves should be worn inside the RABS
sleeves.
◉ Additional garbing requirements for category 3. Answer: No exposed
skin in the buffer room (face/neck)
All lo-lint outer garb must be sterile, including use of over gauntlet
sleeves in the RABS
Disposable garbing items must not be reused, laundered garb must not
be reused without being laundered and re-sterilized with a validated
cycle
Facilities SOPs must describe procedures for using goggles, respirators,
and other reusable equipment
