NCCT TECH IN SURGERY (TS-C) CERTIFICATION MASTER EXAM |
2026/2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS|LATEST VERSION (PASS GUARANTEE)
Q: What is the acceptable microbial count in the air of an operating room?
ANSWER Less than 1 CFU per cubic foot.
Q: What is medical asepsis? ANSWER Clean technique; reducing the
number of microorganisms.
Q: What is surgical asepsis? ANSWER Sterile technique; eliminating all
microorganisms.
Q: When is a sterile package considered contaminated? ANSWER If it is
wet, torn, or past the expiration date.
Q: What is the sterile field? ANSWER The area immediately around and
including the surgical site.
Q: At what level is the sterile field considered? ANSWER Waist to chest
level, and the front of the gown.
Q: What is the "1-inch rule" in sterile technique? ANSWER The edges of a
sterile wrapper or drape are considered unsterile for 1 inch.
Q: How should a sterile package be opened? ANSWER The flap farthest
away is opened first, then the side flaps, then the closest flap.
Q: If a sterile package is dropped to the floor, is it sterile? ANSWER No, it
is contaminated.
,Q: Can sterile items be stored on the floor? ANSWER No, never.
Q: What type of lighting is used in the OR to detect sterile field
contamination? ANSWER Ultraviolet (black light) is not standard; visual
inspection is.
Q: What is the primary purpose of the surgical scrub? ANSWER To
remove transient flora and reduce resident flora from the
hands/forearms.
Q: How long should a traditional timed scrub last? ANSWER 3 to 5
minutes.
Q: How long should an counted brush-stroke scrub last? ANSWER 3
minutes (often used for orthopedic/trauma).
Q: What are transient flora? ANSWER Microorganisms acquired through
daily contact, easily removed by scrubbing.
Q: What are resident flora? ANSWER Microorganisms living deep in the
skin follicles, harder to remove.
Q: Which antiseptic is most commonly used for surgical scrubs? ANSWER
Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG).
Q: What is an alternative to CHG for scrubbing if the patient is allergic?
ANSWER Povidone-iodine (Betadine).
Q: During the scrub, why should you keep your hands higher than your
elbows? ANSWER Water flows from the cleanest area (hands) to the
dirtiest (elbows).
Q: If you touch an unsterile object during the scrub, what must you do?
ANSWER Restart the scrub from the beginning.
Q: What is a flash sterilization? ANSWER Steam sterilization of
unwrapped instruments for immediate use.
Q: What is biological monitoring (spore testing) used for? ANSWER To
confirm the sterilizer is actually killing spores.
Q: How often should biological monitoring be done? ANSWER At least
weekly, and with every implant load.
, Q: What is chemical monitoring (e.g., indicator tape) used for? ANSWER
To show the item was exposed to the sterilization process.
Q: What temperature is required for steam sterilization (gravity
displacement)? ANSWER 250°F (121°C) to 270°F (132°C).
Q: What is the standard exposure time for steam sterilization at 250°F?
ANSWER 30 minutes.
Q: What is the standard exposure time for steam sterilization at 270°F?
ANSWER 3 to 4 minutes.
Q: What is EtO (Ethylene Oxide) sterilization used for? ANSWER Heat and
moisture-sensitive items (e.g., cameras, optics).
Q: What is hydrogen peroxide gas plasma used for? ANSWER Heat and
moisture-sensitive items; shorter cycle than EtO.
Q: What does Bowie-Dick test check? ANSWER Air removal and steam
penetration in prevacuum sterilizers.
Q: How often is a Bowie-Dick test run? ANSWER Daily.
Q: What is a parametric release? ANSWER Releasing a load based on
mechanical and chemical monitors without biological testing (rare).
Q: If a sterile package has a hole in it, what action is taken? ANSWER It
must be reprocessed (re-sterilized).
Q: What is the shelf life of a sterile package? ANSWER Event-related;
depends on storage conditions, wrapping material, and handling.
Q: What is time-related sterility? ANSWER Sterility is guaranteed only for
a specific time frame (e.g., 30 days).
Q: Can cotton or linen be used as a drape material? ANSWER Yes, but it
must be treated to be fluid-resistant.
Q: What are disposable drapes usually made of? ANSWER Non-woven
synthetic materials.
Q: What is linting and why is it dangerous in the OR? ANSWER Shedding
of fibers that can carry bacteria or cause granulomas.
2026/2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS|LATEST VERSION (PASS GUARANTEE)
Q: What is the acceptable microbial count in the air of an operating room?
ANSWER Less than 1 CFU per cubic foot.
Q: What is medical asepsis? ANSWER Clean technique; reducing the
number of microorganisms.
Q: What is surgical asepsis? ANSWER Sterile technique; eliminating all
microorganisms.
Q: When is a sterile package considered contaminated? ANSWER If it is
wet, torn, or past the expiration date.
Q: What is the sterile field? ANSWER The area immediately around and
including the surgical site.
Q: At what level is the sterile field considered? ANSWER Waist to chest
level, and the front of the gown.
Q: What is the "1-inch rule" in sterile technique? ANSWER The edges of a
sterile wrapper or drape are considered unsterile for 1 inch.
Q: How should a sterile package be opened? ANSWER The flap farthest
away is opened first, then the side flaps, then the closest flap.
Q: If a sterile package is dropped to the floor, is it sterile? ANSWER No, it
is contaminated.
,Q: Can sterile items be stored on the floor? ANSWER No, never.
Q: What type of lighting is used in the OR to detect sterile field
contamination? ANSWER Ultraviolet (black light) is not standard; visual
inspection is.
Q: What is the primary purpose of the surgical scrub? ANSWER To
remove transient flora and reduce resident flora from the
hands/forearms.
Q: How long should a traditional timed scrub last? ANSWER 3 to 5
minutes.
Q: How long should an counted brush-stroke scrub last? ANSWER 3
minutes (often used for orthopedic/trauma).
Q: What are transient flora? ANSWER Microorganisms acquired through
daily contact, easily removed by scrubbing.
Q: What are resident flora? ANSWER Microorganisms living deep in the
skin follicles, harder to remove.
Q: Which antiseptic is most commonly used for surgical scrubs? ANSWER
Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG).
Q: What is an alternative to CHG for scrubbing if the patient is allergic?
ANSWER Povidone-iodine (Betadine).
Q: During the scrub, why should you keep your hands higher than your
elbows? ANSWER Water flows from the cleanest area (hands) to the
dirtiest (elbows).
Q: If you touch an unsterile object during the scrub, what must you do?
ANSWER Restart the scrub from the beginning.
Q: What is a flash sterilization? ANSWER Steam sterilization of
unwrapped instruments for immediate use.
Q: What is biological monitoring (spore testing) used for? ANSWER To
confirm the sterilizer is actually killing spores.
Q: How often should biological monitoring be done? ANSWER At least
weekly, and with every implant load.
, Q: What is chemical monitoring (e.g., indicator tape) used for? ANSWER
To show the item was exposed to the sterilization process.
Q: What temperature is required for steam sterilization (gravity
displacement)? ANSWER 250°F (121°C) to 270°F (132°C).
Q: What is the standard exposure time for steam sterilization at 250°F?
ANSWER 30 minutes.
Q: What is the standard exposure time for steam sterilization at 270°F?
ANSWER 3 to 4 minutes.
Q: What is EtO (Ethylene Oxide) sterilization used for? ANSWER Heat and
moisture-sensitive items (e.g., cameras, optics).
Q: What is hydrogen peroxide gas plasma used for? ANSWER Heat and
moisture-sensitive items; shorter cycle than EtO.
Q: What does Bowie-Dick test check? ANSWER Air removal and steam
penetration in prevacuum sterilizers.
Q: How often is a Bowie-Dick test run? ANSWER Daily.
Q: What is a parametric release? ANSWER Releasing a load based on
mechanical and chemical monitors without biological testing (rare).
Q: If a sterile package has a hole in it, what action is taken? ANSWER It
must be reprocessed (re-sterilized).
Q: What is the shelf life of a sterile package? ANSWER Event-related;
depends on storage conditions, wrapping material, and handling.
Q: What is time-related sterility? ANSWER Sterility is guaranteed only for
a specific time frame (e.g., 30 days).
Q: Can cotton or linen be used as a drape material? ANSWER Yes, but it
must be treated to be fluid-resistant.
Q: What are disposable drapes usually made of? ANSWER Non-woven
synthetic materials.
Q: What is linting and why is it dangerous in the OR? ANSWER Shedding
of fibers that can carry bacteria or cause granulomas.
