NCCT TS-C Surgical Technologist / Scrub Tech Exam –
Comprehensive Study Guide with Questions and
Answers with Rationales 2026/2027 Update
Questions with Answers and Rationales — 2026/2027 Study Edition
Section 1: Aseptic Technique and Surgical Conscience
1. Which principle is fundamental to maintaining a sterile field?
A. Sterile items may be handled by anyone wearing gloves
B. Only sterile items may contact the sterile field
C. Sterile supplies may be placed below waist level
D. The sterile field remains sterile indefinitely
Answer: B
Rationale: Only sterile items should contact a sterile field. Sterility must
be maintained through continuous awareness of contamination risks.
2. A scrubbed surgical technologist notices that a sterile glove has
touched an unsterile surface. What should the technologist do?
A. Continue because the glove looks clean
B. Wipe the glove with an antiseptic
C. Change the contaminated glove using appropriate sterile technique
D. Cover the glove with another glove without reporting contamination
Answer: C
Rationale: Once a sterile item is contaminated, it must be replaced or
corrected according to sterile technique. Wiping contamination away
does not restore sterility.
,3. What is the primary purpose of surgical hand antisepsis?
A. Remove all microorganisms permanently
B. Reduce transient microorganisms and substantially reduce resident
flora
C. Sterilize the hands completely
D. Replace the need for surgical gloves
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical hand antisepsis reduces microorganisms on the
hands and helps decrease the risk of contaminating the operative field if
glove failure occurs.
4. Which area of a sterile gown is considered sterile?
A. Back of the gown
B. Axillary region
C. Front from approximately chest level to the sterile field level and
sleeves
D. Neckline
Answer: C
Rationale: The front of the gown and sleeves are considered sterile
within the accepted sterile boundaries. The back, neckline, and areas
below the sterile field are not considered sterile.
5. A sterile package falls below the level of the sterile field. What
should happen?
,A. Return it to the field
B. Consider it contaminated
C. Wipe it with alcohol
D. Open it carefully
Answer: B
Rationale: Items below the level of the sterile field are considered
contaminated because they cannot be reliably observed and maintained
as sterile.
6. What is the purpose of maintaining a sterile field within the line
of sight?
A. To reduce operating-room noise
B. To allow continuous monitoring for contamination
C. To make instruments easier to count
D. To reduce lighting requirements
Answer: B
Rationale: Sterile fields should remain visible and attended so
contamination can be identified and corrected immediately.
7. What should a scrubbed person do when passing another
scrubbed person in a sterile area?
A. Turn back-to-back
B. Turn face-to-face while maintaining appropriate sterile boundaries
C. Turn toward the anesthesia machine
D. Walk backward
Answer: B
, Rationale: Scrubbed personnel should pass face-to-face or back-to-back
according to accepted sterile technique while avoiding contact between
sterile gowns.
8. What is the purpose of a surgical conscience?
A. To speed up procedures
B. To recognize and correct breaks in aseptic technique even when no
one else notices
C. To avoid reporting contamination
D. To reduce instrument counts
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical conscience requires the technologist to take
responsibility for maintaining asepsis and immediately address
contamination.
9. A sterile instrument falls onto the floor. What should the
technologist do?
A. Return it to the field
B. Wipe it and reuse it
C. Remove it from the sterile field and replace it
D. Place it under the sterile drape
Answer: C
Rationale: An item that contacts the floor is contaminated and must not
be returned to the sterile field.
10. Which event is considered a break in sterile technique?
Comprehensive Study Guide with Questions and
Answers with Rationales 2026/2027 Update
Questions with Answers and Rationales — 2026/2027 Study Edition
Section 1: Aseptic Technique and Surgical Conscience
1. Which principle is fundamental to maintaining a sterile field?
A. Sterile items may be handled by anyone wearing gloves
B. Only sterile items may contact the sterile field
C. Sterile supplies may be placed below waist level
D. The sterile field remains sterile indefinitely
Answer: B
Rationale: Only sterile items should contact a sterile field. Sterility must
be maintained through continuous awareness of contamination risks.
2. A scrubbed surgical technologist notices that a sterile glove has
touched an unsterile surface. What should the technologist do?
A. Continue because the glove looks clean
B. Wipe the glove with an antiseptic
C. Change the contaminated glove using appropriate sterile technique
D. Cover the glove with another glove without reporting contamination
Answer: C
Rationale: Once a sterile item is contaminated, it must be replaced or
corrected according to sterile technique. Wiping contamination away
does not restore sterility.
,3. What is the primary purpose of surgical hand antisepsis?
A. Remove all microorganisms permanently
B. Reduce transient microorganisms and substantially reduce resident
flora
C. Sterilize the hands completely
D. Replace the need for surgical gloves
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical hand antisepsis reduces microorganisms on the
hands and helps decrease the risk of contaminating the operative field if
glove failure occurs.
4. Which area of a sterile gown is considered sterile?
A. Back of the gown
B. Axillary region
C. Front from approximately chest level to the sterile field level and
sleeves
D. Neckline
Answer: C
Rationale: The front of the gown and sleeves are considered sterile
within the accepted sterile boundaries. The back, neckline, and areas
below the sterile field are not considered sterile.
5. A sterile package falls below the level of the sterile field. What
should happen?
,A. Return it to the field
B. Consider it contaminated
C. Wipe it with alcohol
D. Open it carefully
Answer: B
Rationale: Items below the level of the sterile field are considered
contaminated because they cannot be reliably observed and maintained
as sterile.
6. What is the purpose of maintaining a sterile field within the line
of sight?
A. To reduce operating-room noise
B. To allow continuous monitoring for contamination
C. To make instruments easier to count
D. To reduce lighting requirements
Answer: B
Rationale: Sterile fields should remain visible and attended so
contamination can be identified and corrected immediately.
7. What should a scrubbed person do when passing another
scrubbed person in a sterile area?
A. Turn back-to-back
B. Turn face-to-face while maintaining appropriate sterile boundaries
C. Turn toward the anesthesia machine
D. Walk backward
Answer: B
, Rationale: Scrubbed personnel should pass face-to-face or back-to-back
according to accepted sterile technique while avoiding contact between
sterile gowns.
8. What is the purpose of a surgical conscience?
A. To speed up procedures
B. To recognize and correct breaks in aseptic technique even when no
one else notices
C. To avoid reporting contamination
D. To reduce instrument counts
Answer: B
Rationale: Surgical conscience requires the technologist to take
responsibility for maintaining asepsis and immediately address
contamination.
9. A sterile instrument falls onto the floor. What should the
technologist do?
A. Return it to the field
B. Wipe it and reuse it
C. Remove it from the sterile field and replace it
D. Place it under the sterile drape
Answer: C
Rationale: An item that contacts the floor is contaminated and must not
be returned to the sterile field.
10. Which event is considered a break in sterile technique?
