Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Test #3
COMPLETE EXAM LATEST VERSION 2026-2027
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is the purpose of maintaining the air exchange rate 15 - 20 times per hour in the OR?
A. reduce microbial count
B. allow temperature to be recorded
C. provide comfortable environment
D. decrease static electricity - answer>>A. Studies have shown that air exchange in the OR at the rate
of 15 - 20 times per hour helps to reduce the microbial count.
How many mL of water is necessary to inflate a 5 mL balloon on the Foley indwelling catheter?
A. 5
B. 10
C. 15
D. 20 - answer>>B. 10 mL of water is necessary to inflate a 5 mL balloon on the Foley indwelling
catheter.
If an ophthalmologist orders trimming of eyelashes, how is it safely performed?
A. electric trimmer used on dry lashes
B. electric trimmer used on wet lashes
C. fine scissors without water-soluable gel
D. fine scissors coated with water-soluable gel - answer>>D. Fine scissors coated with water-soluable
gel is used for trimming eyelashes.
What is the correct technique for performing the surgical skin prep?
A. incision site to periphery using circular motion
B. periphery to incision site using circular motion
,C. incision site to periphery using back-and-forth motion
D. periphery to incision site using back-and-forth motion - answer>>A. When performing the patient
skin prep, the skin should be scrubbed and painted starting at the incision site using a circular
motion.
The laboratory test that determines the ratio of erythrocytes to whole blood is:
A. reticulocyte count
B. differential count
C. hematocrit
D. hemoglobin - answer>>C. The percentage or ratio of erythrocytes that is present in the whole blood
of the surgical patient is determined by the laboratory test called the hematocrit.
What is the proper procedure to follow when a pack of sponges contains an incorrect number after the
patient has entered the OR?
A. record actual number and use
B. hand off the sterile field and isolate
C. place on sterile backtable and do not use
D. remove from the OR - answer>>B. If a sponge pack contains an incorrect number of sponges, the
first scrub surgical technologist should hand the sponges to the circulator who will place the sponges
in an area of the OR where they will not be thrown away or mixed with other sponges until the end
of the procedure and the OR is being cleaned.
Which of the following types of specimens would not be placed in a preservative solution?
A. colon
B. calculi
C. tonsils
D. uterus - answer>>B. Any type of stones, salivary, gallbladder or renal, should be sent dry to
pathology. Preservative solutions destroy the stones, making it impossible for pathological
examination.
Where should the surgical technologist begin when performing closing counts?
,A. backtable
B. mayo stand
C. off the field
D. operative field - answer>>D. The first scrub should begin at the operative field first and work her/his
way backwards- operative field, mayo stand, backtable, basin, sponge bucket, floor.
Which of the following catheter tips is used in a patient with a uretheral stricture?
A. olive
B. coude
C. whistle
D. mushroom - answer>>B. Coude is a non-retaining catheter tip to maneuver around an obstruction if
a patient has a urethral stricture.
Which type of procedure would require a stent dressing?
A. neck
B. inguinal
C. extremityA
D. abdominal - answer>>A. Bolster dressing also referred to as stent dressings are for wounds that are
difficult to dress and keep in place, such as the face and neck. The long ends of sutures are tied over
the dressing to secure it.
Which of the following is used in order to ensure preservation of the facial nerve during a
parotidectomy?
A. monopolar cautery
B. nerve stimulator
C. microscope
D. doppler - answer>>B. Nerve stimulators create very small electric currents that help to identify and
preserve essential facial nerves.
Which of the following hemostatic agents is contraindicated for use in the presence of infection?
, A. topical thrombin
B. oxidized cellulose
C. absorbable gelatin
D. absorbable collagen - answer>>D. Absorbable collagen is contraindicated in the presence of
infection or in areas where blodd or other body fluids have pooled.
During closure of a nephrectomy in the lateral position, the OR table is straightened to facilitate:
A. proper circulation
B. wound hemostasis
C. adequate respirations
D. tissue approximation - answer>>D. To achieve proper wound closure, the table must be
straightened to bring the tissue of the incision closer together and avoid tension on the suture and
tissues.
Which of the following must be tested prior to the use of a fiberoptic bronchoscope?
A. light source
B. laser fiber
C. nitrogen level
D. magnification lens - answer>>A. A fiberoptic light source is the power source for all fiberoptic
instruments and equipment and should be tested prior to the use of a fiberoptic bronchoscope.
Excision of a constricted segment of the aorta with reanastomosis is performed to correct:
A. patent ductus arteriosus
B. coarctation of the aorta
C. aortic aneurysm
D. transportation of the great vessels - answer>>B. Coarctation of the aorta can be corrected by
excision of a constricted segment of the aorta with reanastomosis.
For which of the following diagnoses would a patient undergo endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography?
COMPLETE EXAM LATEST VERSION 2026-2027
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is the purpose of maintaining the air exchange rate 15 - 20 times per hour in the OR?
A. reduce microbial count
B. allow temperature to be recorded
C. provide comfortable environment
D. decrease static electricity - answer>>A. Studies have shown that air exchange in the OR at the rate
of 15 - 20 times per hour helps to reduce the microbial count.
How many mL of water is necessary to inflate a 5 mL balloon on the Foley indwelling catheter?
A. 5
B. 10
C. 15
D. 20 - answer>>B. 10 mL of water is necessary to inflate a 5 mL balloon on the Foley indwelling
catheter.
If an ophthalmologist orders trimming of eyelashes, how is it safely performed?
A. electric trimmer used on dry lashes
B. electric trimmer used on wet lashes
C. fine scissors without water-soluable gel
D. fine scissors coated with water-soluable gel - answer>>D. Fine scissors coated with water-soluable
gel is used for trimming eyelashes.
What is the correct technique for performing the surgical skin prep?
A. incision site to periphery using circular motion
B. periphery to incision site using circular motion
,C. incision site to periphery using back-and-forth motion
D. periphery to incision site using back-and-forth motion - answer>>A. When performing the patient
skin prep, the skin should be scrubbed and painted starting at the incision site using a circular
motion.
The laboratory test that determines the ratio of erythrocytes to whole blood is:
A. reticulocyte count
B. differential count
C. hematocrit
D. hemoglobin - answer>>C. The percentage or ratio of erythrocytes that is present in the whole blood
of the surgical patient is determined by the laboratory test called the hematocrit.
What is the proper procedure to follow when a pack of sponges contains an incorrect number after the
patient has entered the OR?
A. record actual number and use
B. hand off the sterile field and isolate
C. place on sterile backtable and do not use
D. remove from the OR - answer>>B. If a sponge pack contains an incorrect number of sponges, the
first scrub surgical technologist should hand the sponges to the circulator who will place the sponges
in an area of the OR where they will not be thrown away or mixed with other sponges until the end
of the procedure and the OR is being cleaned.
Which of the following types of specimens would not be placed in a preservative solution?
A. colon
B. calculi
C. tonsils
D. uterus - answer>>B. Any type of stones, salivary, gallbladder or renal, should be sent dry to
pathology. Preservative solutions destroy the stones, making it impossible for pathological
examination.
Where should the surgical technologist begin when performing closing counts?
,A. backtable
B. mayo stand
C. off the field
D. operative field - answer>>D. The first scrub should begin at the operative field first and work her/his
way backwards- operative field, mayo stand, backtable, basin, sponge bucket, floor.
Which of the following catheter tips is used in a patient with a uretheral stricture?
A. olive
B. coude
C. whistle
D. mushroom - answer>>B. Coude is a non-retaining catheter tip to maneuver around an obstruction if
a patient has a urethral stricture.
Which type of procedure would require a stent dressing?
A. neck
B. inguinal
C. extremityA
D. abdominal - answer>>A. Bolster dressing also referred to as stent dressings are for wounds that are
difficult to dress and keep in place, such as the face and neck. The long ends of sutures are tied over
the dressing to secure it.
Which of the following is used in order to ensure preservation of the facial nerve during a
parotidectomy?
A. monopolar cautery
B. nerve stimulator
C. microscope
D. doppler - answer>>B. Nerve stimulators create very small electric currents that help to identify and
preserve essential facial nerves.
Which of the following hemostatic agents is contraindicated for use in the presence of infection?
, A. topical thrombin
B. oxidized cellulose
C. absorbable gelatin
D. absorbable collagen - answer>>D. Absorbable collagen is contraindicated in the presence of
infection or in areas where blodd or other body fluids have pooled.
During closure of a nephrectomy in the lateral position, the OR table is straightened to facilitate:
A. proper circulation
B. wound hemostasis
C. adequate respirations
D. tissue approximation - answer>>D. To achieve proper wound closure, the table must be
straightened to bring the tissue of the incision closer together and avoid tension on the suture and
tissues.
Which of the following must be tested prior to the use of a fiberoptic bronchoscope?
A. light source
B. laser fiber
C. nitrogen level
D. magnification lens - answer>>A. A fiberoptic light source is the power source for all fiberoptic
instruments and equipment and should be tested prior to the use of a fiberoptic bronchoscope.
Excision of a constricted segment of the aorta with reanastomosis is performed to correct:
A. patent ductus arteriosus
B. coarctation of the aorta
C. aortic aneurysm
D. transportation of the great vessels - answer>>B. Coarctation of the aorta can be corrected by
excision of a constricted segment of the aorta with reanastomosis.
For which of the following diagnoses would a patient undergo endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography?
