Surgical Technology Certification Exam | Practice Questions
and Complete Review for CST – 2024–2025
This document offers a complete set of practice questions and review material for the
Surgical Technology Certification Exam (CST), following the NBSTSA exam outline.
It covers key areas including preoperative preparation, intraoperative procedures,
surgical instrumentation, patient safety, and post-op care. Ideal for surgical
technologist students aiming to pass the CST exam for certification in 2024–2025.
1. The surgeon asks that multiple suture and hernia mesh that were not on
the preference card be opened during the repair of a large umbilical hernia.
The surgical technologist should recognize that:
a. items on the preference card are only to be changed by the surgeon or
the unit clerk
b. sterile supply associates who stock the hernia mesh are responsible for
adding hernia mesh to the preference card
c. preference card changes are unnecessary; both hernia mesh and suture
are case dependent.
d. suture may be case dependent, but the hernia mesh is integral to the
procedure and should be added to the preference card: Answer: D
2. Which of the following precautions should be taken by the surgical team
when working with polymethyl methacrylate as a bone cement?
a. wear latex free gloves, as polymethyl methacrylate interacts negatively with
latex
b. remove contact lenses as polymethyl methacrylate can melt contact lenses
and cause corneal burns
,c. make sure the patient does not have a latex allergy because polymethyl
methacrylate and latex have the same chemical properties
d. Limit the # of sponges on the field as polymethyl methacrylate can nega-
tively interact with the cotton fibers in the sponges.: Answer: B
3. Which of the following daily tests must be performed on the pre-vacuum
sterilizer before using it?
a. Gravity
b. Biological indicator
c. Bowie-Dick
d. Chemical indicator: Answer: C
4. What is the minimum exposure time in a flash sterilizer for
unwrapped instruments? a. 1 minute
b. 3 minutes
c. 5 minutes
d. 7 minutes: Answer: B
[pre-vac] no lumen - 3 minutes ; lumen - 4 minutes
5. Which of the following is the correct temperature for the flash sterilizer
operation?
a. 132*C (270*F)
b. 126*C (260*F)
c. 135*C (275*F)
d. 129*C (265*F): Answer: A
6. Which of the following is the proper temperature and time that the chamber
of a steam sterilizer must reach in order to ensure that all spores have been
eliminated?
a. 270*F for 4 minutes
b. 350*F for 4 minutes
c. 240*F for 10 minutes
d. 350*F for 10 mintues: Answer: A
[pre-vac] temp: 270*F ; time: 3-4 minutes ; pressure: 27 psi
,7. The Sterrad sterilization system most commonly uses which of the
following chemical solutions?
a. hydrogen peroxide
b. gluteraldehyde
c. alcohol
d. peracetic acid: Answer: A
[Sterrad] make sure its plugged in - needs electricity
8. Which of the following is used to achieve high level disinfection with
a minimum exposure time of 20-45 minutes? a. chlorine bleach
compounds
b. gluteraldehyde
c. hydrogen peroxide
d. iodine and iodophors: Answer: B
9. During decontamination of a flexible endoscope, which of the following
tests should be given to inspect the proper function of the endoscope
and to ensure that it can be properly sterilized? a. leak test
b. electrical component test
c. bacteria swab test
d. fiber optic light test: Answer: A
10. Which of the following is the fastest method of sterilization? a.
gas
b. steam
c. steris
d. dry heat: Answer: B
11. Which of the following is the correct temperature for pre-vacuum
sterilization?
a. 212*F
b. 170*F
c. 300*F
d. 270*F: Answer: D
, 12. Which of the following tests is specifically meant to test and monitor
the efficiency of the high - vacuum steam sterilizer?
a. biological indicator test
b. DART test
c. chemical indicator test
d. EtO test: Answer: B DART test = Bowie Dick test
13. The surgical team must verify each package is properly labeled with
a. date of processing and method of sterilization
b. date of processing and indicator
c. method of sterilization and expiration date
d. indicator and expiration date: Answer: B
14. How many times a day should a DART test be preformed? a.
with every load
b. every shift change
c. once every 24 hours
d. weekly: Answer: C
15. How often must a biological control test be run?
a. every day
b. every cycle
c. once a week
d. once a month: Answer: A
[pg. 163]
16. The Bowie-Dick test for pre-vacuum sterilizers checks for which of the
following conditions?
a. that the appropriate steam level was reached
b. air leaks in the sterilizer chamber
c. broken sterilizer jacket
d. that the sterilizer is ready to process instruments: Answer: B
and Complete Review for CST – 2024–2025
This document offers a complete set of practice questions and review material for the
Surgical Technology Certification Exam (CST), following the NBSTSA exam outline.
It covers key areas including preoperative preparation, intraoperative procedures,
surgical instrumentation, patient safety, and post-op care. Ideal for surgical
technologist students aiming to pass the CST exam for certification in 2024–2025.
1. The surgeon asks that multiple suture and hernia mesh that were not on
the preference card be opened during the repair of a large umbilical hernia.
The surgical technologist should recognize that:
a. items on the preference card are only to be changed by the surgeon or
the unit clerk
b. sterile supply associates who stock the hernia mesh are responsible for
adding hernia mesh to the preference card
c. preference card changes are unnecessary; both hernia mesh and suture
are case dependent.
d. suture may be case dependent, but the hernia mesh is integral to the
procedure and should be added to the preference card: Answer: D
2. Which of the following precautions should be taken by the surgical team
when working with polymethyl methacrylate as a bone cement?
a. wear latex free gloves, as polymethyl methacrylate interacts negatively with
latex
b. remove contact lenses as polymethyl methacrylate can melt contact lenses
and cause corneal burns
,c. make sure the patient does not have a latex allergy because polymethyl
methacrylate and latex have the same chemical properties
d. Limit the # of sponges on the field as polymethyl methacrylate can nega-
tively interact with the cotton fibers in the sponges.: Answer: B
3. Which of the following daily tests must be performed on the pre-vacuum
sterilizer before using it?
a. Gravity
b. Biological indicator
c. Bowie-Dick
d. Chemical indicator: Answer: C
4. What is the minimum exposure time in a flash sterilizer for
unwrapped instruments? a. 1 minute
b. 3 minutes
c. 5 minutes
d. 7 minutes: Answer: B
[pre-vac] no lumen - 3 minutes ; lumen - 4 minutes
5. Which of the following is the correct temperature for the flash sterilizer
operation?
a. 132*C (270*F)
b. 126*C (260*F)
c. 135*C (275*F)
d. 129*C (265*F): Answer: A
6. Which of the following is the proper temperature and time that the chamber
of a steam sterilizer must reach in order to ensure that all spores have been
eliminated?
a. 270*F for 4 minutes
b. 350*F for 4 minutes
c. 240*F for 10 minutes
d. 350*F for 10 mintues: Answer: A
[pre-vac] temp: 270*F ; time: 3-4 minutes ; pressure: 27 psi
,7. The Sterrad sterilization system most commonly uses which of the
following chemical solutions?
a. hydrogen peroxide
b. gluteraldehyde
c. alcohol
d. peracetic acid: Answer: A
[Sterrad] make sure its plugged in - needs electricity
8. Which of the following is used to achieve high level disinfection with
a minimum exposure time of 20-45 minutes? a. chlorine bleach
compounds
b. gluteraldehyde
c. hydrogen peroxide
d. iodine and iodophors: Answer: B
9. During decontamination of a flexible endoscope, which of the following
tests should be given to inspect the proper function of the endoscope
and to ensure that it can be properly sterilized? a. leak test
b. electrical component test
c. bacteria swab test
d. fiber optic light test: Answer: A
10. Which of the following is the fastest method of sterilization? a.
gas
b. steam
c. steris
d. dry heat: Answer: B
11. Which of the following is the correct temperature for pre-vacuum
sterilization?
a. 212*F
b. 170*F
c. 300*F
d. 270*F: Answer: D
, 12. Which of the following tests is specifically meant to test and monitor
the efficiency of the high - vacuum steam sterilizer?
a. biological indicator test
b. DART test
c. chemical indicator test
d. EtO test: Answer: B DART test = Bowie Dick test
13. The surgical team must verify each package is properly labeled with
a. date of processing and method of sterilization
b. date of processing and indicator
c. method of sterilization and expiration date
d. indicator and expiration date: Answer: B
14. How many times a day should a DART test be preformed? a.
with every load
b. every shift change
c. once every 24 hours
d. weekly: Answer: C
15. How often must a biological control test be run?
a. every day
b. every cycle
c. once a week
d. once a month: Answer: A
[pg. 163]
16. The Bowie-Dick test for pre-vacuum sterilizers checks for which of the
following conditions?
a. that the appropriate steam level was reached
b. air leaks in the sterilizer chamber
c. broken sterilizer jacket
d. that the sterilizer is ready to process instruments: Answer: B
