AST Practice Test B (2025-2026)
Exam with Correct Verified and Well
Analyzed Answers Graded A+
Which of the following is considered the MOST important skill for a
ST?
a. management of specimens
b. management of sponges
c. maintaining an orderly setup
d. ensuring adequate lighting
a. management of specimens
The surgical incision that allows for the BEST visualization for a
Billroth I procedure is
a. McBurney's
b. Pfannenstiel
c. midline
d. subcostal
c. midline
During the postoperative phase, the personnel primarily responsible
for transporting soiled instrumentation to decontamination is the
a. housekeeping staff
b. anesthesia technician
c. ST
d. central processing technician
c. ST
CSF is formed in the lateral ventricles of a pt. and may not properly
flow into the third ventricle through the foramen of
a. Magendie into fourth ventricle
b. Monro into the fourth ventricle
,c. Sylvius into the fourth ventricle
d. Luschka into the fourth ventricle
c. Sylvius into the fourth ventricle
During an excisional biopsy of biopsy of sentinel nodes, the ST
should prepare specimens using which of the following methods?
a. place on a raytec to be handed off to the circulator
b. separate on Telfa and pass to the circulator
c. place in separate containers and identify
d. place in specimen container held by the circulator using a
hemostat
c. place in separate container and identify
A ST received the following medications onto the sterile field: 0.9%
sodium chloride, bacitracin 1 gm, and 0.25% Marcaine with
epinephrine. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate way to
label these medications?
a. saline + bacitracin and .25 Marcaine + epinephrine
b. NACL + 1 gm baci and .25 marc with epi
c. saline + baci and .25 marc with epi
d. 0.9% saline + 1 gm baci and .25 marc with epi
d. 0.9% saline + 1 gm baci and .25 marc with epi
A thyroidectomy that was done earlier in the day is being brought
back for excessive bleeding from the incision. Which of the following
items are needed for this case?
a. monocryl suture and harmonc scalpel
b. laps, silk ties, and hemoclips
c. vicryl ties, pledgets, and alexis
d. nylon suture, raytec, and geralds
b. laps, silk ties, and hemoclips
If there is any question related to handling a specific type of
specimen, which of the following departments should be consulted?
a. histology
b. laboratory
c. pathology
d. radiology
c. pathology
,The required number of air exchanges per hour in an OR is
a. 5 to 10
b. 15 to 25
c. 30 to 35
d. 40 to 50
b. 15 to 25
A special-made instrument without a backup falls to the floor during a
procedure. Which of the following is the BEST reason to hesitate
performing immediate-use sterilization?
a. the sterilizer is used for implantable devices, but not instruments
b. the manufacturers standards for sterilizing the instrument are
unknown
c. the staff feels uncomfortable transporting the unwrapped
instrument to the OR after sterilization
d. there are no wrappers or pouches available for sterilizing the
instrument
d. there are no wrappers or pouches available for sterilizing the
instrument
When transferring a thoracotomy pt. to recovery, the chest drainage
system should be
a. disconnected
b. placed at the pts. side
c. positioned above the pts. head
d. maintained below the pts. chest level
d. maintained below the pts. chest level
Which of the following procedures requires an incision in the
suprasternal notch?
a. mediastinoscopy
b. bronchoscopy
c. parotidectomy
d. pericardectomy
a. mediastinoscopy
When preparing surgical specimens, in addition to the ST, who else is
responsible for accurately labeling the specimen?
a. surgeon and anesthesiologist
, b. circulating nurse and first assistant
c. anesthesiologist and first assistant
d. surgeon and circulating nurse
b. circulating nurse and first assistant
A T-tube drain may be used following
a. a splenectomy
b. a choledochotomy
c. an appendectomy
d. a herniorrhapy
b. a choledochotomy
When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the
skin stapler, the ST places the staples through which two layers?
a. cuticular and subcuticular
b. subicular and subcutaneous
c. subcuticular and subcutaneous
d. subcutaneous and fascia
a. cuticular and subcuticular
A type of regional anesthesia in which a tourniquet is applied and
local anesthetic is administered intravenously is called a
a. bier block
b. peripheral nerve block
c. MAC
d. caudal anesthesia
a. bier block
During a craniotomy, which of the following types of bones is
entered?
a. flat
b. round
c. long
d. short
a. flat
A physician prescribed 50 milligrams of Demerol. The Demerol is
supplied in 100 mg/mL. How many mL of Demerol should be given?
a. 0.5 mL
b. 1.0 mL
Exam with Correct Verified and Well
Analyzed Answers Graded A+
Which of the following is considered the MOST important skill for a
ST?
a. management of specimens
b. management of sponges
c. maintaining an orderly setup
d. ensuring adequate lighting
a. management of specimens
The surgical incision that allows for the BEST visualization for a
Billroth I procedure is
a. McBurney's
b. Pfannenstiel
c. midline
d. subcostal
c. midline
During the postoperative phase, the personnel primarily responsible
for transporting soiled instrumentation to decontamination is the
a. housekeeping staff
b. anesthesia technician
c. ST
d. central processing technician
c. ST
CSF is formed in the lateral ventricles of a pt. and may not properly
flow into the third ventricle through the foramen of
a. Magendie into fourth ventricle
b. Monro into the fourth ventricle
,c. Sylvius into the fourth ventricle
d. Luschka into the fourth ventricle
c. Sylvius into the fourth ventricle
During an excisional biopsy of biopsy of sentinel nodes, the ST
should prepare specimens using which of the following methods?
a. place on a raytec to be handed off to the circulator
b. separate on Telfa and pass to the circulator
c. place in separate containers and identify
d. place in specimen container held by the circulator using a
hemostat
c. place in separate container and identify
A ST received the following medications onto the sterile field: 0.9%
sodium chloride, bacitracin 1 gm, and 0.25% Marcaine with
epinephrine. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate way to
label these medications?
a. saline + bacitracin and .25 Marcaine + epinephrine
b. NACL + 1 gm baci and .25 marc with epi
c. saline + baci and .25 marc with epi
d. 0.9% saline + 1 gm baci and .25 marc with epi
d. 0.9% saline + 1 gm baci and .25 marc with epi
A thyroidectomy that was done earlier in the day is being brought
back for excessive bleeding from the incision. Which of the following
items are needed for this case?
a. monocryl suture and harmonc scalpel
b. laps, silk ties, and hemoclips
c. vicryl ties, pledgets, and alexis
d. nylon suture, raytec, and geralds
b. laps, silk ties, and hemoclips
If there is any question related to handling a specific type of
specimen, which of the following departments should be consulted?
a. histology
b. laboratory
c. pathology
d. radiology
c. pathology
,The required number of air exchanges per hour in an OR is
a. 5 to 10
b. 15 to 25
c. 30 to 35
d. 40 to 50
b. 15 to 25
A special-made instrument without a backup falls to the floor during a
procedure. Which of the following is the BEST reason to hesitate
performing immediate-use sterilization?
a. the sterilizer is used for implantable devices, but not instruments
b. the manufacturers standards for sterilizing the instrument are
unknown
c. the staff feels uncomfortable transporting the unwrapped
instrument to the OR after sterilization
d. there are no wrappers or pouches available for sterilizing the
instrument
d. there are no wrappers or pouches available for sterilizing the
instrument
When transferring a thoracotomy pt. to recovery, the chest drainage
system should be
a. disconnected
b. placed at the pts. side
c. positioned above the pts. head
d. maintained below the pts. chest level
d. maintained below the pts. chest level
Which of the following procedures requires an incision in the
suprasternal notch?
a. mediastinoscopy
b. bronchoscopy
c. parotidectomy
d. pericardectomy
a. mediastinoscopy
When preparing surgical specimens, in addition to the ST, who else is
responsible for accurately labeling the specimen?
a. surgeon and anesthesiologist
, b. circulating nurse and first assistant
c. anesthesiologist and first assistant
d. surgeon and circulating nurse
b. circulating nurse and first assistant
A T-tube drain may be used following
a. a splenectomy
b. a choledochotomy
c. an appendectomy
d. a herniorrhapy
b. a choledochotomy
When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the
skin stapler, the ST places the staples through which two layers?
a. cuticular and subcuticular
b. subicular and subcutaneous
c. subcuticular and subcutaneous
d. subcutaneous and fascia
a. cuticular and subcuticular
A type of regional anesthesia in which a tourniquet is applied and
local anesthetic is administered intravenously is called a
a. bier block
b. peripheral nerve block
c. MAC
d. caudal anesthesia
a. bier block
During a craniotomy, which of the following types of bones is
entered?
a. flat
b. round
c. long
d. short
a. flat
A physician prescribed 50 milligrams of Demerol. The Demerol is
supplied in 100 mg/mL. How many mL of Demerol should be given?
a. 0.5 mL
b. 1.0 mL
