NCCT SURGICAL TECH PRACTICE EXAM AND
STUDY GUIDE 2025
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(ALREADY GRADED A+)
LATEST VERSION (JUST RELEASED) | PROFESSOR
VERIFIED
DOMAIN 1: PREOPERATIVE PREPARATION
1. When preparing a laparotomy set for an emergency appendectomy, which
sterilization method is appropriate for a stainless-steel Heaney clamp that
will be used immediately?
A. Steam autoclave (gravity) for 30 minutes
B. Chemical (glutaraldehyde) immersion for 10 hours
C. Ethylene oxide (EtO) gas for 15 hours
D. Hydrogen peroxide plasma (Sterrad) for 55 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Immediate-use (flash) sterilization of heat-stable, non-porous
instruments is achieved via steam autoclave (270 °F / 132 °C, 3–10 min at 27–28
psi depending on cycle). Option A’s 30-minute gravity cycle is acceptable for
terminal sterilization when immediate use is not required; flash cycles are
shorter. Glutaraldehyde (B) requires 10 hours for sterilization and is reserved for
heat-sensitive items. EtO (C) needs aeration and is not immediate. Sterrad (D) is
for moisture-sensitive items and does not apply here. Key Point: Know cycle
parameters and indications for each sterilization modality per AST Ch. 9.
2. The primary purpose of the surgical skin prep is to:
A. Create a sterile field on the patient’s skin
B. Reduce the microbial count to an irreducible minimum
C. Provide a 24-hour pathogen barrier
D. Sterilize the epidermis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Skin cannot be sterilized; prep reduces microbial load to lower
surgical-site infection risk. Option A is incorrect—skin remains non-sterile.
Option C overstates durability; prep effect is temporary. Option D is impossible
on living tissue. Key Point: Prep = decontamination, not sterilization.
3. Which action is REQUIRED when opening a sterile instrument pack onto a
back table?
pg. 1
, A. Flip the top flap away from your body
B. Allow the pack to fall open by gravity alone
C. Keep the inner contents 2 cm from the table edge
D. Touch only the outside edge of the outer wrapper
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Flipping the top flap away prevents reaching over the sterile field and
maintains aseptic technique. Option B risks contamination if contents shift.
Option C is unsafe—contents must remain >2.5 cm from edge. Option D is false;
you may touch the outer wrapper’s edge but must not contact sterile inner
surfaces. Key Point: Follow AST flap-opening sequence: away-side-near-side.
4. During case planning, the ST notes the surgeon prefers “Mayo scissors.”
Which description matches this instrument?
A. Long, delicate blades for fine tissue dissection
B. Short, heavy blades with blunt tips for fascia
C. Angled blades for vascular anastomosis
D. Serrated jaws for bone cutting
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mayo scissors are heavy-duty, blunt-tipped, 6–7 inches, designed for
thick fascia. Option A describes Metzenbaum. Option C describes Potts-Smith
vascular scissors. Option D describes a bone cutter. Key Point: Instrument ID—
weight and blade shape dictate use.
5. The ST is preparing a microscope drape. The correct sequence is:
A. Open sterile sleeve, grasp microscope arm, drape from top down
B. Secure camera first, then drape oculars, then arm
C. Drape oculars first, then arm, then camera last
D. Drape arm first, then oculars, then camera
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Aseptic order: start with highest risk (oculars near surgeon’s face),
then arm, then camera to avoid crossing contaminated zones. Option A risks
contamination by reaching over microscope. Options B and D violate top-down
principle. Key Point: Microscope draping follows “cleanest to dirtiest” sequence.
DOMAIN 2: INTRAOPERATIVE PROCEDURES
6. When passing a scalpel blade, the ST should:
A. Hand it handle-first to the surgeon
B. Place it in the surgeon’s palm blade-up
C. Secure it on a magnetic pad first
D. Pass it blade-down onto the surgeon’s palm
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Handle-first pass protects both surgeon and ST from sharps injury.
pg. 2
STUDY GUIDE 2025
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(ALREADY GRADED A+)
LATEST VERSION (JUST RELEASED) | PROFESSOR
VERIFIED
DOMAIN 1: PREOPERATIVE PREPARATION
1. When preparing a laparotomy set for an emergency appendectomy, which
sterilization method is appropriate for a stainless-steel Heaney clamp that
will be used immediately?
A. Steam autoclave (gravity) for 30 minutes
B. Chemical (glutaraldehyde) immersion for 10 hours
C. Ethylene oxide (EtO) gas for 15 hours
D. Hydrogen peroxide plasma (Sterrad) for 55 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Immediate-use (flash) sterilization of heat-stable, non-porous
instruments is achieved via steam autoclave (270 °F / 132 °C, 3–10 min at 27–28
psi depending on cycle). Option A’s 30-minute gravity cycle is acceptable for
terminal sterilization when immediate use is not required; flash cycles are
shorter. Glutaraldehyde (B) requires 10 hours for sterilization and is reserved for
heat-sensitive items. EtO (C) needs aeration and is not immediate. Sterrad (D) is
for moisture-sensitive items and does not apply here. Key Point: Know cycle
parameters and indications for each sterilization modality per AST Ch. 9.
2. The primary purpose of the surgical skin prep is to:
A. Create a sterile field on the patient’s skin
B. Reduce the microbial count to an irreducible minimum
C. Provide a 24-hour pathogen barrier
D. Sterilize the epidermis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Skin cannot be sterilized; prep reduces microbial load to lower
surgical-site infection risk. Option A is incorrect—skin remains non-sterile.
Option C overstates durability; prep effect is temporary. Option D is impossible
on living tissue. Key Point: Prep = decontamination, not sterilization.
3. Which action is REQUIRED when opening a sterile instrument pack onto a
back table?
pg. 1
, A. Flip the top flap away from your body
B. Allow the pack to fall open by gravity alone
C. Keep the inner contents 2 cm from the table edge
D. Touch only the outside edge of the outer wrapper
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Flipping the top flap away prevents reaching over the sterile field and
maintains aseptic technique. Option B risks contamination if contents shift.
Option C is unsafe—contents must remain >2.5 cm from edge. Option D is false;
you may touch the outer wrapper’s edge but must not contact sterile inner
surfaces. Key Point: Follow AST flap-opening sequence: away-side-near-side.
4. During case planning, the ST notes the surgeon prefers “Mayo scissors.”
Which description matches this instrument?
A. Long, delicate blades for fine tissue dissection
B. Short, heavy blades with blunt tips for fascia
C. Angled blades for vascular anastomosis
D. Serrated jaws for bone cutting
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mayo scissors are heavy-duty, blunt-tipped, 6–7 inches, designed for
thick fascia. Option A describes Metzenbaum. Option C describes Potts-Smith
vascular scissors. Option D describes a bone cutter. Key Point: Instrument ID—
weight and blade shape dictate use.
5. The ST is preparing a microscope drape. The correct sequence is:
A. Open sterile sleeve, grasp microscope arm, drape from top down
B. Secure camera first, then drape oculars, then arm
C. Drape oculars first, then arm, then camera last
D. Drape arm first, then oculars, then camera
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Aseptic order: start with highest risk (oculars near surgeon’s face),
then arm, then camera to avoid crossing contaminated zones. Option A risks
contamination by reaching over microscope. Options B and D violate top-down
principle. Key Point: Microscope draping follows “cleanest to dirtiest” sequence.
DOMAIN 2: INTRAOPERATIVE PROCEDURES
6. When passing a scalpel blade, the ST should:
A. Hand it handle-first to the surgeon
B. Place it in the surgeon’s palm blade-up
C. Secure it on a magnetic pad first
D. Pass it blade-down onto the surgeon’s palm
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Handle-first pass protects both surgeon and ST from sharps injury.
pg. 2
