CERTIFIED SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST (CST) EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS
• Preoperative preparation
• Intraoperative procedures
• Postoperative procedures
• Administrative and personnel responsibilities
• Equipment sterilization and maintenance
• Anatomy and physiology
• Surgical microbiology
• Surgical pharmacology
• Infection prevention and aseptic technique
• Surgical procedures, instruments, and patient safety
• INTRODUCTION *
This assessment is designed to evaluate the knowledge and clinical decision-
making skills expected of an entry-level Certified Surgical Technologist. It covers
perioperative care, sterile technique, surgical procedures, instrumentation,
equipment, sterilization, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, pharmacology,
professional responsibilities, and patient safety. Questions incorporate
foundational knowledge as well as realistic operating-room scenarios requiring
prioritization and application of surgical technology principles. The assessment
emphasizes safe practice, accurate instrument and supply management, effective
communication, prevention of contamination, appropriate response to
intraoperative events, and professional judgment. Questions are original practice
items and are not purported to be actual or leaked NBSTSA examination questions.
The current NBSTSA CST examination consists of 175 multiple-choice questions,
with 150 scored items, and is organized around Perioperative Care, Ancillary
Duties, and Basic Science.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. Which action is the primary responsibility of the surgical technologist when
establishing the sterile field?
A. Administering anesthesia
B. Maintaining sterility throughout the procedure
C. Obtaining informed consent
D. Diagnosing the patient's condition
B. Maintaining sterility throughout the procedure
RATIONALE: The surgical technologist is responsible for establishing and
maintaining the sterile field and recognizing and correcting breaks in aseptic
technique.
2. During surgical hand antisepsis, which principle is most important?
A. Keeping hands above the elbows during the entire process
B. Touching the sink to stabilize the body
C. Keeping hands higher than the elbows after completing the scrub
D. Drying the hands from the elbows toward the fingertips
C. Keeping hands higher than the elbows after completing the scrub
RATIONALE: During surgical hand antisepsis and movement to the sterile
field, hands are maintained above the elbows so contaminated water does not flow
from the less-clean area toward the hands.
3. A sterile-gloved CST accidentally touches an unsterile surface with the
glove. What should occur?
A. The glove should be considered contaminated and replaced
B. The glove remains sterile if there is no visible soil
C. The CST should wipe the glove with antiseptic
D. The CST should continue if the surgeon did not observe the contact
A. The glove should be considered contaminated and replaced
, RATIONALE: A sterile glove that contacts an unsterile surface is
contaminated regardless of visible soil and must be replaced according to facility
policy.
4. Which item is considered sterile when its packaging and integrity are intact
and the sterilization process has been appropriately completed?
A. An item with a torn wrapper
B. An item with a wet package
C. An item with compromised packaging
D. An intact, properly processed sterile package
D. An intact, properly processed sterile package
RATIONALE: Sterility depends on proper processing and maintenance of
package integrity. Damaged or compromised packaging cannot be considered
sterile.
5. The CST opens a sterile instrument package. Which area of the package
should be considered sterile after opening?
A. The outside of the wrapper
B. The inside surface presenting the sterile contents
C. The outside surface touching the table
D. Any portion below the table level
B. The inside surface presenting the sterile contents
RATIONALE: The inner surface of an appropriately opened sterile package is
part of the sterile presentation area, while the exterior is considered contaminated.
6. Which principle applies when passing between two sterile team members?
A. Back-to-back passing is preferred when possible
B. Both team members should turn completely away from each other
C. One person should cross directly through the other's sterile field
D. Sterile team members should maintain contact with nonsterile surfaces
A. Back-to-back passing is preferred when possible
, RATIONALE: Sterile team members should avoid passing face-to-face or
front-to-front because doing so increases the risk of contamination.
7. A CST notices that a sterile drape has fallen below the level of the operating
table. What should the CST recognize?
A. Only the portion touching the floor is contaminated
B. The drape may still be used if it appears clean
C. The portion below the table level is considered contaminated
D. The drape becomes sterile after being lifted
C. The portion below the table level is considered contaminated
RATIONALE: Areas below the recognized sterile-field level are considered
contaminated because they cannot be reliably observed or maintained as sterile.
8. Which action best demonstrates appropriate sterile-field awareness?
A. Turning one's back on the sterile field
B. Reaching across an unsterile area
C. Allowing sterile items to hang below table level
D. Keeping the sterile field continuously visible
D. Keeping the sterile field continuously visible
RATIONALE: A sterile field should remain under continuous observation to
identify and prevent contamination.
9. Before opening an implant onto the sterile field, what should the CST
verify?
A. The implant's package integrity and expiration or relevant processing
information
B. The surgeon's preferred brand only
C. Whether the package is the largest available
D. Whether the implant has been opened previously
A. The implant's package integrity and expiration or relevant processing
information
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS
• Preoperative preparation
• Intraoperative procedures
• Postoperative procedures
• Administrative and personnel responsibilities
• Equipment sterilization and maintenance
• Anatomy and physiology
• Surgical microbiology
• Surgical pharmacology
• Infection prevention and aseptic technique
• Surgical procedures, instruments, and patient safety
• INTRODUCTION *
This assessment is designed to evaluate the knowledge and clinical decision-
making skills expected of an entry-level Certified Surgical Technologist. It covers
perioperative care, sterile technique, surgical procedures, instrumentation,
equipment, sterilization, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, pharmacology,
professional responsibilities, and patient safety. Questions incorporate
foundational knowledge as well as realistic operating-room scenarios requiring
prioritization and application of surgical technology principles. The assessment
emphasizes safe practice, accurate instrument and supply management, effective
communication, prevention of contamination, appropriate response to
intraoperative events, and professional judgment. Questions are original practice
items and are not purported to be actual or leaked NBSTSA examination questions.
The current NBSTSA CST examination consists of 175 multiple-choice questions,
with 150 scored items, and is organized around Perioperative Care, Ancillary
Duties, and Basic Science.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. Which action is the primary responsibility of the surgical technologist when
establishing the sterile field?
A. Administering anesthesia
B. Maintaining sterility throughout the procedure
C. Obtaining informed consent
D. Diagnosing the patient's condition
B. Maintaining sterility throughout the procedure
RATIONALE: The surgical technologist is responsible for establishing and
maintaining the sterile field and recognizing and correcting breaks in aseptic
technique.
2. During surgical hand antisepsis, which principle is most important?
A. Keeping hands above the elbows during the entire process
B. Touching the sink to stabilize the body
C. Keeping hands higher than the elbows after completing the scrub
D. Drying the hands from the elbows toward the fingertips
C. Keeping hands higher than the elbows after completing the scrub
RATIONALE: During surgical hand antisepsis and movement to the sterile
field, hands are maintained above the elbows so contaminated water does not flow
from the less-clean area toward the hands.
3. A sterile-gloved CST accidentally touches an unsterile surface with the
glove. What should occur?
A. The glove should be considered contaminated and replaced
B. The glove remains sterile if there is no visible soil
C. The CST should wipe the glove with antiseptic
D. The CST should continue if the surgeon did not observe the contact
A. The glove should be considered contaminated and replaced
, RATIONALE: A sterile glove that contacts an unsterile surface is
contaminated regardless of visible soil and must be replaced according to facility
policy.
4. Which item is considered sterile when its packaging and integrity are intact
and the sterilization process has been appropriately completed?
A. An item with a torn wrapper
B. An item with a wet package
C. An item with compromised packaging
D. An intact, properly processed sterile package
D. An intact, properly processed sterile package
RATIONALE: Sterility depends on proper processing and maintenance of
package integrity. Damaged or compromised packaging cannot be considered
sterile.
5. The CST opens a sterile instrument package. Which area of the package
should be considered sterile after opening?
A. The outside of the wrapper
B. The inside surface presenting the sterile contents
C. The outside surface touching the table
D. Any portion below the table level
B. The inside surface presenting the sterile contents
RATIONALE: The inner surface of an appropriately opened sterile package is
part of the sterile presentation area, while the exterior is considered contaminated.
6. Which principle applies when passing between two sterile team members?
A. Back-to-back passing is preferred when possible
B. Both team members should turn completely away from each other
C. One person should cross directly through the other's sterile field
D. Sterile team members should maintain contact with nonsterile surfaces
A. Back-to-back passing is preferred when possible
, RATIONALE: Sterile team members should avoid passing face-to-face or
front-to-front because doing so increases the risk of contamination.
7. A CST notices that a sterile drape has fallen below the level of the operating
table. What should the CST recognize?
A. Only the portion touching the floor is contaminated
B. The drape may still be used if it appears clean
C. The portion below the table level is considered contaminated
D. The drape becomes sterile after being lifted
C. The portion below the table level is considered contaminated
RATIONALE: Areas below the recognized sterile-field level are considered
contaminated because they cannot be reliably observed or maintained as sterile.
8. Which action best demonstrates appropriate sterile-field awareness?
A. Turning one's back on the sterile field
B. Reaching across an unsterile area
C. Allowing sterile items to hang below table level
D. Keeping the sterile field continuously visible
D. Keeping the sterile field continuously visible
RATIONALE: A sterile field should remain under continuous observation to
identify and prevent contamination.
9. Before opening an implant onto the sterile field, what should the CST
verify?
A. The implant's package integrity and expiration or relevant processing
information
B. The surgeon's preferred brand only
C. Whether the package is the largest available
D. Whether the implant has been opened previously
A. The implant's package integrity and expiration or relevant processing
information
