NCCT SURGICAL TECH PRACTICE (PRE-
SURGICAL CARE AND PREPARATION) ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
(A+ GUIDE SOLUTION)
NEWEST 2025/2026
SECTION 1: ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE & STERILE FIELD
Q1. Which of the following techniques is recommended for entering the operating
room after performing the surgical hand scrub?
A) Pushing the door open with your feet
B) Turning your back and pushing the door open
C) Using your side to enter
D) Waiting for the circulator to open the door
☑ ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: After the surgical hand scrub, entering the room by turning your
back and pushing the door open prevents contamination of the sterile hands and
arms [citation:1].
1
,Q2. Gowns are considered sterile only from:
A) Neck level to waist in front and back, and full sleeves
B) Shoulder to sterile field level in front and back and full sleeves
C) Neck to thighs in front, and sleeves from elbow to cuffs
D) Chest to sterile field level in front, and sleeves from elbow to cuffs
☑ ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: Sterile gowns are considered sterile only from the chest to the
sterile field level in front and from the elbows to the cuffs on the sleeves. The back
of the gown is always considered contaminated [citation:1][citation:4].
Q3. Which of the following portions of the sterile gown remain sterile after
donning? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
A) Front of the gown from the chest down
B) Both arms of the gown
2
,C) Mid chest to waist of the gown
D) Elbows to cuffs
E) Shoulders to cuffs
☑ ANSWER: C, D
RATIONALE: The sterile portions of a surgical gown are the mid chest to waist
area in the front and the sleeves from the elbows to the cuffs. The back, neck, and
shoulders are not considered sterile [citation:4].
Q4. Which of the following must the surgical technologist check before opening a
sterile wrapped package? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
A) Integrity of the package
B) External chemical indicator
C) Sterilization date
D) Internal chemical indicator
E) Load number
☑ ANSWER: A, B
3
, RATIONALE: Before opening a sterile wrapped package, the technologist must
verify the integrity of the package (no tears or holes) and check the external
chemical indicator to confirm the package was exposed to the sterilization process
[citation:1][citation:8].
Q5. When removing the instrument tray from the casket, the surgical technologist
finds no indicator. Which of the following should the technologist do next?
A) Put it back in the casket
B) Put it on the back table
C) Hand off and change gloves
D) Hand off and resterilize the tray
☑ ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: If no indicator is found in the instrument tray, the sterility cannot be
confirmed. The technologist should hand off the tray and change gloves to
maintain the sterile field [citation:1][citation:8].
4
SURGICAL CARE AND PREPARATION) ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
(A+ GUIDE SOLUTION)
NEWEST 2025/2026
SECTION 1: ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE & STERILE FIELD
Q1. Which of the following techniques is recommended for entering the operating
room after performing the surgical hand scrub?
A) Pushing the door open with your feet
B) Turning your back and pushing the door open
C) Using your side to enter
D) Waiting for the circulator to open the door
☑ ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: After the surgical hand scrub, entering the room by turning your
back and pushing the door open prevents contamination of the sterile hands and
arms [citation:1].
1
,Q2. Gowns are considered sterile only from:
A) Neck level to waist in front and back, and full sleeves
B) Shoulder to sterile field level in front and back and full sleeves
C) Neck to thighs in front, and sleeves from elbow to cuffs
D) Chest to sterile field level in front, and sleeves from elbow to cuffs
☑ ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: Sterile gowns are considered sterile only from the chest to the
sterile field level in front and from the elbows to the cuffs on the sleeves. The back
of the gown is always considered contaminated [citation:1][citation:4].
Q3. Which of the following portions of the sterile gown remain sterile after
donning? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
A) Front of the gown from the chest down
B) Both arms of the gown
2
,C) Mid chest to waist of the gown
D) Elbows to cuffs
E) Shoulders to cuffs
☑ ANSWER: C, D
RATIONALE: The sterile portions of a surgical gown are the mid chest to waist
area in the front and the sleeves from the elbows to the cuffs. The back, neck, and
shoulders are not considered sterile [citation:4].
Q4. Which of the following must the surgical technologist check before opening a
sterile wrapped package? (Select the two (2) correct answers.)
A) Integrity of the package
B) External chemical indicator
C) Sterilization date
D) Internal chemical indicator
E) Load number
☑ ANSWER: A, B
3
, RATIONALE: Before opening a sterile wrapped package, the technologist must
verify the integrity of the package (no tears or holes) and check the external
chemical indicator to confirm the package was exposed to the sterilization process
[citation:1][citation:8].
Q5. When removing the instrument tray from the casket, the surgical technologist
finds no indicator. Which of the following should the technologist do next?
A) Put it back in the casket
B) Put it on the back table
C) Hand off and change gloves
D) Hand off and resterilize the tray
☑ ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: If no indicator is found in the instrument tray, the sterility cannot be
confirmed. The technologist should hand off the tray and change gloves to
maintain the sterile field [citation:1][citation:8].
4
