CERTIFIED SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST
PRACTICE EXAM #1 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS
During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically
discovered?
a. hysterectomy
b. appendectomy
c. prostatectomy
d. varicocelectomy - ✔✔b. During an appendectomy, bowel is examined and can lead to
the discovery of a Meckel's diverticulum.
Which of the following solutions can be used to disinfect endoscopic instruments?
a. iodophors
b. ethyl alcohol 70%
c. phenolic compounds
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,d. activated glutaraldehyde - ✔✔d. Activated glutaraldehyde is a high-level disinfectant
widely used for disinfection of endoscopes.
Which of the following is the administration route for thrombin?
a. local infiltration
b. topical application
c. intravenous injection
d. intramuscular injection - ✔✔b. Thrombin may be applied topically, in a solution or as
a powder, but should never be introduced into a large blood vessel, because significant
intravascular clotting and death may result.
Gl0ve powder is normally wiped from the gloved hand, because it has the potential to
cause
a. dehiscence
b. infections
c. granulomas
d. contamination - ✔✔c. Glove powder is a sterile foreign body whose reaction with
tissue can cause granulomas.
Which of the following procedures is the removal of the entire orbital content, including
the periosteum?
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,a. recession
b. resection
c. evisceration
d. exenteration - ✔✔d. Exenteration removes everything in the gloval orbit due to
malignancies.
Which of the following is MOST commonly used for wound closure in the presence of
infection?
a. stainless steel
b. polyglactin-910
c. plain gut
d. silk - ✔✔a. Stainless steel suture is recommended for use in infected areas, because it
is non-absorbable with indefinite tensile strength.
When preparing the Sterrad sterilization system for use in the surgical area, which of
the following outlets must be available?
a. suction
b. oxygen
c. nitrogen
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, d. electrical - ✔✔d. The Sterrad sterilization system requires electricity to operated.
When can instrument counts be omitted?
a. if the incision is too small for an instrument to become buried
b. when the surgical technologist in the circulator role becomes too busy
c. if instruments are needed in another operating room
d. when the patient is receiving outpatient surgery - ✔✔a. The count can be deleted if
significant risk for a retained item is unlikely and falls within hospital protocols.
When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the
surgical technologist in the scrub role is placing the staples through which two layers?
a. cuticular and subcuticular
b. subicular and subcutaneous
c. subcuticular and subcutaneous
d. subcutaneous and fascia - ✔✔a. These layers are the two most outer layers of the skin
and are closed together by the skin stapler.
Which of the following is the definition of instrument sterilization?
a. surgical cleaning with an antiseptic
b. manual decontamination
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
PRACTICE EXAM #1 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS
During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically
discovered?
a. hysterectomy
b. appendectomy
c. prostatectomy
d. varicocelectomy - ✔✔b. During an appendectomy, bowel is examined and can lead to
the discovery of a Meckel's diverticulum.
Which of the following solutions can be used to disinfect endoscopic instruments?
a. iodophors
b. ethyl alcohol 70%
c. phenolic compounds
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,d. activated glutaraldehyde - ✔✔d. Activated glutaraldehyde is a high-level disinfectant
widely used for disinfection of endoscopes.
Which of the following is the administration route for thrombin?
a. local infiltration
b. topical application
c. intravenous injection
d. intramuscular injection - ✔✔b. Thrombin may be applied topically, in a solution or as
a powder, but should never be introduced into a large blood vessel, because significant
intravascular clotting and death may result.
Gl0ve powder is normally wiped from the gloved hand, because it has the potential to
cause
a. dehiscence
b. infections
c. granulomas
d. contamination - ✔✔c. Glove powder is a sterile foreign body whose reaction with
tissue can cause granulomas.
Which of the following procedures is the removal of the entire orbital content, including
the periosteum?
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,a. recession
b. resection
c. evisceration
d. exenteration - ✔✔d. Exenteration removes everything in the gloval orbit due to
malignancies.
Which of the following is MOST commonly used for wound closure in the presence of
infection?
a. stainless steel
b. polyglactin-910
c. plain gut
d. silk - ✔✔a. Stainless steel suture is recommended for use in infected areas, because it
is non-absorbable with indefinite tensile strength.
When preparing the Sterrad sterilization system for use in the surgical area, which of
the following outlets must be available?
a. suction
b. oxygen
c. nitrogen
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, d. electrical - ✔✔d. The Sterrad sterilization system requires electricity to operated.
When can instrument counts be omitted?
a. if the incision is too small for an instrument to become buried
b. when the surgical technologist in the circulator role becomes too busy
c. if instruments are needed in another operating room
d. when the patient is receiving outpatient surgery - ✔✔a. The count can be deleted if
significant risk for a retained item is unlikely and falls within hospital protocols.
When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the
surgical technologist in the scrub role is placing the staples through which two layers?
a. cuticular and subcuticular
b. subicular and subcutaneous
c. subcuticular and subcutaneous
d. subcutaneous and fascia - ✔✔a. These layers are the two most outer layers of the skin
and are closed together by the skin stapler.
Which of the following is the definition of instrument sterilization?
a. surgical cleaning with an antiseptic
b. manual decontamination
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
