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ABSA (American Board of Surgical Assistants) – Complete Test (2026) Questions with correct
Answers and Rationale 2026 UPDATE!!!!!
Instructions: Detailed rationales are provided to reinforce surgical assisting
knowledge and clinical reasoning.
Domain 1: Preoperative Patient Care (History, Physical, Labs, Informed Consent)
1. The surgical assistant is reviewing a patient's preoperative chart. Which of the
following laboratory values is most critical to evaluate before surgery?
A) Complete blood count (CBC)
B) Serum electrolytes
C) Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR)
D) All of the above are essential for surgical clearance
Answer: D
Rationale: Preoperative evaluation requires a comprehensive review: CBC (to
assess for anemia or infection), serum electrolytes (to assess for imbalances),
and PT/INR (to assess coagulation status). Any abnormalities must be addressed
before surgery.
2. The surgical assistant is obtaining informed consent for a surgical procedure.
Which of the following must be included in the informed consent process?
A) The name of the surgeon and the assistant
B) The risks, benefits, and alternatives to the procedure
C) The expected recovery time
D) All of the above are essential components of informed consent
Answer: D
Rationale: Informed consent must include: the nature of the procedure, the risks
and benefits, the alternatives, and the expected recovery. It must be obtained by
the surgeon or a designated provider and signed by the patient.
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3. The surgical assistant is assessing a patient's preoperative medical history. The
patient reports taking warfarin (Coumadin). The surgical assistant should:
A) Proceed with surgery as planned.
B) Notify the surgeon and anesthesia provider immediately, as warfarin increases
the risk of intraoperative bleeding.
C) Administer vitamin K to reverse the warfarin.
D) Stop the patient's warfarin 24 hours before surgery.
Answer: B
Rationale: Warfarin is a potent anticoagulant. The surgical assistant must notify
the surgeon and anesthesia provider immediately. The surgeon will determine the
timing of warfarin cessation (typically 5-7 days before surgery) or prescribe a
bridging therapy.
4. The surgical assistant is reviewing a patient's preoperative chest X-ray. The
patient is a 65-year-old male with a history of smoking. The X-ray shows a
suspicious mass in the right upper lobe. The assistant should:
A) Ignore the finding and proceed with the scheduled surgery.
B) Notify the surgeon immediately, as this may indicate a malignancy that could
change the surgical plan.
C) Document the finding and proceed.
D) Tell the patient to stop smoking.
Answer: B
Rationale: A suspicious mass on a preoperative chest X-ray is a significant finding.
The surgical assistant must notify the surgeon immediately so that the surgical
plan can be reassessed.
Domain 2: Aseptic Technique & Sterile Field Management
5. The surgical assistant is preparing the sterile field for a surgical procedure.
Which of the following actions violates sterile technique?
A) The assistant keeps their hands above the waist.
B) The assistant reaches across the sterile field to retrieve an instrument.
ABSA (American Board of Surgical Assistants) – Complete Test (2026) Questions with correct
Answers and Rationale 2026 UPDATE!!!!!
Instructions: Detailed rationales are provided to reinforce surgical assisting
knowledge and clinical reasoning.
Domain 1: Preoperative Patient Care (History, Physical, Labs, Informed Consent)
1. The surgical assistant is reviewing a patient's preoperative chart. Which of the
following laboratory values is most critical to evaluate before surgery?
A) Complete blood count (CBC)
B) Serum electrolytes
C) Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR)
D) All of the above are essential for surgical clearance
Answer: D
Rationale: Preoperative evaluation requires a comprehensive review: CBC (to
assess for anemia or infection), serum electrolytes (to assess for imbalances),
and PT/INR (to assess coagulation status). Any abnormalities must be addressed
before surgery.
2. The surgical assistant is obtaining informed consent for a surgical procedure.
Which of the following must be included in the informed consent process?
A) The name of the surgeon and the assistant
B) The risks, benefits, and alternatives to the procedure
C) The expected recovery time
D) All of the above are essential components of informed consent
Answer: D
Rationale: Informed consent must include: the nature of the procedure, the risks
and benefits, the alternatives, and the expected recovery. It must be obtained by
the surgeon or a designated provider and signed by the patient.
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3. The surgical assistant is assessing a patient's preoperative medical history. The
patient reports taking warfarin (Coumadin). The surgical assistant should:
A) Proceed with surgery as planned.
B) Notify the surgeon and anesthesia provider immediately, as warfarin increases
the risk of intraoperative bleeding.
C) Administer vitamin K to reverse the warfarin.
D) Stop the patient's warfarin 24 hours before surgery.
Answer: B
Rationale: Warfarin is a potent anticoagulant. The surgical assistant must notify
the surgeon and anesthesia provider immediately. The surgeon will determine the
timing of warfarin cessation (typically 5-7 days before surgery) or prescribe a
bridging therapy.
4. The surgical assistant is reviewing a patient's preoperative chest X-ray. The
patient is a 65-year-old male with a history of smoking. The X-ray shows a
suspicious mass in the right upper lobe. The assistant should:
A) Ignore the finding and proceed with the scheduled surgery.
B) Notify the surgeon immediately, as this may indicate a malignancy that could
change the surgical plan.
C) Document the finding and proceed.
D) Tell the patient to stop smoking.
Answer: B
Rationale: A suspicious mass on a preoperative chest X-ray is a significant finding.
The surgical assistant must notify the surgeon immediately so that the surgical
plan can be reassessed.
Domain 2: Aseptic Technique & Sterile Field Management
5. The surgical assistant is preparing the sterile field for a surgical procedure.
Which of the following actions violates sterile technique?
A) The assistant keeps their hands above the waist.
B) The assistant reaches across the sterile field to retrieve an instrument.
