CSPT - CERTIFIED COMPOUNDED STERILE PREPARATION TECHNICIAN |
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | LATEST VERSION
2026/2027
CSPT - CERTIFIED STERILE PRODUCTS TECHNICIAN
1. What is the primary goal of sterile compounding?
A. Improve medication flavor
B. Prevent contamination and ensure product quality
C. Increase medication volume
D. Reduce labeling requirements
ANSWER : B. Prevent contamination and ensure product quality
Explanation: Sterile compounding requires controls that minimize microbial,
particulate, and endotoxin contamination while maintaining product quality.
2. Which organization publishes standards for sterile compounding in the
United States?
A. OSHA
B. USP
C. FDA only
D. CDC only
ANSWER : B. USP
Explanation: The United States Pharmacopeia publishes compounding
standards, including requirements for sterile preparations.
3. What does CSP stand for?
A. Controlled Sterile Procedure
B. Compounded Sterile Preparation
C. Clinical Sterile Product
D. Certified Safety Protocol
, ANSWER : B. Compounded Sterile Preparation
Explanation: CSP refers to a preparation compounded under controlled
conditions to maintain sterility and quality.
4. Which type of contamination involves microorganisms?
A. Chemical contamination
B. Microbial contamination
C. Physical contamination
D. Thermal contamination
ANSWER : B. Microbial contamination
Explanation: Microbial contamination occurs when bacteria, fungi, or other
microorganisms enter a sterile preparation or environment.
5. Why is hand hygiene essential before sterile compounding?
A. It improves dexterity
B. It reduces microbial contamination
C. It sterilizes gloves
D. It replaces garbing
ANSWER : B. It reduces microbial contamination
Explanation: Proper hand hygiene reduces microorganisms that could
contaminate gloves, equipment, or compounded sterile preparations.
6. What is the purpose of sterile gloves?
A. To protect only the technician
B. To maintain aseptic conditions
C. To replace hand hygiene
D. To eliminate all microorganisms in the room
ANSWER : B. To maintain aseptic conditions
Explanation: Sterile gloves help prevent microorganisms from the technician's
hands from contaminating sterile components and critical sites.
7. Which activity should generally be avoided in a sterile compounding area?
A. Disinfecting surfaces
B. Preparing medications
C. Eating or drinking
D. Checking labels
ANSWER : C. Eating or drinking
Explanation: Food, beverages, and similar activities can introduce
contaminants into controlled compounding environments.
,8. What is an ISO Class 5 environment designed to provide?
A. A highly controlled low-particle environment
B. A storage-only environment
C. A general office environment
D. A patient-care environment
ANSWER : A. A highly controlled low-particle environment
Explanation: ISO Class 5 limits airborne particulate contamination and is
commonly associated with primary engineering controls used for sterile
compounding.
9. Which device commonly provides an ISO Class 5 compounding
environment?
A. Refrigerator
B. Biological safety cabinet or compounding aseptic isolator
C. Medication cart
D. Laminar storage cabinet
ANSWER : B. Biological safety cabinet or compounding aseptic isolator
Explanation: Appropriate primary engineering controls provide controlled
airflow and reduce contamination during sterile compounding.
10. What does HEPA stand for?
A. High-Efficiency Particulate Air
B. High-Energy Pharmaceutical Air
C. Hazard Evaluation Protection Air
D. High Environmental Purity Area
ANSWER : A. High-Efficiency Particulate Air
Explanation: HEPA filters remove a very high percentage of airborne particles
of specified size from the air passing through them.
11. What is the primary function of a HEPA filter?
A. Remove odors
B. Remove airborne particulate contaminants
C. Sterilize medications directly
D. Control medication temperature
ANSWER : B. Remove airborne particulate contaminants
Explanation: HEPA filtration helps maintain clean air by removing airborne
particles.
12. What is first air?
A. Air entering the pharmacy
, B. Air that has passed through a HEPA filter and reaches critical sites without
obstruction
C. Air from an open door
D. Air inside a refrigerator
ANSWER : B. Air that has passed through a HEPA filter and reaches critical
sites without obstruction
Explanation: Maintaining direct exposure to first air is a fundamental principle
of aseptic technique.
13. Why should critical sites remain in first air?
A. To increase medication potency
B. To minimize contamination risk
C. To reduce preparation time
D. To prevent evaporation
ANSWER : B. To minimize contamination risk
Explanation: Blocking first air can allow contaminated room air or particles to
reach critical sites.
14. Which is a critical site?
A. Exterior of a closed box
B. Needle tip
C. Technician's shoe
D. Storage shelf
ANSWER : B. Needle tip
Explanation: A critical site is a sterile surface that will contact sterile product,
such as a needle tip or syringe connection.
15. What should happen if a sterile needle touches a nonsterile surface?
A. Wipe it with alcohol and continue
B. Continue if it looks clean
C. Consider it contaminated and replace it
D. Blow on it
ANSWER : C. Consider it contaminated and replace it
Explanation: Once a critical sterile site contacts a nonsterile surface, sterility
can no longer be assured.
16. What is aseptic technique intended to prevent?
A. Medication shortages
B. Microbial contamination
C. Labeling errors only
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | LATEST VERSION
2026/2027
CSPT - CERTIFIED STERILE PRODUCTS TECHNICIAN
1. What is the primary goal of sterile compounding?
A. Improve medication flavor
B. Prevent contamination and ensure product quality
C. Increase medication volume
D. Reduce labeling requirements
ANSWER : B. Prevent contamination and ensure product quality
Explanation: Sterile compounding requires controls that minimize microbial,
particulate, and endotoxin contamination while maintaining product quality.
2. Which organization publishes standards for sterile compounding in the
United States?
A. OSHA
B. USP
C. FDA only
D. CDC only
ANSWER : B. USP
Explanation: The United States Pharmacopeia publishes compounding
standards, including requirements for sterile preparations.
3. What does CSP stand for?
A. Controlled Sterile Procedure
B. Compounded Sterile Preparation
C. Clinical Sterile Product
D. Certified Safety Protocol
, ANSWER : B. Compounded Sterile Preparation
Explanation: CSP refers to a preparation compounded under controlled
conditions to maintain sterility and quality.
4. Which type of contamination involves microorganisms?
A. Chemical contamination
B. Microbial contamination
C. Physical contamination
D. Thermal contamination
ANSWER : B. Microbial contamination
Explanation: Microbial contamination occurs when bacteria, fungi, or other
microorganisms enter a sterile preparation or environment.
5. Why is hand hygiene essential before sterile compounding?
A. It improves dexterity
B. It reduces microbial contamination
C. It sterilizes gloves
D. It replaces garbing
ANSWER : B. It reduces microbial contamination
Explanation: Proper hand hygiene reduces microorganisms that could
contaminate gloves, equipment, or compounded sterile preparations.
6. What is the purpose of sterile gloves?
A. To protect only the technician
B. To maintain aseptic conditions
C. To replace hand hygiene
D. To eliminate all microorganisms in the room
ANSWER : B. To maintain aseptic conditions
Explanation: Sterile gloves help prevent microorganisms from the technician's
hands from contaminating sterile components and critical sites.
7. Which activity should generally be avoided in a sterile compounding area?
A. Disinfecting surfaces
B. Preparing medications
C. Eating or drinking
D. Checking labels
ANSWER : C. Eating or drinking
Explanation: Food, beverages, and similar activities can introduce
contaminants into controlled compounding environments.
,8. What is an ISO Class 5 environment designed to provide?
A. A highly controlled low-particle environment
B. A storage-only environment
C. A general office environment
D. A patient-care environment
ANSWER : A. A highly controlled low-particle environment
Explanation: ISO Class 5 limits airborne particulate contamination and is
commonly associated with primary engineering controls used for sterile
compounding.
9. Which device commonly provides an ISO Class 5 compounding
environment?
A. Refrigerator
B. Biological safety cabinet or compounding aseptic isolator
C. Medication cart
D. Laminar storage cabinet
ANSWER : B. Biological safety cabinet or compounding aseptic isolator
Explanation: Appropriate primary engineering controls provide controlled
airflow and reduce contamination during sterile compounding.
10. What does HEPA stand for?
A. High-Efficiency Particulate Air
B. High-Energy Pharmaceutical Air
C. Hazard Evaluation Protection Air
D. High Environmental Purity Area
ANSWER : A. High-Efficiency Particulate Air
Explanation: HEPA filters remove a very high percentage of airborne particles
of specified size from the air passing through them.
11. What is the primary function of a HEPA filter?
A. Remove odors
B. Remove airborne particulate contaminants
C. Sterilize medications directly
D. Control medication temperature
ANSWER : B. Remove airborne particulate contaminants
Explanation: HEPA filtration helps maintain clean air by removing airborne
particles.
12. What is first air?
A. Air entering the pharmacy
, B. Air that has passed through a HEPA filter and reaches critical sites without
obstruction
C. Air from an open door
D. Air inside a refrigerator
ANSWER : B. Air that has passed through a HEPA filter and reaches critical
sites without obstruction
Explanation: Maintaining direct exposure to first air is a fundamental principle
of aseptic technique.
13. Why should critical sites remain in first air?
A. To increase medication potency
B. To minimize contamination risk
C. To reduce preparation time
D. To prevent evaporation
ANSWER : B. To minimize contamination risk
Explanation: Blocking first air can allow contaminated room air or particles to
reach critical sites.
14. Which is a critical site?
A. Exterior of a closed box
B. Needle tip
C. Technician's shoe
D. Storage shelf
ANSWER : B. Needle tip
Explanation: A critical site is a sterile surface that will contact sterile product,
such as a needle tip or syringe connection.
15. What should happen if a sterile needle touches a nonsterile surface?
A. Wipe it with alcohol and continue
B. Continue if it looks clean
C. Consider it contaminated and replace it
D. Blow on it
ANSWER : C. Consider it contaminated and replace it
Explanation: Once a critical sterile site contacts a nonsterile surface, sterility
can no longer be assured.
16. What is aseptic technique intended to prevent?
A. Medication shortages
B. Microbial contamination
C. Labeling errors only
