NCCT Surgical Technology Preliminary ACTUAL EXAM
2026| ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
ALREADY GRADED A+ | VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST
VERSION (JUST RELEASED) 2026-2027
A surgical technologist working the night shift is preparing implants for the next morning.
After running the autoclave, the cycle fails. Which of the following should the surgical
technologist do?
-Rerun the wrapped implants with an external chemical monitor taped to the outside of the
sets to ensure proper sterility has been achieved.
-Ask the night operating room supervisor to postpone the orthopedic surgical procedure
until the oncoming day shift surgical technologists can run a BI test pack on the first load of
the day.
-Unwrap, decontaminate and re-sterilize implants with a biological test pack and place a
hold on the use of the sets until the BI test results are available.
-Have the sterilizer scheduled for repair and halt the sterilization of all implants.
Unwrap, decontaminate and re-sterilize implants with a biological test pack and place a
hold on the use of the sets until the BI test results are available.
,Which of the following instruments is used to extend the arteriotomy during a carotid
endarterectomy?
Potts-Smith
Jorgenson
Stevens tenotomy
Straight Mayo
Potts-Smith
Potts-Smith scissors are delicate scissors used to extend an opening to an artery or vein
and they can cut through calcified plaque. They are angled to be able to make a better cut.
The straight Mayo and Jorgenson scissors are heavier scissors and would not be
appropriate to cut veins and arteries. Stevens tenotomy scissors are used to cut and
dissect delicate tissue such as in vascular, plastics or eyes.
For which of the following drains is a sterile safety pin used?
Penrose
Pleur-evac
Closed vacuum
Red Robinson
Penrose
Rationale: A Penrose comes with a safety pin that can be attached at the end of the drain
to the dressing sponge that keeps both the drain and sponge in place.
,The surgical technologist prepared a breast lump to send as a frozen section to pathology.
The surgical technologist should pass off the specimen placed
-in normal saline.
-on a raytec sponge.
-on a telfa pad.
-in formalin.
on a telfa pad.
Rationale: A fresh frozen specimen means that the specimen is not in formalin, or any
fixative agent. The STs responsibility is to place the specimen on a moist Telfa, which will
allow it to be easily removed in the lab and not stick to an untreated surface. The ST should
pass the specimen off on the Telfa to her circulator who will then place it in a clean
specimen container and arrange for immediate transport to pathology.
Which of the following is the minimum number of counts for a Cesarean section case?
2
7
4
3
4
Rationale: There is always a minimum of four (4) counts on a C-section: one prior to the
incision, one prior to closure of the uterus, one prior to closing the abdominal cavity, and
one prior to closing the skin. Seven would be too excessive and unnecessary.
, Following an eyelid laceration repair, the surgeon begins to close the skin. Anticipating the
surgeon's needs, the surgical technologist should hand the surgeon
-Iodophor gauze.
-staples.
-Dermabond.
-steri strips.
steri strips.
Rationale: Steri-trips are used to approximate would edges and hold them together.
Staples would not be used on an eyelid laceration because they are metal. Dermabond
would not be used because it is a liquid skin adhesive. Iodophor gauze is a packing that is
used to pack wounds.
Which of the following are done during the initial count for a tubal ligation case? (Select
the three (3) correct answers.)
-State the name of each item as you begin to count it
-Count syringes
-Circulator records the items counted
-Count laps, Raytecs, needles, and blades
-Count dressings
State the name of each item as you begin to count it, Circulator records the items
counted, Count laps, Raytecs, needles, and blades
Rationale: Dressings should not be opened until the end of the case. Counted items do
include lap tapes, Raytecs, needles and blades, but not syringes. Always state each item
being counted as you begin to count out loud with the circulator.
2026| ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
ALREADY GRADED A+ | VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST
VERSION (JUST RELEASED) 2026-2027
A surgical technologist working the night shift is preparing implants for the next morning.
After running the autoclave, the cycle fails. Which of the following should the surgical
technologist do?
-Rerun the wrapped implants with an external chemical monitor taped to the outside of the
sets to ensure proper sterility has been achieved.
-Ask the night operating room supervisor to postpone the orthopedic surgical procedure
until the oncoming day shift surgical technologists can run a BI test pack on the first load of
the day.
-Unwrap, decontaminate and re-sterilize implants with a biological test pack and place a
hold on the use of the sets until the BI test results are available.
-Have the sterilizer scheduled for repair and halt the sterilization of all implants.
Unwrap, decontaminate and re-sterilize implants with a biological test pack and place a
hold on the use of the sets until the BI test results are available.
,Which of the following instruments is used to extend the arteriotomy during a carotid
endarterectomy?
Potts-Smith
Jorgenson
Stevens tenotomy
Straight Mayo
Potts-Smith
Potts-Smith scissors are delicate scissors used to extend an opening to an artery or vein
and they can cut through calcified plaque. They are angled to be able to make a better cut.
The straight Mayo and Jorgenson scissors are heavier scissors and would not be
appropriate to cut veins and arteries. Stevens tenotomy scissors are used to cut and
dissect delicate tissue such as in vascular, plastics or eyes.
For which of the following drains is a sterile safety pin used?
Penrose
Pleur-evac
Closed vacuum
Red Robinson
Penrose
Rationale: A Penrose comes with a safety pin that can be attached at the end of the drain
to the dressing sponge that keeps both the drain and sponge in place.
,The surgical technologist prepared a breast lump to send as a frozen section to pathology.
The surgical technologist should pass off the specimen placed
-in normal saline.
-on a raytec sponge.
-on a telfa pad.
-in formalin.
on a telfa pad.
Rationale: A fresh frozen specimen means that the specimen is not in formalin, or any
fixative agent. The STs responsibility is to place the specimen on a moist Telfa, which will
allow it to be easily removed in the lab and not stick to an untreated surface. The ST should
pass the specimen off on the Telfa to her circulator who will then place it in a clean
specimen container and arrange for immediate transport to pathology.
Which of the following is the minimum number of counts for a Cesarean section case?
2
7
4
3
4
Rationale: There is always a minimum of four (4) counts on a C-section: one prior to the
incision, one prior to closure of the uterus, one prior to closing the abdominal cavity, and
one prior to closing the skin. Seven would be too excessive and unnecessary.
, Following an eyelid laceration repair, the surgeon begins to close the skin. Anticipating the
surgeon's needs, the surgical technologist should hand the surgeon
-Iodophor gauze.
-staples.
-Dermabond.
-steri strips.
steri strips.
Rationale: Steri-trips are used to approximate would edges and hold them together.
Staples would not be used on an eyelid laceration because they are metal. Dermabond
would not be used because it is a liquid skin adhesive. Iodophor gauze is a packing that is
used to pack wounds.
Which of the following are done during the initial count for a tubal ligation case? (Select
the three (3) correct answers.)
-State the name of each item as you begin to count it
-Count syringes
-Circulator records the items counted
-Count laps, Raytecs, needles, and blades
-Count dressings
State the name of each item as you begin to count it, Circulator records the items
counted, Count laps, Raytecs, needles, and blades
Rationale: Dressings should not be opened until the end of the case. Counted items do
include lap tapes, Raytecs, needles and blades, but not syringes. Always state each item
being counted as you begin to count out loud with the circulator.
