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NBSTSA CSTFree Certified Surgical Technologist practice test
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10 real NBSTSA CST practice questions with instant answers and explanations — no account, no credit card, no email. Score yourself, then unlock the full bank of 750 questions whenever you’re ready. The NBSTSA CST passing score is 102 / 150 scored questions (≈68%).
During a surgical procedure, which area of a draped table is considered part of the sterile field?
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All 10 NBSTSA CST questions & answers
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Q1. During a surgical procedure, which area of a draped table is considered part of the sterile field?
Correct answer: A. Only the table surface at or above table level
Only the horizontal surface at or above table height is considered sterile; anything below table level, including drapes that hang down, is considered contaminated.
Q2. What is the primary purpose of the surgical hand scrub performed before gowning and gloving?
Correct answer: B. To reduce the number of resident and transient microorganisms on the skin
The surgical hand scrub cannot achieve true sterility of skin; it substantially reduces the microbial load of both transient and resident flora to lower infection risk.
Q3. A towel clip is used to secure drapes and its tips penetrate through both drape layers. Once placed, what is true of that towel clip?
Correct answer: C. Its penetrating tips are now considered contaminated and the clip should not be removed and reused elsewhere
Once a towel clip's tips pass through drape layers, the tips are contaminated by contact with the unprepped skin below; the clip should stay in place and not be relocated to a new site.
Q4. Which surgical instrument is designed primarily to clamp small bleeding vessels?
Correct answer: D. Kelly hemostat
Hemostatic forceps such as the Kelly clamp are designed to grasp and occlude small blood vessels to control bleeding.
Q5. On a scrubbed team member's sterile gown, which area is considered sterile?
Correct answer: A. The front from chest to the level of the sterile field, and the sleeves from 2 inches above the elbow to the cuff
The sterile area of a gown is the front from the chest to table level and the sleeves from 2 inches above the elbow to the stockinette cuff; the neck, shoulders, back, underarms, and below waist level are considered unsterile.
Q6. When should the initial sponge, sharp, and instrument count be performed?
Correct answer: B. Before the procedure begins, before the first incision, establishing a baseline
The initial count is taken before the procedure starts to establish a baseline total against which subsequent counts are compared.
Q7. When performing a routine skin antisepsis prep on a clean, non-contaminated surgical site, in what pattern should the prep solution generally be applied?
Correct answer: C. From the intended incision site outward toward the periphery in a circular or side-to-side motion
Skin prep is applied starting at the proposed incision site and moving outward toward the periphery, since the center is considered the cleanest area and should not be re-contaminated by moving from a dirtier peripheral area inward.
Q8. What is a primary purpose of applying a sterile dressing to a surgical incision at the end of a procedure?
Correct answer: D. To protect the wound from contamination and absorb drainage
A postoperative dressing protects the incision from external contamination, absorbs drainage, and supports the healing wound.
Q9. Why are surgical patients typically required to be NPO (nothing by mouth) for a period before elective surgery under general anesthesia?
Correct answer: A. To reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents
Fasting before anesthesia reduces gastric volume and the risk of aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs during induction, when protective airway reflexes are diminished.
Q10. During a standard surgical case, at what point is the 'first closing count' typically performed?
Correct answer: B. When closure of a cavity or body space begins, such as peritoneum
The first closing count is performed when closure of a body cavity or deep space begins, before that space is closed off from view.
Exam facts and objectives sourced from the official NBSTSA certification page. Last reviewed June 2026.
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