CSPT Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026)
Prepare for the CSPT Compounded Sterile Preparation certification. Practice questions with answer explanations covering all exam domains.
Free CSPT Practice Test PDF Download
The CSPT (Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician) certification is an advanced specialty credential offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) for pharmacy technicians who specialize in sterile compounding environments. Preparing for this exam requires deep familiarity with USP 797 and USP 800 standards, aseptic technique, cleanroom operations, and pharmaceutical calculations.
Our free CSPT practice test PDF gives you printable exam-style questions covering every major domain of the certification. Study at your own pace, annotate your copy, and reinforce the knowledge needed to pass on exam day.
What the CSPT Exam Covers
The CSPT examination tests your ability to apply advanced sterile compounding knowledge in a clinical or institutional pharmacy setting. Understanding the following topic areas is essential for passing.
USP 797 Cleanroom Classifications
USP 797 defines the environmental requirements for compounding sterile preparations. The primary engineering control (PEC) — such as a laminar airflow workbench (LAFW) or biological safety cabinet (BSC) — must maintain ISO 5 air quality. The buffer area surrounding the PEC must meet ISO 7 standards, while the ante area must meet ISO 8. Horizontal-flow LAFWs are used for non-hazardous drug preparations; BSCs with vertical airflow are required for hazardous drug compounding to protect the compounder.
Beyond-Use Dating Under Updated USP 797
The updated USP 797 chapter categorizes CSPs into three sterility categories. Category 1 CSPs are prepared in conditions that do not meet ISO 5 requirements and carry short BUDs — 12 hours at controlled room temperature or 24 hours refrigerated. Category 2 CSPs are prepared in ISO 5 PECs with supporting ISO 7/ISO 8 environments and may receive extended BUDs based on sterility testing. Category 3 CSPs have the most stringent environmental and testing requirements and may qualify for the longest BUDs. Knowing BUD limits for each category is a high-frequency exam topic.
Personnel Competency and Garbing Requirements
Compounding personnel must demonstrate competency through garbing evaluations, hand hygiene technique assessments, gloved fingertip sampling, and media fill testing. Media fill tests simulate aseptic technique using growth media instead of actual drug product — any growth in the media indicates a breach of aseptic technique. Personnel must complete initial competency assessments and periodic reassessments per USP 797 requirements.
Aseptic Technique and Critical Sites
A critical site is any surface or opening that is at risk for contamination and could affect the sterility of a CSP. This includes the needle tip, vial septum, ampule neck, and syringe tip. Proper aseptic technique requires disinfecting all critical sites with 70% IPA and allowing full contact time before manipulation. Vials are accessed using a coring-prevention technique; ampules require a filter needle or filter straw during withdrawal.
Environmental Monitoring
Cleanroom environmental monitoring includes viable air sampling (active and passive), surface sampling using contact plates or swabs, and non-viable particle counts. Temperature, humidity, and pressure differential logs must be maintained. ISO 5 areas require more frequent monitoring than ISO 7 or ISO 8 areas. Out-of-specification results trigger corrective action documentation.
USP 800 Hazardous Drug Handling
USP 800 governs the handling of hazardous drugs (HDs) listed on the NIOSH hazardous drug list. Requirements include negative pressure rooms for HDs, use of closed-system transfer devices (CSTDs), and a four-step decontamination process: deactivation, decontamination, cleaning, and disinfection. Personnel handling HDs must use appropriate PPE including double gloves, a chemotherapy gown, and respiratory protection where indicated.
- ✓Review ISO classification zones: ISO 5 (PEC), ISO 7 (buffer area), ISO 8 (ante area)
- ✓Memorize USP 797 Category 1, 2, and 3 BUD limits for room temp and refrigerated storage
- ✓Understand horizontal vs. vertical airflow engineering controls and when each is used
- ✓Study garbing order (from least clean to most clean) and hand hygiene protocol
- ✓Know media fill test purpose, frequency, and pass/fail criteria for personnel competency
- ✓Review critical site definition and aseptic manipulation techniques for vials and ampules
- ✓Study viable/non-viable environmental monitoring methods and corrective action triggers
- ✓Memorize USP 800 NIOSH HD list categories and associated handling requirements
- ✓Practice CSP calculations: dilutions, reconstitution, flow rates, and TPN formulations
- ✓Review compounding record documentation requirements and QA/QC program components
Free CSPT Practice Tests Online
In addition to downloading the PDF, you can take our interactive CSPT practice test directly in your browser. Our online questions are randomized, auto-scored, and include detailed answer explanations to help you understand not just what the correct answer is, but why. Combine the printable PDF for offline review with the online tests for timed practice, and you'll have full coverage of every domain on the CSPT exam.
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