CST Surgical Asepsis & Sterile Technique 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a sterile team member's gown becomes wet during a procedure, what is the correct action?
- Continue the procedure and change the gown after
- Consider the gown contaminated and change immediately (Correct answer)
- Apply a sterile drape over the wet area and continue
- Notify the surgeon but continue if the area is not near the field
Correct answer: Consider the gown contaminated and change immediately
Strike-through contamination occurs when moisture penetrates a gown, rendering it non-sterile and requiring immediate gown change.
Question 2: What is the minimum distance a sterile team member should maintain from an unsterile surface when turning?
- 6 inches
- 12 inches (Correct answer)
- 18 inches
- 24 inches
Correct answer: 12 inches
Sterile team members must maintain at least 12 inches (1 foot) from unsterile surfaces when turning to prevent contamination.
Question 3: Which area of a sterile gown is considered unsterile and must not be touched by a sterile team member?
- Chest panel above waist
- Sleeves above the elbows
- Back of the gown (Correct answer)
- Front of the gown below the chest
Correct answer: Back of the gown
The back of a sterile gown is considered unsterile because it cannot be continuously visualized during the procedure.
Question 4: A scrubbed surgical technologist should pass instruments to the surgeon in which manner?
- Placed quietly on the sterile field
- Slapped firmly into the surgeon's palm so they can feel it (Correct answer)
- Handed with the tip pointing toward the surgeon
- Laid on the Mayo stand for the surgeon to retrieve
Correct answer: Slapped firmly into the surgeon's palm so they can feel it
Instruments are passed with a firm slap into the surgeon's palm so they can feel the instrument without looking away from the operative site.
Question 5: What is the proper technique for opening a peel-pack onto the sterile field?
- Tear the package and drop the item from above the sterile field
- Peel the edges back and present or flip the item onto the field (Correct answer)
- Cut the package open with sterile scissors before presenting
- Hand the entire sealed package to the scrub technologist
Correct answer: Peel the edges back and present or flip the item onto the field
Peel-pack items are opened by peeling the edges apart and either presenting the item to the scrub or flipping it carefully onto the sterile field.
Question 6: Which of the following practices violates surgical asepsis during draping?
- Holding drapes high during placement to prevent touching unsterile surfaces
- Draping from the operative site outward toward the periphery
- Unfolding drapes toward the scrub technologist after placement (Correct answer)
- Cuffing the drape over gloved hands to protect sterility
Correct answer: Unfolding drapes toward the scrub technologist after placement
Drapes should never be unfolded back toward the sterile field after placement, as this would drag contamination from unsterile areas onto the field.
Question 7: When pouring sterile solution into a sterile basin on the field, the circulator should hold the bottle:
- As close to the basin as possible to prevent splashing
- At least 6 inches above the basin without reaching over the field (Correct answer)
- Directly over the center of the sterile field for accuracy
- At the edge of the table tilting sideways
Correct answer: At least 6 inches above the basin without reaching over the field
The circulator holds the bottle at least 6 inches above the basin to prevent contamination while avoiding reaching over the sterile field.
CST Surgical Asepsis & Sterile Technique 2
When a sterile team member's gown becomes wet during a procedure, what is the correct action?