CTP Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CTP facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the PRIMARY ethical obligation of a certified Certified Transplant Preservationist professional regarding confidential information? → Protect from unauthorized disclosure at all times
2. During abdominal organ procurement, which vessel is most commonly cannulated for in-situ flushing? → Aorta
3. Which scoring system is used in the United States to assess expanded criteria for liver donors and estimate graft survival risk? → Donor Risk Index (DRI)
4. Why is it important to minimize organ exposure to air during preservation? → It prevents cellular damage by limiting oxidative stress.
5. What is the importance of evaluating the recipient’s health history? → It ensures the recipient is in good health to undergo surgery and recover.
6. What is the primary goal of organ preservation? → To maintain organ viability until transplantation.
7. What is the purpose of transplantation regulations? → To ensure safe, ethical, and legal practices in organ donation and transplantation.
8. What is the importance of documentation in organ preservation? → To provide a record of the preservation process and ensure traceability.
9. What role does calibration play in Certified Transplant Preservationist technical accuracy? → Ensures instruments produce accurate results over time
10. What documentation is MOST critical for safety compliance in Certified Transplant Preservationist? → Incident reports, training records, and inspection logs
11. Why is blood type compatibility important in donor-recipient evaluation? → It prevents immune rejection and ensures organ compatibility.
12. What is the recommended target temperature range (°C) for cold static storage of most solid organs during preservation? → 0–4°C
13. Immunosuppressant medications given during organ preservation flush are intended primarily to: → Prevent early acute rejection at reperfusion
14. What is the purpose of donor evaluation in transplantation? → To assess whether the organ is suitable for transplantation.
15. What documentation is MOST critical for safety compliance in Certified Transplant Preservationist? → Incident reports, training records, and inspection logs
16. Asked to provide CTP services outside scope of competence, the CORRECT response is to: → Decline and refer to a qualified professional
17. What is the CORRECT sequence when performing a Certified Transplant Preservationist technical procedure? → Plan, prepare, execute, verify, and document
18. What is the primary advantage of hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) over cold static storage for kidney preservation? → Continuous washout of metabolic waste products and delivery of nutrients
19. What is the significance of the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA)? → It regulates organ allocation and ensures fairness in the transplant process.
20. During aortic flush at procurement, what is the typical volume of UW solution used per kidney to achieve adequate organ cooling and washout? → 1–2 liters per organ
21. Which preservation solution component is primarily responsible for maintaining colloid osmotic pressure and preventing interstitial edema in the graft? → Hydroxyethyl starch (HES)
22. What is the optimal storage temperature range for organs during transport? → 2–4°C (ice-slush range)
23. Why are transplantation guidelines essential in organ matching? → To ensure that donor organs are appropriately matched to recipients for optimal outcomes.
24. When a CTP professional encounters unexpected results during a procedure, the FIRST action should be: → Stop, assess, and determine whether to proceed or seek guidance
25. What is the relationship between donor and recipient matching in transplantation? → It reduces the chances of immune rejection and increases transplant success.
26. What is the significance of the glutathione component in preservation solutions such as UW and Celsior? → It is an antioxidant that scavenges free radicals generated during ischemia-reperfusion
27. How does organ function impact donor-recipient matching? → It ensures the organ will function properly once transplanted.
28. In Certified Transplant Preservationist practice, what is the FIRST step when a safety hazard is identified? → Immediately secure the area and report the hazard
29. Asked to provide CTP services outside scope of competence, the CORRECT response is to: → Decline and refer to a qualified professional
30. Which PPE principle applies to ALL CTP certified professionals? → PPE must be properly fitted, maintained, and replaced as needed