NBSTSA Study Guide 2026

Per event-related sterility, an item sterilized by autoclave remains sterile indefinitely as long as the packaging remains intact and undamaged.

The scrub person and circulator count together, both visualizing each item, and verbally confirm counts are correct to the surgeon before wound closure is completed.

Sentinel lymph node specimens follow a special chain of custody: the radioactive node is identified with a Geiger counter intraoperatively, then sent fresh (never in formalin) to nuclear medicine for counting and subsequently to pathology for frozen section analysis. Adding formalin would destroy the radioactive signal and prevent frozen section processing.

IUSS is intended only for emergency situations where a needed item is contaminated or dropped intraoperatively and no pre-packaged sterile replacement is available. It should never be used routinely because items are transported without packaging, increasing contamination risk, and cycle monitoring is reduced.

Anaerobes are microorganisms, typically bacteria, that are capable of growing and thriving in environments completely devoid of oxygen. Unlike aerobes, which require oxygen for respiration, anaerobes utilize other molecules as electron acceptors for their metabolic processes. Some anaerobes are even harmed or killed by the presence of oxygen.

Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization (brand name Sterrad) uses vaporized hydrogen peroxide energized into a plasma state at low temperatures. It is effective for moisture-sensitive instruments, requires no aeration period, and produces only non-toxic byproducts (water vapor and oxygen).