NCMA Surgical Asepsis and Sterile Technique

Question 1

What is the fundamental difference between medical asepsis and surgical asepsis?

Accepted Answer

Medical asepsis reduces the number of microorganisms; surgical asepsis eliminates ALL microorganisms from objects and areas to prevent infection

Answer

Medical asepsis is used in hospitals; surgical asepsis is used in outpatient clinics

Answer

Surgical asepsis only applies to surgical procedures; medical asepsis applies to all other procedures

Answer

They are interchangeable terms for infection control practices

Question 2

When opening a sterile package to add its contents to a sterile field, what is the correct technique?

Accepted Answer

Open the outer wrap away from you first, then sides, then toward you, without reaching over the sterile field; allow item to fall or flip onto field

Answer

Tear open the packaging quickly and drop the item onto the sterile field

Answer

Open all four flaps simultaneously and place the item directly on the field with gloved hands

Answer

Peel open the package and pass it over the sterile field to a sterile-gloved assistant

Question 3

During a minor surgical procedure, the medical assistant accidentally drops a sterile instrument below the level of the sterile drape. What should be done?

Accepted Answer

Consider the instrument contaminated; do not use it; replace with a sterile instrument

Answer

Retrieve the instrument and wipe it with an alcohol swab before returning it to the field

Answer

Rinse the instrument with sterile saline and return it to the field

Answer

Continue using the instrument since it only touched the floor briefly

Question 4

Which sterilization method is most commonly used for surgical instruments in the medical office, and what are its key parameters?

Accepted Answer

Steam autoclave (moist heat under pressure) typically at 250°F (121°C) at 15 psi for 15–30 minutes depending on load

Answer

Dry heat oven at 320°F for 60 minutes for wrapped instruments

Answer

Chemical sterilization with glutaraldehyde for 3 hours in closed container

Answer

Ethylene oxide gas at room temperature for 10 minutes

Question 5

When donning sterile gloves using the open (closed glove) method, which hand is gloved first and why?

Accepted Answer

The non-dominant hand first, using the contaminated ungloved hand to pick up the cuffed end; then the dominant hand using the sterile-gloved hand

Answer

The dominant hand, because it needs to be protected first for fine motor tasks

Answer

Either hand can be gloved first; the order doesn't matter in sterile technique

Answer

Both gloves must be put on simultaneously to prevent contamination

Question 6

Which of the following actions would NOT contaminate a sterile field during a minor surgical procedure?

Accepted Answer

Placing a sterile instrument using sterile transfer forceps without touching the field border

Answer

Sneezing toward the sterile drape

Answer

Reaching across the sterile field to retrieve an instrument on the far side

Answer

Allowing the patient to touch an instrument on the sterile field