Surgical Asepsis & Sterile Technique Flashcards
7 cards from real CST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Surgical Asepsis & Sterile Technique flashcards as text
Which of the following is an example of a break in sterile technique during gowning?
Answer: Touching the outside of the gown before the circulator ties it
Touching the outside of the gown before it is secured and before donning sterile gloves contaminates the sterile outer surface.
The closed-glove technique differs from the open-glove technique in that:
Answer: The hands never extend beyond the gown cuffs during donning
In the closed-glove technique, hands remain inside the gown cuffs throughout donning, preventing bare hand contact with the sterile glove exterior.
When the sterile field must be left unattended between cases, what is the appropriate action?
Answer: The sterile field cannot be left unattended and must be broken down
A sterile field that is left unattended cannot be considered sterile and must be broken down because no one can guarantee its integrity.
What is the purpose of using draping towels (four-towel technique) prior to placing the main sterile drape?
Answer: To square off and define the sterile operative site
The four-towel technique squares off the immediate operative area, defining the sterile boundaries before the larger fenestrated drape is placed.
Which statement about sterile field preparation timing is correct?
Answer: Sterile fields should be set up as close to the time of use as possible
Sterile fields should be established as close to the time of use as possible because longer exposure time increases the risk of contamination.
During a laparoscopic procedure, the sterile technologist's hands and arms should be kept:
Answer: At waist level or higher within the sterile zone
Hands and arms must remain at or above waist level within the sterile zone because areas below waist level are considered unsterile.
What is the most critical factor when determining if a package is still sterile?
Answer: The condition of the packaging barrier and integrity indicators
Event-related sterility means package integrity is the primary determinant — a compromised package is unsterile regardless of date.