CST Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: D

1,150 mL: Incorrect. This subtracts the irrigation twice (950 + 1,400 − 1,200).

1,950 mL: Incorrect. This forgets to subtract the 200 g dry weight of the sponges (1,150 + 800).

2,350 mL: Incorrect. This forgets to subtract the 600 mL of irrigation from the suction canister (950 + 1,400).

1,750 mL: Correct. Sponges: 1,150 − (10 × 20) = 950 mL; suction: 1,400 − 600 = 800 mL; total = 950 + 800 = 1,750 mL.

QBL = (wet sponge weight − dry weight) + (suction volume − irrigation volume); report irrigation used accurately so it can be subtracted.

Answer: B

Kocher clamp: Incorrect. A Kocher has heavy serrated jaws with teeth at the tip and is used on tough tissue such as fascia, not bowel.

Babcock clamp: Correct. Babcocks have rounded, fenestrated, atraumatic jaws used to grasp delicate tubular structures such as bowel, appendix and fallopian tubes.

Allis clamp: Incorrect. Allis clamps have small interlocking teeth that are more traumatic; they are used on tissue that will be removed or on tougher tissue.

Towel clip: Incorrect. Penetrating towel clips are used to secure drapes, not to hold bowel.

Atraumatic grasping of delicate tubular structures = Babcock; toothed or heavy grasping = Allis or Kocher.

Answer: C

Continue closing the fascia and recount the sponges before skin closure: Incorrect. Closure should not continue past a discrepancy, because a retained sponge would then be sealed in the cavity.

Document an incorrect count and plan an x-ray in the recovery room: Incorrect. Imaging and documentation follow the search; postponing the search until after closure risks a retained item.

Tell the surgeon right away, then recount and search the field and room: Correct. The surgeon is informed immediately so the wound can be explored while the team recounts and searches the field, floor and trash; an x-ray is obtained if the item is still missing.

Count the sponges in the kick bucket alone, since they are usually there: Incorrect. The search must include the wound, field, floor and waste; assuming the location can miss a retained item.

Count discrepancy: stop, notify the surgeon, recount, search wound/field/room, image if not found, and document per policy.

Answer: B

Whether every package inside the load reached sterilization temperature: Incorrect. Internal chemical indicators in each package show exposure of that package; the Bowie-Dick test is run in an empty chamber.

Whether air removal is adequate and there are no air leaks in the chamber: Correct. The Bowie-Dick test checks the vacuum system's ability to remove air; trapped air prevents steam contact and causes uneven color change on the test sheet.

Whether resistant bacterial spores were killed during the previous load: Incorrect. Spore kill is measured by a biological indicator, not a Bowie-Dick test.

Whether instruments are dry enough to be removed from the sterilizer cart: Incorrect. Wet packs are assessed by inspection; Bowie-Dick does not measure dryness.

Bowie-Dick (air-removal test): daily, first cycle, empty chamber, prevacuum sterilizers only; a failed test means the sterilizer is taken out of service.

Answer: C

2.7 mL: Incorrect. This treats 1% as 100 mg/mL; a 1% solution is 1 g per 100 mL, or 10 mg/mL.

13.5 mL: Incorrect. This treats 1% as 20 mg/mL, which is the concentration of 2% lidocaine.

27 mL: Correct. 4.5 mg/kg × 60 kg = 270 mg; 1% = 10 mg/mL; 270 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 27 mL.

42 mL: Incorrect. This uses the higher maximum for lidocaine with epinephrine (7 mg/kg = 420 mg).

Percent solution: 1% = 10 mg/mL (move the decimal: % × 10 = mg/mL). Max volume = (mg/kg × kg) ÷ mg/mL.

Answer: C

Hypoglossal nerve: Incorrect. Hypoglossal injury affects tongue movement, not the voice.

Parathyroid glands: Incorrect. Parathyroid injury causes hypocalcemia (tingling, tetany), not hoarseness.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve: Correct. The recurrent laryngeal nerve runs near the thyroid and supplies most intrinsic laryngeal muscles; injury causes vocal cord paralysis and hoarseness.

Phrenic nerve: Incorrect. Phrenic nerve injury paralyzes the hemidiaphragm, affecting breathing rather than voice.

Thyroidectomy risks: recurrent laryngeal nerve (hoarseness; bilateral injury can obstruct the airway) and parathyroids (hypocalcemia).