Sterilization and Equipment Practice Questions for the CST
Equipment Sterilization and Maintenance is 16 of the 150 scored questions. It covers what happens to instruments and equipment between cases: troubleshooting, decontamination, cleaning, inspection and assembly, sterilization and its monitors.
175 questions across every content area in 4 hours, with a score for sterilization and equipment and your total against the 98-of-150 passing score.
Free sterilization and equipment drill- 40 original sterilization and equipment questions, each explained
- 16 of 150 scored questions on the real exam (outline II.B)
- Ancillary Duties content area (15% of the exam)
When preparing instruments for cleaning, which should be separated from the others?
What our sterilization and equipment questions cover
- Troubleshooting equipment malfunctions
- Decontaminating, pre-cleaning with enzymatic cleaner and transporting soiled instruments
- Inspecting, testing and assembling instruments and equipment
- Steam, ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma and other sterilization methods
- Interpreting chemical and biological indicators
- Packaging, sterile storage and restocking leftover supplies and instruments
This list is our own summary of the outline tasks, written for practice. NBSTSA publishes the full task list in the CST Examination Content Outline.
Drill sterilization and equipment, then sit the full exam
175 questions across every content area in 4 hours, with a score for sterilization and equipment and your total against the 98-of-150 passing score.
Free sterilization and equipment drillIdeas the questions test most
- Indicator tape only shows exposure to a process; biological indicators show the kill of resistant spores.
- Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores test steam; Bacillus atrophaeus spores test ethylene oxide.
- A Bowie-Dick test checks air removal in a prevacuum sterilizer each day before the first load.
- Wipe instruments with sterile water during the case; saline pits stainless steel.
Start the free sterilization and equipment drill · Ancillary Duties drill · Full 175-question mock exam
Common questions
How many CST questions cover sterilization?
Equipment Sterilization and Maintenance is 16 of the 150 scored questions, the larger part of the Ancillary Duties content area.
Do I need to memorize sterilizer cycle times?
Know the common ones, such as 250 °F (121 °C) for 30 minutes in a gravity-displacement sterilizer and 270 °F (132 °C) for 4 minutes in a prevacuum sterilizer, and that the manufacturer’s instructions always govern.
175 questions across every content area in 4 hours, with a score for sterilization and equipment and your total against the 98-of-150 passing score.
Free sterilization and equipment drillMore CST subject areas
- Preoperative Preparation · Perioperative Care
- Intraoperative Procedures · Perioperative Care
- Postoperative Procedures · Perioperative Care
- Administrative and Personnel · Ancillary Duties
- Anatomy and Physiology · Basic Science
- Microbiology · Basic Science
- Surgical Pharmacology · Basic Science
- Surgical Instruments · Perioperative Care
Content areas, subject areas, item counts and tasks: NBSTSA: CST certification (format, passing score, content areas) · NBSTSA: CST Examination Content Outline, checked November 2026.
CST® and Certified Surgical Technologist® are registered marks of the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by NBSTSA, the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) or PSI. Our questions are original and are not taken from the CST exam.