TL;DR
Master proper specimen handling, labeling, and chain-of-custody procedures. Correct specimen management ensures accurate pathological diagnosis and is a tested competency.
Free Specimen Handling Practice Questions
CST Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) · Intraoperative Procedures
This module covers Specimen Handling as part of the Intraoperative Procedures section, testing your understanding of core concepts and their practical application.
| Exam | CST Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) |
| Pass Rate | 72% |
| Duration | 240 minutes |
| Module | Specimen Handling |
Why Specimen Handling matters
Specimen Handling is a commonly tested topic on the CST Certified Surgical Technologist (NBSTSA) because it covers fundamental knowledge required for competent professional practice.
Sample Practice Questions (5)
1. A surgeon removes a parathyroid gland during an exploration for hyperparathyroidism and wants to confirm it is parathyroid tissue before removing additional glands. What type of specimen processing should the surgical technologist prepare for?
- Routine permanent section in formalin
- Frozen section, with the specimen sent fresh and immediately to pathology
- Aerobic and anaerobic culture
- Cytology brush specimen for Papanicolaou staining
2. When handling a specimen that the surgeon has identified as potentially containing malignant cells, the surgical technologist should take which additional precaution?
- Double-bag the specimen in biohazard bags before discarding
- Handle the specimen carefully to avoid squeezing or compressing it, keep it oriented as the surgeon directs, and ensure margins are not disrupted for accurate pathological evaluation
- Place the specimen in alcohol instead of formalin to kill the cancer cells
- Wash the specimen with saline before placing it in the container to remove blood
3. When labeling a surgical specimen container, which information must be included?
- Patient name only
- Patient name, medical record number, date, type of specimen, anatomical site/laterality, and surgeon name
- Patient name and room number
- Surgeon name and procedure type only
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Start practicing free →4. The "chain of custody" for surgical specimens refers to:
- The physical chain or string used to attach the specimen label to the container
- The documented tracking of the specimen from the moment of removal through delivery to the pathology lab, including everyone who handled it
- The order in which multiple specimens are removed during a procedure
- The surgeon's verbal instructions about how to handle the specimen
5. A surgeon removes a breast mass and requests it be sent for frozen section with margins oriented. How should the surgical technologist handle this specimen?
- Place the specimen in formalin and label the container with the patient name and "breast mass"
- Keep the specimen fresh (no fixative), place orientation sutures or marking ink as directed by the surgeon, and send it immediately to pathology with a completed requisition
- Divide the specimen into multiple pieces for faster frozen section processing
- Place the specimen on a sterile towel on the back table until the procedure is complete
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