Ace the CST Challenge 2025 – Slice Through Your Surgical Tech Exam with Confidence!

The surgical pack should ideally be opened on the backtable to maintain an organized and sterile environment. The backtable serves as a dedicated area for laying out instruments and supplies, allowing the surgical technologist and the surgical team to easily access everything needed during the procedure while minimizing the risk of contamination.

Opening the pack here ensures that instruments and surgical materials are properly sorted and within reach, facilitating a smooth workflow throughout the surgery. This location also helps in preventing clutter and cross-contamination that could occur if the pack were opened on surfaces like the stretcher or the operating room table, which may be subjected to multiple uses and could harbor bacteria. The Mayo stand, while also a sterile area, is typically used for items that need to be readily accessible during the procedure, making it less suitable for the initial opening of a surgical pack.