Surgical Tech Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The important step to take prior to using a knife in a surgical procedure is to ensure that the blade is properly sterilized. Sterilization is critical to prevent the risk of infection and maintain the sterile field during surgery. A sterile blade ensures that no pathogens are introduced into the patient’s tissue, which is vital for patient safety and successful surgical outcomes.

While inspecting for sharpness, cleaning with saline, and ensuring disposability are important considerations regarding surgical instruments, they do not carry the same level of criticality as sterilization. Sharpness is essential for effectiveness, but even a sharp blade that is not sterile can lead to serious complications. Cleaning with saline might be part of the preparation process, but it does not provide the necessary sterility required for surgical instruments. Lastly, ensuring it is disposable applies only to single-use products, and not all surgical knives fall into this category, making sterilization universally necessary for safety.