Why do sterile processing technicians need to identify instruments?

Technicians assemble sets from count sheets, inspect each instrument for function and damage, and replace missing items. Picking the wrong pattern can delay a case. HSPA’s CRCST outline lists item identification (catalogs, product numbers, etching, measurements) under Preparation and Packaging.

What is the difference between a Kelly and a Crile clamp?

Both are medium hemostats. A Kelly has serrations on the distal half of its jaws; a Crile has serrations along the full length of its jaws.

What is the difference between handheld and self-retaining retractors?

Handheld retractors (Army-Navy, Senn, Richardson, Deaver, malleable) are held in place by a team member. Self-retaining retractors (Balfour, Weitlaner, Gelpi) lock open with a ratchet or frame and hold the wound open on their own.

Does this quiz use photos?

Not yet. It tests the descriptions technicians learn first. In practice, always confirm an instrument against your facility’s catalog, count sheet and the manufacturer’s markings, since patterns vary.

Free tool · CRCST exam topic

Surgical instrument identification quiz

Read the description and pick the instrument. Rounds of 10, drawn from 37 common clamps, forceps, scissors, retractors, suction tips and bone instruments.

Common surgical instruments, by family

Learning instruments by family is faster than memorizing a list: once you know what a hemostat or a self-retaining retractor is, the patterns differ only by tips, serrations, size and angle.

Clamps and hemostats

Ringed, ratcheted instruments that clamp vessels or grasp tissue.

Instrument	How to recognize it
Kelly clamp	A medium hemostat, straight or curved, with serrations on the distal half of the jaws, used to clamp vessels and tissue.
Crile clamp	A hemostat similar to a Kelly clamp, but with serrations along the entire length of the jaws.
Mosquito clamp	A very small, fine-tipped hemostat used to clamp tiny vessels in delicate procedures.
Kocher (Ochsner) clamp	A heavy hemostat with transverse serrations and interlocking teeth at the tip for a firm grip.
Allis clamp	A clamp with short, interlocking teeth at the tip, used to grasp and hold tissue such as fascia.
Babcock clamp	A clamp with a rounded, fenestrated, non-toothed tip used to grasp delicate structures such as bowel.
Mixter (right-angle) clamp	A clamp with jaws bent at a right angle, used to dissect around and clamp deep vessels or ducts and pass ligatures.
Bulldog clamp	A small, spring-loaded, atraumatic clamp used to temporarily occlude small vessels.
Towel clamp	A small clamp with sharp, curved points used to secure drapes and towels.
Tenaculum	A sharp, pointed grasping clamp used to hold and stabilize tissue such as the cervix.

Forceps

Thumb forceps and grasping forceps without a ratchet, or with one for sponges and bone.

Instrument	How to recognize it
Adson forceps	Short, narrow-tipped thumb forceps, often with fine teeth, commonly used in skin closure.
DeBakey forceps	Atraumatic thumb forceps with fine longitudinal serrations that minimize trauma to vessels and delicate tissue.
Sponge (ring) forceps	Long forceps with oval, ring-shaped tips used to hold a folded surgical sponge.
Bone-holding forceps	Heavy forceps designed to grip and stabilize bone fragments during orthopedic procedures.

Scissors

Cutting instruments, told apart by size, weight, tips and angle.

Instrument	How to recognize it
Mayo scissors	Heavy scissors with blunt tips, straight or curved, used to cut tough tissue; straight Mayos are also used to cut sutures.
Metzenbaum scissors	Long, delicate scissors with fine tips used to cut and dissect delicate tissue.
Iris scissors	Very small, sharp-pointed scissors used for fine, precise cutting.
Potts-Smith scissors	Fine, angled scissors used to open blood vessels in cardiovascular surgery.
Suture scissors	Scissors with a blunt tip designed specifically to cut suture material.

Needle holders

Short, strong jaws that grip a suture needle.

Instrument	How to recognize it
Mayo-Hegar needle holder	A general-purpose needle holder with a box lock, ratchet and grooved or cross-hatched jaws.
Castroviejo needle holder	A delicate, spring-handled needle holder used for microsurgical and ophthalmic suturing.

Retractors

Handheld retractors held by an assistant, and self-retaining retractors that lock open.

Instrument	How to recognize it
Army-Navy retractor	A small, double-ended handheld retractor with a flat blade at each end.
Senn retractor	A small, double-ended handheld retractor with a sharp rake at one end and a flat blade at the other.
Richardson retractor	An L-shaped handheld retractor with a right-angle blade, used to retract the abdominal wall.
Deaver retractor	A large, curved, blade-shaped handheld retractor used for deep abdominal exposure.
Malleable retractor	A flat, ribbon-like retractor that can be bent by hand to fit the wound.
Balfour retractor	A large self-retaining abdominal retractor with two lateral blades and a central blade attachment.
Weitlaner retractor	A self-retaining retractor with a ratchet and several sharp or blunt prongs on each arm.
Gelpi retractor	A small self-retaining retractor with a single sharp point on each arm and a ratchet lock.

Suction tips

Rigid tips for removing blood and fluid from the surgical field.

Instrument	How to recognize it
Yankauer suction tip	A rigid suction tip with a bulbous, perforated end, used to remove fluid from a large open field or the mouth.
Frazier suction tip	A fine, angled suction tip with a thumb port to control suction, used in delicate neurosurgical or ENT procedures.
Poole suction tip	A suction tip with a perforated outer shield that helps prevent tissue from blocking it in body cavities.

Bone instruments and elevators

Instruments that cut, scrape, bite or lift bone and tissue.

Instrument	How to recognize it
Bone curette	A spoon- or scoop-shaped instrument used to scrape bone or soft tissue.
Osteotome	A chisel-like instrument struck with a mallet to cut or shape bone.
Rongeur	A strong, pincer-like instrument with cupped jaws used to bite away bone or tough tissue.
Freer elevator	A thin, double-ended elevator with one sharp and one blunt end, used to separate tissue from bone.
Cottle elevator	A double-ended elevator used in nasal and septal surgery to lift mucosa from cartilage or bone.

Instruments on the CRCST exam

HSPA’s content outline lists item identification, instrument inspection and function testing under Preparation and Packaging. Expect questions that describe an instrument and ask its name, and questions on how to inspect and test it. Try thePreparation and Packaging practice test next.

FAQ

Why do sterile processing technicians need to identify instruments?: Technicians assemble sets from count sheets, inspect each instrument for function and damage, and replace missing items. Picking the wrong pattern can delay a case. HSPA’s CRCST outline lists item identification (catalogs, product numbers, etching, measurements) under Preparation and Packaging.
What is the difference between a Kelly and a Crile clamp?: Both are medium hemostats. A Kelly has serrations on the distal half of its jaws; a Crile has serrations along the full length of its jaws.
What is the difference between handheld and self-retaining retractors?: Handheld retractors (Army-Navy, Senn, Richardson, Deaver, malleable) are held in place by a team member. Self-retaining retractors (Balfour, Weitlaner, Gelpi) lock open with a ratchet or frame and hold the wound open on their own.
Does this quiz use photos?: Not yet. It tests the descriptions technicians learn first. In practice, always confirm an instrument against your facility’s catalog, count sheet and the manufacturer’s markings, since patterns vary.

Sources

HSPA. CRCST Exam Content Outline (revised November 2023)

For CRCST exam study only. Instrument patterns, names and features vary by manufacturer; identify instruments with your facility’s catalog, count sheets and the manufacturer’s markings.