Which action best illustrates correct use of the back table related to the sterile field?

• A. It is used to refrigerate instruments.
• B. It serves as a boundary between staff and field.
• C. It holds sterile instruments and supplies that are opened onto the sterile field for use during the procedure.
• D. It holds sterile instruments and supplies that are opened onto the sterile field for use during the procedure.

Answer: (D)

The back table acts as the setup workspace for arranging sterile instruments and supplies before they are used. It is kept sterile and often draped, so items placed on it can be opened and transferred onto the sterile field during the procedure without contaminating the area. This makes it the correct description: it holds sterile instruments and supplies that are opened onto the sterile field for use during the procedure. It is not used to refrigerate instruments, and the boundary between staff and field is defined by the sterile draped field, not the back table itself.