Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Dialysis Water Treatment and Quality 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the maximum allowable level of chloramine in dialysis water according to AAMI standards?
- 0.1 mg/L (Correct answer)
- 0.5 mg/L
- 1.0 mg/L
- 2.0 mg/L
Correct answer: 0.1 mg/L
AAMI standards require chloramine levels in dialysis water to be below 0.1 mg/L to prevent hemolytic anemia.
Question 2: Which water treatment component is primarily responsible for removing chlorine and chloramines from dialysis water?
- Reverse osmosis membrane
- Activated carbon tank (Correct answer)
- Water softener
- Deionizer
Correct answer: Activated carbon tank
Activated carbon tanks adsorb chlorine and chloramines from the water supply before it reaches the reverse osmosis unit.
Question 3: How often should total chlorine be tested in the water treatment system during a dialysis treatment day?
- Once per week
- Once per month
- At the beginning of each treatment day (Correct answer)
- Every 4 hours
Correct answer: At the beginning of each treatment day
Total chlorine must be tested at the beginning of each treatment day to ensure patient safety before dialysis begins.
Question 4: What is the purpose of the softener in a dialysis water treatment system?
- Removes bacteria
- Removes chlorine
- Removes calcium and magnesium ions (Correct answer)
- Removes endotoxins
Correct answer: Removes calcium and magnesium ions
The water softener uses ion exchange to remove calcium and magnesium ions that would otherwise foul the reverse osmosis membrane.
Question 5: Which of the following contaminants in dialysis water can cause aluminum toxicity in patients?
- Nitrates
- Fluoride
- Aluminum (Correct answer)
- Copper
Correct answer: Aluminum
Aluminum in dialysis water can accumulate in patients causing dialysis encephalopathy, osteomalacia, and anemia.
Question 6: The reverse osmosis (RO) unit in water treatment works primarily by:
- Ion exchange
- Adsorption
- Forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane under pressure (Correct answer)
- UV irradiation
Correct answer: Forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane under pressure
Reverse osmosis forces water under pressure through a semi-permeable membrane, rejecting dissolved contaminants and producing purified water.
Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Dialysis Water Treatment and Quality 1
What is the maximum allowable level of chloramine in dialysis water according to AAMI standards?