Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Water Treatment and Quality 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the AAMI maximum allowable bacterial count in dialysate?
- 100 CFU/mL
- 200 CFU/mL (Correct answer)
- 500 CFU/mL
- 1000 CFU/mL
Correct answer: 200 CFU/mL
AAMI standards allow a maximum of 200 CFU/mL of bacteria in dialysate.
Question 2: Activated carbon tanks in a water treatment system primarily remove which contaminants?
- Heavy metals
- Chlorine and chloramines (Correct answer)
- Hardness ions
- Nitrates
Correct answer: Chlorine and chloramines
Activated carbon adsorbs chlorine and chloramine from the feed water, protecting downstream components.
Question 3: A patient develops sudden hemolysis during dialysis. Which water contaminant should be suspected first?
- Fluoride
- Nitrate
- Chloramine (Correct answer)
- Aluminum
Correct answer: Chloramine
Chloramine exposure during dialysis directly damages red blood cell membranes, causing acute hemolysis.
Question 4: How frequently should the deionizer resin tanks be tested for resistivity in a dialysis water system?
- Each treatment shift (Correct answer)
- Daily
- Weekly
- Monthly
Correct answer: Each treatment shift
Deionizer resin exhaustion must be monitored with resistivity testing at each treatment shift to ensure ion removal effectiveness.
Question 5: What minimum water-to-concentrate ratio is used by most proportioning hemodialysis machines?
- 30:1
- 34:1 (Correct answer)
- 36:1
- 40:1
Correct answer: 34:1
Most proportioning systems dilute bicarbonate or acetate concentrate at a 34:1 (water to concentrate) ratio to create dialysate.
Question 6: Which method is used to disinfect dialysis water distribution loops?
- UV radiation only
- Peracetic acid or bleach recirculation (Correct answer)
- Ozone exposure only
- Heat pasteurization only
Correct answer: Peracetic acid or bleach recirculation
Chemical disinfection with peracetic acid or sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is the most common method for disinfecting dialysis water loops.
Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Water Treatment and Quality 2
What is the AAMI maximum allowable bacterial count in dialysate?