CCT - Certified Cardiographic Technician Exercise Stress Testing Questions and Answers

Question 1

A 78-year-old sedentary female is referred for a symptom-limited exercise stress test. Which of the following treadmill protocols is most appropriate for this patient?

Accepted Answer

Modified Bruce Protocol

Answer

Standard Bruce Protocol

Answer

Astrand-Ryhming Protocol

Answer

Pharmacologic (Dobutamine) Protocol

Question 2

Which of the following findings is considered an absolute indication to terminate an exercise stress test immediately?

Accepted Answer

Patient request to stop

Answer

Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)

Answer

Downsloping ST-segment depression of 2 mm

Answer

Systolic blood pressure of 210 mmHg

Question 3

A 60-year-old male is scheduled for a maximal exercise stress test. Using the most common standard formula, what is his age-predicted maximum heart rate (MHR)?

Accepted Answer

160 bpm

Answer

170 bpm

Answer

150 bpm

Answer

180 bpm

Question 4

A CCT is preparing a patient for a treadmill stress test. To ensure a high-quality ECG tracing with minimal artifact, what is the most critical preparatory step?

Accepted Answer

Abrading the skin at electrode sites

Answer

Placing the limb leads on the distal extremities

Answer

Ensuring the room is slightly cool

Answer

Instructing the patient to grip the handrails tightly

Question 5

During the recovery phase of an exercise stress test, continuous monitoring of the patient's ECG and vital signs is essential. For how long should this monitoring typically continue?

Accepted Answer

For at least 6-8 minutes, or until ECG changes and symptoms resolve

Answer

Exactly 3 minutes post-exercise

Answer

Until the heart rate returns to precisely the resting baseline rate

Answer

For 1 minute for every stage of exercise completed

Question 6

A patient is being screened for an exercise stress test. Which of the following conditions, if present and symptomatic, represents an absolute contraindication to proceeding with the test?

Accepted Answer

Severe aortic stenosis

Answer

Controlled hypertension

Answer

Previous coronary artery bypass surgery

Answer

History of stable angina