Practice Test Geeks(CET) Certified Electrocardiogram Technician Practice Test
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Lead Placement & Recording Procedures Flashcards

7 cards from real CET practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Lead Placement & Recording Procedures flashcards as text

  1. Which skin preparation technique best reduces electrode impedance before applying a disposable electrode?

    Answer: Vigorously rubbing the site with an alcohol swab to abrade lightly

    Light abrasion with an alcohol swab removes dead skin cells and oils, significantly reducing skin impedance and improving signal quality.

  2. What is the purpose of the calibration pulse (cal pulse) recorded at the beginning of each ECG lead?

    Answer: To confirm the sensitivity setting is accurate at 1 mV = 10 mm

    The 1 mV calibration pulse produces a 10 mm deflection at standard sensitivity, allowing verification that the machine is properly calibrated.

  3. A technician records an ECG and notices the QRS complexes in aVR are predominantly upright. This most likely indicates:

    Answer: Dextrocardia or arm lead reversal

    In a normal ECG, aVR should show predominantly negative (downward) QRS deflections; upright QRS in aVR suggests dextrocardia or RA/LA lead reversal.

  4. V5 is placed at the:

    Answer: Fifth ICS, left anterior axillary line

    V5 is positioned at the left anterior axillary line at the same horizontal level as V4, progressing laterally from V4.

  5. During an ECG, the patient begins to shiver due to cold. What artifact will most likely appear?

    Answer: Somatic muscle tremor artifact

    Shivering produces rapid, irregular muscle potentials that appear as a fuzzy, irregular baseline artifact caused by somatic (skeletal) muscle activity.

  6. When is a half-standardization (5 mm/mV) setting used during ECG recording?

    Answer: When the QRS complexes are so large they overlap adjacent leads

    Half-standardization halves the deflection amplitude (5 mm/mV) so that very tall QRS complexes fit within the allotted channel width without overlapping neighboring leads.

  7. Which of the following best describes the correct horizontal level for placing V5 and V6?

    Answer: Same horizontal level as V4 (fifth ICS)

    V5 and V6 are placed at the same horizontal level as V4 (fifth ICS/midclavicular apex), progressing laterally to the anterior and mid-axillary lines.