Hemodialysis Technologist Flashcards
7 cards from real CHT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Hemodialysis Technologist flashcards as text
When reprocessing a dialyzer with peracetic acid, what is the minimum required dwell time to achieve adequate disinfection?
Answer: 11 hours
Peracetic acid dialyzer reprocessing requires a minimum 11-hour contact time to ensure effective high-level disinfection per AAMI standards.
A patient reports itching, hives, and bronchospasm within minutes of starting dialysis with a new dialyzer. This presentation is MOST consistent with:
Answer: Type A (anaphylactic) first-use reaction
Type A first-use reactions are IgE-mediated anaphylactic responses that occur within minutes and include urticaria, bronchospasm, and cardiovascular collapse.
What is the purpose of the 'negative pressure' test performed on a dialysis machine?
Answer: Verify ultrafiltration rate accuracy
The negative pressure test (or ultrafiltration test) verifies the machine's ability to accurately achieve the prescribed ultrafiltration rate.
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate needle gauge for cannulating a well-developed AV fistula?
Answer: 16-gauge
16-gauge needles are standard for AV fistula cannulation, balancing adequate blood flow (≥200 mL/min) with minimizing vessel trauma.
Which AAMI water quality standard specifies the maximum allowable level of endotoxins in water used for hemodialysis?
Answer: 0.25 EU/mL for standard, 0.03 EU/mL for ultrapure
AAMI/ANSI standards specify ≤0.25 EU/mL for standard dialysis water and ≤0.03 EU/mL for ultrapure water used in online hemodiafiltration.
A patient develops pink-tinged blood in the dialysate effluent during treatment. This MOST LIKELY indicates:
Answer: Blood leak through a ruptured membrane
Pink or red dialysate effluent indicates a blood leak through the dialyzer membrane and requires immediate treatment termination.
What is the primary reason for using bicarbonate-based rather than acetate-based dialysate in modern hemodialysis?
Answer: Better hemodynamic tolerance and fewer side effects with bicarbonate
Bicarbonate dialysate provides more physiologic buffering with fewer cardiovascular side effects (hypotension, nausea) compared to acetate.