CCTN Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CCTN exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CCTN Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CCTN Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample CCTN Questions & Answers
1. Which side effect is most associated with long-term tacrolimus use in transplant recipients?
Long-term tacrolimus use commonly causes nephrotoxicity and hypertension, both of which require ongoing monitoring in transplant recipients.
2. Which term describes the phenomenon where a transplanted kidney does not function immediately after transplantation, requiring temporary dialysis?
Delayed graft function (DGF) is when a transplanted kidney requires dialysis in the first week post-transplant, often due to ischemia-reperfusion injury.
3. What does 'first-person consent' mean in the context of organ donation in the US?
First-person consent means a person's registered decision to donate is legally binding and cannot be overridden by family, though family collaboration is still encouraged.
4. Which of the following is the most important factor in determining a patient's risk for rejection in the first year after transplant?
The number of HLA mismatches between donor and recipient is the most important immunologic factor determining rejection risk in the first year post-transplant.
5. What is the primary purpose of performing a liver biopsy on a donor liver before transplantation?
Donor liver biopsy primarily assesses macrovascular steatosis — livers with greater than 30–40% steatosis have increased risk of primary non-function.
6. What is the most common reason for graft loss in long-term kidney transplant recipients related to patient behavior?
Non-adherence to immunosuppressive medications is the leading preventable cause of late graft loss, often resulting in chronic rejection.