CDN Water Treatment and Dialysis Equipment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of carbon tanks in the dialysis water treatment system?
- Remove dissolved minerals
- Remove bacteria
- Remove chlorine and chloramines via adsorption (Correct answer)
- Adjust pH of water
Correct answer: Remove chlorine and chloramines via adsorption
Activated carbon tanks remove chlorine and chloramines through adsorption, protecting the RO membrane and preventing patient exposure to these hemolytic agents.
Question 2: During a dialysis machine's self-test, a conductivity alarm activates indicating high conductivity. What does this most likely indicate?
- Low dialysate temperature
- Incorrect proportioning of dialysate concentrate (Correct answer)
- Low blood flow rate
- Air detector malfunction
Correct answer: Incorrect proportioning of dialysate concentrate
High conductivity in the dialysate circuit indicates improper proportioning of the acid or bicarbonate concentrate, resulting in a solution that is too concentrated.
Question 3: What action should be taken if the dialysis machine's venous pressure alarm activates with a sudden increase in venous pressure?
- Increase the blood pump speed
- Check for venous needle kinking, clotting, or access obstruction (Correct answer)
- Decrease ultrafiltration rate
- Administer normal saline bolus
Correct answer: Check for venous needle kinking, clotting, or access obstruction
A sudden increase in venous pressure suggests obstruction in the venous return pathway — check for needle kinking, clotting in the venous chamber, or access stenosis.
Question 4: What does the dialysis machine's blood leak detector monitor?
- Hemoglobin level in blood
- Presence of blood in the spent dialysate (Correct answer)
- Blood temperature changes
- Clotting within the dialyzer
Correct answer: Presence of blood in the spent dialysate
The blood leak detector uses a photocell to detect blood in the spent dialysate effluent, signaling a breach in the dialyzer membrane.
Question 5: What is the correct response when the air detector alarm activates during hemodialysis?
- Slow the blood pump and continue treatment
- Immediately clamp the venous line and stop the blood pump (Correct answer)
- Increase blood flow to push air through
- Administer heparin to prevent air clot formation
Correct answer: Immediately clamp the venous line and stop the blood pump
An air detector alarm requires immediate clamping of the venous blood line and stopping the blood pump to prevent air embolism, which can be fatal.
Question 6: Which disinfection method is most commonly used for the internal water distribution loop in a dialysis facility?
- Ultraviolet light only
- Heat disinfection or chemical disinfection with bleach or peracetic acid (Correct answer)
- Ozone treatment
- High-dose chlorination
Correct answer: Heat disinfection or chemical disinfection with bleach or peracetic acid
Heat disinfection (hot water flushing) or chemical disinfection with sodium hypochlorite or peracetic acid are the standard methods for disinfecting dialysis water distribution loops.
CDN Water Treatment and Dialysis Equipment 2
What is the purpose of carbon tanks in the dialysis water treatment system?