Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Dialysis Equipment and Troubleshooting 2

Question 1

A blood leak alarm activates during dialysis. What is the first action the technician should take?

Accepted Answer

Clamp blood lines and do NOT return blood to patient

Answer

When a blood leak is confirmed, blood lines must be clamped and blood should NOT be returned because the dialysate may be contaminated.

Question 2

Which factor most directly affects the efficiency of solute clearance in hemodialysis?

Accepted Answer

Blood flow rate and dialysate flow rate

Answer

Solute clearance is primarily determined by blood flow rate and dialysate flow rate, which drive diffusive transport across the membrane.

Question 3

What does the term 'high-flux dialysis' refer to?

Accepted Answer

Use of a dialyzer with a high KUF and ability to clear middle molecules

Answer

High-flux dialysis uses membranes with a high KUF and large pore size to remove middle molecules in addition to small solutes.

Question 4

What causes foaming in the venous drip chamber during hemodialysis?

Accepted Answer

Air in the arterial line causing turbulence

Answer

Air entering the arterial bloodline creates turbulence in the venous drip chamber, resulting in foam formation.

Question 5

A patient's arterial pressure monitor reads increasingly negative values during treatment. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Inadequate blood flow from the access

Answer

Increasingly negative arterial pressure indicates the blood pump is working harder to draw blood, usually due to poor flow from the vascular access.

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