CET Test Equipment & Measurement 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A drug vial label reads '390 mg/mL' and the calculated dose for an animal is 1,170 mg. How many mL should be drawn?
- 3 mL (Correct answer)
- 1.5 mL
- 4.5 mL
- 2 mL
Correct answer: 3 mL
1,170 mg ÷ 390 mg/mL = 3 mL; dividing total dose by concentration gives the volume to draw.
Question 2: When measuring an animal's body weight for euthanasia dosing and only a floor scale is available, how should a fractious cat be weighed?
- Weigh the handler holding the cat, then subtract the handler's weight (Correct answer)
- Estimate based on body condition score
- Use a standard 5 kg default dose
- Skip weighing and use the minimum label dose
Correct answer: Weigh the handler holding the cat, then subtract the handler's weight
Weighing the handler with the animal then subtracting the handler's weight is a standard field technique for uncooperative patients.
Question 3: What is the purpose of checking the plunger seal on a syringe before drawing up euthanasia solution?
- To ensure a leak-free seal so the correct volume is delivered without loss (Correct answer)
- To verify the syringe is sterile
- To check the expiration date of the syringe
- To confirm the needle gauge is correct
Correct answer: To ensure a leak-free seal so the correct volume is delivered without loss
A damaged plunger seal can cause leakage, resulting in underdosing and failed euthanasia.
Question 4: A technician must confirm death in a feline after euthanasia. Which combination of criteria meets AVMA guidelines for confirmation?
- Absence of heartbeat by auscultation, no respiratory movement, and no response to stimuli for at least 1 minute (Correct answer)
- Single absence of heartbeat only
- No corneal reflex alone
- No response to toe pinch only
Correct answer: Absence of heartbeat by auscultation, no respiratory movement, and no response to stimuli for at least 1 minute
AVMA guidelines require multiple criteria (cardiac arrest, respiratory cessation, unresponsiveness) to confirm death.
Question 5: A technician notices the needle has a barb after withdrawing it from a vial. What is the correct action?
- Discard the needle and replace it with a new one before administering (Correct answer)
- Continue use since the barb does not affect drug delivery
- Straighten the barb with a needle cap
- Use the barbed needle for intracardiac injection instead
Correct answer: Discard the needle and replace it with a new one before administering
A barbed needle causes unnecessary tissue trauma and must be replaced before administration.
Question 6: In a shelter setting, a calibrated digital scale shows 'E' (error) when an animal is placed on it. What is the most likely cause?
- The animal's weight exceeds the scale's maximum capacity (Correct answer)
- The scale battery is fully charged
- The scale is measuring in the wrong unit
- The animal is too light to register
Correct answer: The animal's weight exceeds the scale's maximum capacity
An 'E' error on a digital scale typically indicates the load exceeds the rated capacity of the device.
Question 7: When drawing up controlled euthanasia solution from a multi-dose vial, why should the technician avoid introducing air bubbles into the syringe?
- Air bubbles displace solution and cause inaccurate volume measurement (Correct answer)
- Air bubbles sterilize the solution
- Air bubbles prevent needle clogging
- Air bubbles indicate the vial is contaminated
Correct answer: Air bubbles displace solution and cause inaccurate volume measurement
Air bubbles in the syringe reduce the actual volume of drug delivered, potentially leading to underdosing.
CET Test Equipment & Measurement 3
A drug vial label reads '390 mg/mL' and the calculated dose for an animal is 1,170 mg.
How many mL should be drawn?