UTC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield UTC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. During QA testing, anechoic cyst targets in a phantom appear to contain internal echoes. This artifact is most likely caused by: → Side lobe or grating lobe artifacts
2. Why is gel applied during an ultrasound examination? → To eliminate air and improve sound wave transmission
3. In Ultrasound Technologist Certification practice, what should a professional do when facing a conflict of interest? → Disclose the conflict and recuse if necessary
4. Which disinfectant is most appropriate for cleaning ultrasound transducer surfaces between patients in a low-risk (non-invasive) exam setting? → Low-level disinfectant such as quaternary ammonium compound
5. A sonographer has a needlestick injury during a procedure. What is the FIRST action to take? → Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
6. When documenting a palpable abdominal mass found during patient assessment before an ultrasound, what information is most important to record? → Location, approximate size, consistency, tenderness, and mobility of the mass
7. What is a fundamental principle of Medical Terminology & Anatomy in Ultrasound Technologist Certification practice? → Following established standards and best practices
8. Under HIPAA, a sonographer may share protected health information (PHI) without patient authorization in all of the following situations EXCEPT: → A family member's curiosity about the patient's diagnosis
9. Which QA test specifically evaluates the uniformity of echo amplitude across the image field? → Image uniformity test
10. A colleague asks you to sign off on a study you did not perform because they forgot to clock in. This situation represents a potential violation of: → Professional integrity and documentation standards
11. The prefix 'hepato-' refers to which organ? → Liver
12. On Doppler ultrasound, which waveform pattern is normally seen in the portal vein? → Monophasic continuous flow with mild respiratory variation
13. Which of the following is a correct statement about spore-forming organisms and high-level disinfection? → High-level disinfection kills all microorganisms except large numbers of bacterial spores
14. What is the primary purpose of time gain compensation (TGC) in ultrasound imaging? → To amplify returning echoes from deeper tissues and compensate for acoustic attenuation
15. What does the Mechanical Index (MI) displayed on an ultrasound machine indicate? → The likelihood of cavitation occurring in tissue
16. Which behavior is an example of nonverbal communication that can positively affect patient rapport during an ultrasound exam? → Maintaining eye contact and using an open posture
17. What is a fundamental principle of Clinical Procedures & Protocols in Ultrasound Technologist Certification practice? → Following established standards and best practices
18. A patient reports taking warfarin daily. How should this information be documented before an abdominal ultrasound? → Record it in the clinical history section with dosage if known
19. What is the role of documentation in Medical Terminology & Anatomy for Ultrasound Technologist Certification? → It provides an accurate record for accountability and reference
20. What is the role of ultrasound gel in patient care? → To improve sound transmission and reduce discomfort
21. What transducer characteristic most directly determines axial resolution? → Pulse spatial length (pulse duration × propagation speed)
22. Which directional term means closer to the point of attachment or origin? → Proximal
23. During a musculoskeletal ultrasound, anisotropy most commonly causes a tendon to appear artifactually: → Hypoechoic, mimicking a tear or tendinopathy
24. The retroperitoneal space contains which of the following organs? → Kidneys and aorta
25. A patient reports a latex allergy before a transrectal ultrasound. What is the most appropriate action? → Use a latex-free probe cover and notify the radiologist
26. What is a fundamental principle of Emergency Procedures & Response in Ultrasound Technologist Certification practice? → Following established standards and best practices
27. When performing ultrasound on a patient who has experienced trauma, which finding requires the most urgent communication to the trauma team? → Free fluid in the hepatorenal space (Morrison's pouch)
28. During a musculoskeletal ultrasound of the Achilles tendon, the sonographer must tilt the transducer perpendicular to the tendon fibers to avoid which artifact? → Anisotropy
29. A sonographer notices the patient's heart rate on the monitor is 140 bpm and irregular during a routine abdominal scan. What is the most appropriate response? → Pause the exam and notify the supervising clinician or nurse
30. Which obstetric Doppler measurement in the umbilical artery, when absent or reversed, indicates severe fetal compromise requiring urgent evaluation? → End-diastolic flow