CCHT EXAM ACTUAL 2026/2027 | Study Questions & Verified
Answers | Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician | 100%
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Section 1: Hemodialysis Basics & Terminology (Q1-15)
Q1. In hemodialysis, diffusion is best defined as which process?
A. The movement of water across a membrane in response to a pressure gradient
B. The movement of solutes from an area of higher concentration to lower
concentration across a semipermeable membrane
C. The active transport of electrolytes against a concentration gradient using ATP
D. The filtration of plasma proteins through the dialyzer membrane
B. The movement of solutes from an area of higher concentration to lower
concentration across a semipermeable membrane [CORRECT]
Rationale: Diffusion drives the removal of urea, creatinine, and other uremic toxins
from the blood into the dialysate down a concentration gradient; ultrafiltration, not
diffusion, removes water via a pressure gradient.
Correct Answer: B
Q2. Ultrafiltration during hemodialysis refers to the removal of:
A. Bacteria and endotoxins from the dialysate
B. Plasma proteins through the dialyzer membrane
C. Excess fluid from the blood driven by a transmembrane pressure gradient
D. Electrolytes via active transport
C. Excess fluid from the blood driven by a transmembrane pressure gradient
[CORRECT]
Rationale: Ultrafiltration is the convective movement of plasma water across the
dialyzer membrane due to the hydrostatic pressure difference (TMP) between the
blood and dialysate compartments.
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Correct Answer: C
Q3. A patient's pre-dialysis BUN is 92 mg/dL and post-dialysis BUN is 34 mg/dL.
Which principle of hemodialysis is primarily responsible for this reduction?
A. Ultrafiltration
B. Diffusion
C. Osmosis
D. Active transport
B. Diffusion [CORRECT]
Rationale: Urea is a small, water-soluble molecule that moves down its concentration
gradient from the blood into the dialysate; this is passive diffusion, not ultrafiltration,
which removes water.
Correct Answer: B
Q4. A patient presents for dialysis with a pre-treatment weight of 74.2 kg and a
prescribed dry weight of 70.0 kg. What is the interdialytic weight gain?
A. 2.2 kg
B. 3.2 kg
C. 4.2 kg
D. 5.2 kg
C. 4.2 kg [CORRECT]
Rationale: Interdialytic weight gain is calculated by subtracting the prescribed dry
weight from the pre-dialysis weight (74.2 − 70.0 = 4.2 kg), representing fluid
accumulation between treatments.
Correct Answer: C
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Q5. What is the typical sodium concentration in standard dialysate?
A. 120–125 mEq/L
B. 130–132 mEq/L
C. 135–145 mEq/L
D. 150–155 mEq/L
C. 135–145 mEq/L [CORRECT]
Rationale: Standard dialysate sodium is usually set between 135 and 145 mEq/L to
maintain physiologic serum sodium levels and prevent hyponatremia or
hypernatremia during treatment.
Correct Answer: C
Q6. The primary purpose of adding bicarbonate to the dialysate is to:
A. Increase the osmotic gradient for fluid removal
B. Correct metabolic acidosis by providing a physiologic buffer
C. Prevent dialyzer clotting
D. Chelate calcium and magnesium in the water supply
B. Correct metabolic acidosis by providing a physiologic buffer [CORRECT]
Rationale: Patients with ESRD cannot excrete acid and develop metabolic acidosis;
bicarbonate in the dialysate (typically 35–40 mEq/L) diffuses into the blood to restore
normal serum bicarbonate levels.
Correct Answer: B
Q7. A newly diagnosed patient asks why dialysis is necessary. Which explanation by
the technician is most accurate?
A. "Dialysis removes extra red blood cells that your kidneys overproduce."
B. "Dialysis replaces the kidney's job of filtering waste and extra fluid from your
blood."
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C. "Dialysis is only needed to give you medications during treatment."
D. "Dialysis pumps blood faster to improve your circulation."
B. "Dialysis replaces the kidney's job of filtering waste and extra fluid from your
blood." [CORRECT]
Rationale: In end-stage renal disease, the kidneys fail to excrete uremic toxins and
regulate fluid volume; hemodialysis artificially performs these functions via diffusion
and ultrafiltration.
Correct Answer: B
Q8. The Kt/V measurement is used to assess which aspect of dialysis treatment?
A. The rate of blood flow through the dialyzer
B. The adequacy of dialysis delivered
C. The patient's fluid restriction compliance
D. The conductivity of the dialysate
B. The adequacy of dialysis delivered [CORRECT]
Rationale: Kt/V is a dimensionless index representing the clearance of urea (K)
multiplied by treatment time (t) divided by the volume of distribution (V); a single-
pool Kt/V of ≥1.2 per treatment indicates adequate dialysis.
Correct Answer: B
Q9. A patient's calculated Urea Reduction Ratio (URR) is 72%. How should this result
be interpreted?
A. It is below the minimum acceptable adequacy target
B. It meets the minimum adequacy target of ≥65%
C. It indicates the patient requires a higher dialysate potassium bath
D. It reflects excessive ultrafiltration
B. It meets the minimum adequacy target of ≥65% [CORRECT]