Page 1 of 81
DAVITA PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN (PCT) PRACTICE
EXAM (100) QUESTIONS WITH RADICLE
RATIONALES
Hemodialysis / Infection Prevention And Control (IPC)
Exam coverage:
I. Section 1 (Q1-20): Kidney Anatomy, Physiology, and ESRD
Fundamentals
II. Section 2 (Q21-40): Hemodialysis Principles and Transport
Mechanisms
III. Section 3 (Q41-55): Water Treatment Systems and Quality
Standards
IV. Section 4 (Q56-75): Vascular Access Care and Cannulation
V. Section 5 (Q76-90): Infection Prevention and Control
VI. Section 6 (Q91-110): Intradialytic Complications and
Emergency Response
VII. Section 7 (Q111-125): Documentation, Safety, and Legal
Standards
VIII. Section 8 (Q126-140): Medication Management and Nutrition
IX. Section 9 (Q141-150): Integrated Clinical Scenarios
QUESTION 1
A PCT is explaining kidney function to a newly diagnosed ESRD
, Page 2 of 81
patient. The patient asks which structure is considered the
basic structural and functional unit of the kidney. Which
response by the PCT is correct?
A) The renal cortex
B) The nephron
C) The renal pelvis
D) The glomerular capsule only
CORRECT: B) The nephron ✔️
RATIONALE: The nephron is the basic structural and functional
unit of the kidney, with approximately one million nephrons per
kidney responsible for filtering blood and producing urine. The
cortex, pelvis, and capsule are anatomical structures but do not
independently perform filtration.
QUESTION 2
During a patient education session, a PCT states that a normal
kidney contains approximately how many nephrons per kidney.
What is the correct number?
A) Approximately 100,000
B) Approximately 500,000
C) Approximately 1 million
D) Approximately 5 million
CORRECT: C) Approximately 1 million ✔️
RATIONALE: Each kidney contains approximately one million
nephrons. This large nephron reserve explains why kidney
disease often progresses silently, as significant function can be
lost before symptoms appear. Once nephron loss reaches a
, Page 3 of 81
critical threshold, ESRD develops, requiring dialysis or
transplant to sustain life.
QUESTION 3
A patient's lab results show a GFR of 12 mL/min/1.73m². The
PCT understands that this value meets the criteria for which
condition?
A) Chronic kidney disease stage 3
B) Chronic kidney disease stage 4
C) End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
D) Acute kidney injury stage 1
CORRECT: C) End-stage renal disease (ESRD) ✔️
RATIONALE: ESRD is defined as a GFR of less than 15
mL/min/1.73m². At this stage, the kidneys have lost
approximately 85-90% of their function, and renal replacement
therapy (dialysis or transplantation) becomes necessary to
sustain life.
QUESTION 4
Which of the following is an endocrine function of the kidneys?
A) Filtration of metabolic waste products
B) Regulation of fluid balance
C) Secretion of renin and erythropoietin
D) Reabsorption of glucose
CORRECT: C) Secretion of renin and erythropoietin ✔️
RATIONALE: The endocrine functions of the kidneys include
renin secretion (which regulates blood pressure) and
erythropoietin secretion (which stimulates red blood cell
, Page 4 of 81
production). Vitamin D activation is another endocrine function.
Filtration and fluid regulation are excretory functions, not
endocrine functions.
QUESTION 5
What percentage of normal kidney function does dialysis
replace?
A) 5%
B) 10%
C) 15%
D) 25%
CORRECT: C) 15% ✔️
RATIONALE: Dialysis replaces only approximately 15% of
normal kidney function. This is because hemodialysis is
intermittent (typically 3-4 hours, 3 times per week) while healthy
kidneys function continuously. Despite this limited
replacement, dialysis can sustain life and maintain acceptable
quality of life when combined with proper medication and
dietary management.
QUESTION 6
A patient asks the PCT why they need to take calcium and
vitamin D supplements. The PCT explains that the kidneys
normally activate which substance?
A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin B12
C) Vitamin D
D) Vitamin K
DAVITA PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN (PCT) PRACTICE
EXAM (100) QUESTIONS WITH RADICLE
RATIONALES
Hemodialysis / Infection Prevention And Control (IPC)
Exam coverage:
I. Section 1 (Q1-20): Kidney Anatomy, Physiology, and ESRD
Fundamentals
II. Section 2 (Q21-40): Hemodialysis Principles and Transport
Mechanisms
III. Section 3 (Q41-55): Water Treatment Systems and Quality
Standards
IV. Section 4 (Q56-75): Vascular Access Care and Cannulation
V. Section 5 (Q76-90): Infection Prevention and Control
VI. Section 6 (Q91-110): Intradialytic Complications and
Emergency Response
VII. Section 7 (Q111-125): Documentation, Safety, and Legal
Standards
VIII. Section 8 (Q126-140): Medication Management and Nutrition
IX. Section 9 (Q141-150): Integrated Clinical Scenarios
QUESTION 1
A PCT is explaining kidney function to a newly diagnosed ESRD
, Page 2 of 81
patient. The patient asks which structure is considered the
basic structural and functional unit of the kidney. Which
response by the PCT is correct?
A) The renal cortex
B) The nephron
C) The renal pelvis
D) The glomerular capsule only
CORRECT: B) The nephron ✔️
RATIONALE: The nephron is the basic structural and functional
unit of the kidney, with approximately one million nephrons per
kidney responsible for filtering blood and producing urine. The
cortex, pelvis, and capsule are anatomical structures but do not
independently perform filtration.
QUESTION 2
During a patient education session, a PCT states that a normal
kidney contains approximately how many nephrons per kidney.
What is the correct number?
A) Approximately 100,000
B) Approximately 500,000
C) Approximately 1 million
D) Approximately 5 million
CORRECT: C) Approximately 1 million ✔️
RATIONALE: Each kidney contains approximately one million
nephrons. This large nephron reserve explains why kidney
disease often progresses silently, as significant function can be
lost before symptoms appear. Once nephron loss reaches a
, Page 3 of 81
critical threshold, ESRD develops, requiring dialysis or
transplant to sustain life.
QUESTION 3
A patient's lab results show a GFR of 12 mL/min/1.73m². The
PCT understands that this value meets the criteria for which
condition?
A) Chronic kidney disease stage 3
B) Chronic kidney disease stage 4
C) End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
D) Acute kidney injury stage 1
CORRECT: C) End-stage renal disease (ESRD) ✔️
RATIONALE: ESRD is defined as a GFR of less than 15
mL/min/1.73m². At this stage, the kidneys have lost
approximately 85-90% of their function, and renal replacement
therapy (dialysis or transplantation) becomes necessary to
sustain life.
QUESTION 4
Which of the following is an endocrine function of the kidneys?
A) Filtration of metabolic waste products
B) Regulation of fluid balance
C) Secretion of renin and erythropoietin
D) Reabsorption of glucose
CORRECT: C) Secretion of renin and erythropoietin ✔️
RATIONALE: The endocrine functions of the kidneys include
renin secretion (which regulates blood pressure) and
erythropoietin secretion (which stimulates red blood cell
, Page 4 of 81
production). Vitamin D activation is another endocrine function.
Filtration and fluid regulation are excretory functions, not
endocrine functions.
QUESTION 5
What percentage of normal kidney function does dialysis
replace?
A) 5%
B) 10%
C) 15%
D) 25%
CORRECT: C) 15% ✔️
RATIONALE: Dialysis replaces only approximately 15% of
normal kidney function. This is because hemodialysis is
intermittent (typically 3-4 hours, 3 times per week) while healthy
kidneys function continuously. Despite this limited
replacement, dialysis can sustain life and maintain acceptable
quality of life when combined with proper medication and
dietary management.
QUESTION 6
A patient asks the PCT why they need to take calcium and
vitamin D supplements. The PCT explains that the kidneys
normally activate which substance?
A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin B12
C) Vitamin D
D) Vitamin K
