CERTIFIED RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGIST (ARRT)
EXAMINATION
100 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
2026–2027 TESTING CYCLE
SECTION 1: PATIENT CARE (Questions 1–20)
Question 1: A patient arrives for an IV urogram and reports a severe allergy to shellfish. What is
the most appropriate action?
Answer: Notify the radiologist; the patient may require premedication with corticosteroids and
antihistamines before receiving iodinated contrast media.
Rationale: Shellfish allergy is associated with an increased risk of allergic reactions to iodinated
contrast media due to cross-reactivity. Premedication protocols typically include steroids and
antihistamines administered hours before the procedure. The radiologist should be notified to
determine the appropriate course of action.
Question 2: When obtaining informed consent for a radiographic procedure, the radiologic
technologist should ensure that the patient understands:
Answer: The nature of the procedure, its risks and benefits, and alternative options.
,Rationale: Informed consent requires that the patient comprehends the procedure, its purpose,
associated risks, benefits, and available alternatives. The technologist may witness the consent
but cannot provide the detailed medical explanation—that is the responsibility of the ordering
physician or radiologist.
Question 3: Which of the following is the most effective method to prevent the spread of
infection during a portable chest X-ray in an isolation room?
Answer: Perform hand hygiene, don appropriate PPE (gown, gloves, mask, eye protection)
before entering, and disinfect the equipment after use.
Rationale: Standard and transmission-based precautions require proper PPE based on the
isolation category. Hand hygiene before and after patient contact is the single most important
measure to prevent infection transmission. Equipment should be cleaned and disinfected after
each use.
Question 4: A patient becomes diaphoretic, pale, and reports feeling lightheaded during a
venipuncture for contrast injection. The technologist should first:
Answer: Stop the procedure, lower the patient's head, and assess vital signs.
Rationale: These signs suggest a vasovagal response (syncope). The immediate priority is to stop
the procedure, place the patient in a supine or Trendelenburg position to improve cerebral blood
,flow, and assess vital signs. The technologist should remain with the patient and call for
assistance if needed.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of the ALARA principle in radiologic technology?
Answer: To keep radiation doses to patients and personnel As Low As Reasonably Achievable.
Rationale: ALARA is a fundamental radiation safety principle that emphasizes minimizing
radiation exposure while still obtaining the necessary diagnostic information. This is achieved
through appropriate technique selection, collimation, shielding, and minimizing repeat
exposures.
Question 6: Which of the following is the correct response to a fire in the radiology department?
Answer: Follow the RACE protocol: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate.
Rationale: The RACE protocol is the standard fire response: Rescue patients and personnel in
immediate danger, Activate the alarm, Contain the fire by closing doors, and Extinguish if safe
or Evacuate. The technologist should know the location of fire extinguishers and evacuation
routes.
Question 7: A patient with a history of diabetes and renal insufficiency is scheduled for a CT
scan with IV contrast. Which laboratory value is most important to assess before the procedure?
, Answer: Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
Rationale: Iodinated contrast media can cause contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), particularly
in patients with preexisting renal impairment. Serum creatinine and eGFR are used to assess
renal function and determine the risk of CIN. Patients with significant renal impairment may
require alternative imaging or pre-procedure hydration.
Question 8: When transferring a patient from a stretcher to the X-ray table, the technologist
should:
Answer: Lock the stretcher and table wheels, use proper body mechanics, and obtain assistance
if the patient is unable to move independently.
Rationale: Patient safety and technologist safety are paramount. Locking wheels prevents the
stretcher from moving during transfer. Proper body mechanics (e.g., lifting with legs, not the
back) reduces the risk of injury. Assistance should be obtained for patients who are heavy, weak,
or uncooperative.
Question 9: Which of the following vital signs would be most concerning in a patient scheduled
for a contrast-enhanced examination?
Answer: Blood pressure of 180/110 mmHg.
EXAMINATION
100 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
2026–2027 TESTING CYCLE
SECTION 1: PATIENT CARE (Questions 1–20)
Question 1: A patient arrives for an IV urogram and reports a severe allergy to shellfish. What is
the most appropriate action?
Answer: Notify the radiologist; the patient may require premedication with corticosteroids and
antihistamines before receiving iodinated contrast media.
Rationale: Shellfish allergy is associated with an increased risk of allergic reactions to iodinated
contrast media due to cross-reactivity. Premedication protocols typically include steroids and
antihistamines administered hours before the procedure. The radiologist should be notified to
determine the appropriate course of action.
Question 2: When obtaining informed consent for a radiographic procedure, the radiologic
technologist should ensure that the patient understands:
Answer: The nature of the procedure, its risks and benefits, and alternative options.
,Rationale: Informed consent requires that the patient comprehends the procedure, its purpose,
associated risks, benefits, and available alternatives. The technologist may witness the consent
but cannot provide the detailed medical explanation—that is the responsibility of the ordering
physician or radiologist.
Question 3: Which of the following is the most effective method to prevent the spread of
infection during a portable chest X-ray in an isolation room?
Answer: Perform hand hygiene, don appropriate PPE (gown, gloves, mask, eye protection)
before entering, and disinfect the equipment after use.
Rationale: Standard and transmission-based precautions require proper PPE based on the
isolation category. Hand hygiene before and after patient contact is the single most important
measure to prevent infection transmission. Equipment should be cleaned and disinfected after
each use.
Question 4: A patient becomes diaphoretic, pale, and reports feeling lightheaded during a
venipuncture for contrast injection. The technologist should first:
Answer: Stop the procedure, lower the patient's head, and assess vital signs.
Rationale: These signs suggest a vasovagal response (syncope). The immediate priority is to stop
the procedure, place the patient in a supine or Trendelenburg position to improve cerebral blood
,flow, and assess vital signs. The technologist should remain with the patient and call for
assistance if needed.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of the ALARA principle in radiologic technology?
Answer: To keep radiation doses to patients and personnel As Low As Reasonably Achievable.
Rationale: ALARA is a fundamental radiation safety principle that emphasizes minimizing
radiation exposure while still obtaining the necessary diagnostic information. This is achieved
through appropriate technique selection, collimation, shielding, and minimizing repeat
exposures.
Question 6: Which of the following is the correct response to a fire in the radiology department?
Answer: Follow the RACE protocol: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate.
Rationale: The RACE protocol is the standard fire response: Rescue patients and personnel in
immediate danger, Activate the alarm, Contain the fire by closing doors, and Extinguish if safe
or Evacuate. The technologist should know the location of fire extinguishers and evacuation
routes.
Question 7: A patient with a history of diabetes and renal insufficiency is scheduled for a CT
scan with IV contrast. Which laboratory value is most important to assess before the procedure?
, Answer: Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
Rationale: Iodinated contrast media can cause contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), particularly
in patients with preexisting renal impairment. Serum creatinine and eGFR are used to assess
renal function and determine the risk of CIN. Patients with significant renal impairment may
require alternative imaging or pre-procedure hydration.
Question 8: When transferring a patient from a stretcher to the X-ray table, the technologist
should:
Answer: Lock the stretcher and table wheels, use proper body mechanics, and obtain assistance
if the patient is unable to move independently.
Rationale: Patient safety and technologist safety are paramount. Locking wheels prevents the
stretcher from moving during transfer. Proper body mechanics (e.g., lifting with legs, not the
back) reduces the risk of injury. Assistance should be obtained for patients who are heavy, weak,
or uncooperative.
Question 9: Which of the following vital signs would be most concerning in a patient scheduled
for a contrast-enhanced examination?
Answer: Blood pressure of 180/110 mmHg.
