Certified Hemodialysis Technician
CERTIFIED HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIAN | VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE LATEST VERSION 2026/2027
1. What is the functional unit of the kidney?
A. Nephron
B. Glomerulus
C. Bowman's capsule
D. Loop of Henle
A — The nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the
kidney.
2. Which structure is responsible for the initial filtration of blood in the
kidney?
A. Renal pelvis
B. Glomerulus
C. Collecting duct
D. Ureter
B — The glomerulus is a tuft of capillaries where blood is first filtered
under pressure.
3. Approximately what percentage of cardiac output do the kidneys
normally receive?
Page 1 of 49
, Certified Hemodialysis Technician
A. 5%
B. 10%
C. 20-25%
D. 50%
C — The kidneys normally receive about 20-25% of cardiac output.
4. Which hormone, produced by the kidneys, stimulates red blood cell
production?
A. Renin
B. Erythropoietin
C. Aldosterone
D. Calcitriol
B — Erythropoietin stimulates bone marrow to produce red blood cells;
deficiency causes ESRD anemia.
5. What is the active form of vitamin D produced by the kidney called?
A. Cholecalciferol
B. Ergocalciferol
C. Calcitriol
D. Calcidiol
C — Calcitriol is the active form produced by the kidney, essential for
calcium absorption.
6. Which enzyme released by the kidneys helps regulate blood pressure
via the renin-angiotensin system?
A. Erythropoietin
B. Renin
C. Urokinase
D. Aldosterone
B — Renin initiates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system that
regulates blood pressure.
7. Normal adult kidneys produce approximately how much urine per
day?
A. 100-200 mL
B. 500 mL
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, Certified Hemodialysis Technician
C. 1-2 liters
D. 5 liters
C — Normal daily urine output is approximately 1-2 liters.
8. Which part of the nephron is primarily responsible for concentrating
urine?
A. Proximal tubule
B. Loop of Henle
C. Bowman's capsule
D. Afferent arteriole
B — The Loop of Henle, via the countercurrent mechanism, concentrates
urine.
9. End-stage renal disease is generally defined as a GFR below:
A. 90 mL/min
B. 60 mL/min
C. 15 mL/min
D. 30 mL/min
C — ESRD is generally defined as GFR below 15 mL/min/1.73m².
10. Which electrolyte imbalance is most immediately life-threatening in
kidney failure?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypophosphatemia
B — Hyperkalemia can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
11. Which waste product is commonly measured, along with creatinine,
to assess kidney function?
A. Bilirubin
B. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
C. Amylase
D. Lactate
B — BUN reflects protein metabolism waste and is used with creatinine
to assess renal function.
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, Certified Hemodialysis Technician
12. Which condition describes a sustained, progressive loss of kidney
function over months to years?
A. Acute kidney injury
B. Chronic kidney disease
C. Nephrotic syndrome
D. Glomerulonephritis
B — CKD is the gradual, often irreversible loss of renal function over
time.
13. What is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the United
States?
A. Hypertension
B. Diabetes mellitus
C. Polycystic kidney disease
D. Glomerulonephritis
B — Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of ESRD.
14. Which of the following best describes oliguria?
A. No urine output
B. Urine output less than 400 mL/day
C. Excessive urine output
D. Blood in urine
B — Oliguria is urine output of less than 400 mL per day in adults.
15. The kidneys help maintain acid-base balance primarily by
regulating:
A. Oxygen levels
B. Bicarbonate reabsorption and hydrogen ion excretion
C. Glucose levels
D. Protein synthesis
B — The kidneys regulate acid-base balance by reabsorbing bicarbonate
and excreting hydrogen ions.
16. Which structure carries urine from the kidney to the bladder?
A. Urethra
B. Ureter
Page 4 of 49
CERTIFIED HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIAN | VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE LATEST VERSION 2026/2027
1. What is the functional unit of the kidney?
A. Nephron
B. Glomerulus
C. Bowman's capsule
D. Loop of Henle
A — The nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the
kidney.
2. Which structure is responsible for the initial filtration of blood in the
kidney?
A. Renal pelvis
B. Glomerulus
C. Collecting duct
D. Ureter
B — The glomerulus is a tuft of capillaries where blood is first filtered
under pressure.
3. Approximately what percentage of cardiac output do the kidneys
normally receive?
Page 1 of 49
, Certified Hemodialysis Technician
A. 5%
B. 10%
C. 20-25%
D. 50%
C — The kidneys normally receive about 20-25% of cardiac output.
4. Which hormone, produced by the kidneys, stimulates red blood cell
production?
A. Renin
B. Erythropoietin
C. Aldosterone
D. Calcitriol
B — Erythropoietin stimulates bone marrow to produce red blood cells;
deficiency causes ESRD anemia.
5. What is the active form of vitamin D produced by the kidney called?
A. Cholecalciferol
B. Ergocalciferol
C. Calcitriol
D. Calcidiol
C — Calcitriol is the active form produced by the kidney, essential for
calcium absorption.
6. Which enzyme released by the kidneys helps regulate blood pressure
via the renin-angiotensin system?
A. Erythropoietin
B. Renin
C. Urokinase
D. Aldosterone
B — Renin initiates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system that
regulates blood pressure.
7. Normal adult kidneys produce approximately how much urine per
day?
A. 100-200 mL
B. 500 mL
Page 2 of 49
, Certified Hemodialysis Technician
C. 1-2 liters
D. 5 liters
C — Normal daily urine output is approximately 1-2 liters.
8. Which part of the nephron is primarily responsible for concentrating
urine?
A. Proximal tubule
B. Loop of Henle
C. Bowman's capsule
D. Afferent arteriole
B — The Loop of Henle, via the countercurrent mechanism, concentrates
urine.
9. End-stage renal disease is generally defined as a GFR below:
A. 90 mL/min
B. 60 mL/min
C. 15 mL/min
D. 30 mL/min
C — ESRD is generally defined as GFR below 15 mL/min/1.73m².
10. Which electrolyte imbalance is most immediately life-threatening in
kidney failure?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypophosphatemia
B — Hyperkalemia can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
11. Which waste product is commonly measured, along with creatinine,
to assess kidney function?
A. Bilirubin
B. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
C. Amylase
D. Lactate
B — BUN reflects protein metabolism waste and is used with creatinine
to assess renal function.
Page 3 of 49
, Certified Hemodialysis Technician
12. Which condition describes a sustained, progressive loss of kidney
function over months to years?
A. Acute kidney injury
B. Chronic kidney disease
C. Nephrotic syndrome
D. Glomerulonephritis
B — CKD is the gradual, often irreversible loss of renal function over
time.
13. What is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the United
States?
A. Hypertension
B. Diabetes mellitus
C. Polycystic kidney disease
D. Glomerulonephritis
B — Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of ESRD.
14. Which of the following best describes oliguria?
A. No urine output
B. Urine output less than 400 mL/day
C. Excessive urine output
D. Blood in urine
B — Oliguria is urine output of less than 400 mL per day in adults.
15. The kidneys help maintain acid-base balance primarily by
regulating:
A. Oxygen levels
B. Bicarbonate reabsorption and hydrogen ion excretion
C. Glucose levels
D. Protein synthesis
B — The kidneys regulate acid-base balance by reabsorbing bicarbonate
and excreting hydrogen ions.
16. Which structure carries urine from the kidney to the bladder?
A. Urethra
B. Ureter
Page 4 of 49
