FINAL CCHT (CERTIFIED CLINICAL HEMODIALYSIS
TECHNICIAN) COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE WITH 580 HIGH-
YIELD PRACTICE QUESTIONS, DETAILED ANSWER
EXPLANATIONS AND RATIONALES, HEMODIALYSIS
PRINCIPLES, PATIENT CARE CONCEPTS, SAFETY AND
INFECTION CONTROL REVIEW, CLINICAL APPLICATION
SCENARIOS, TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES, AND
COMPREHENSIVE CERTIFICATION EXAM PREPARATION
TOOLS – 2026/2027 LATEST UPDATED EDITION
Abscess - ANSWER-An abscess is an infection under the skin. It looks
lika blister or pimple filled with fluid or pus. If needles are inserted into
or near an abscess, infection of a dialysis access or other tissues may
occur.
Access - ANSWER-An access -vascular access- is a route into the
bloodstream that allows enough blood flow for hemodialysis. For
permanent access, a surgeon connects a vein to an artery.
This can be done directly - fistula- or with a piece of synthetic tubing -
graft. For short term access, a catheter may be placed in a large central
vein. - ANSWER-
Acid - ANSWER-An acid is substance with a pH below 7.0 that can
donate a hydrogen ion -H+. In the human body, acids form when
protein and other foods are broken down by cell metabolism.
,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - AIDS - ANSWER-
Acute Kidney Failure - ANSWER-Acute kidney failure has a sudden
onset. It is most often caused by an illness, injury, or toxin that stresses
the kidneys. Some patients who survive acute kidney failure can
recover kidney function. Others die or go on to develop chronic kidney
failure.
Alum - ANSWER-Alum is an aluminum compound. It is often added to
city water supplies to remove sediment and make the water clearer.
Aluminum can build up in the bodies and brains of dialysis patients.
Aluminum in dialysis water must be kept at low levels with water
treatment. - ANSWER-
Aluminum-Related Bone Disease - ARBD - ANSWER-ARBD is cause by
long-term exposure to aluminum. Aluminum builds up in the tissues at
the point where new bone forms and be seen on X-ray. Sources of
aluminum include dialysis water, medications, and cookware.
Phosphate binders with aluminum are also a source, but these are
rarely used today. Symptoms of ARBD can include deep bone pain,
muscle weakness, and fractures. - ANSWER-
,Amyloidosis - ANSWER-Amyloidosis occurs when aproteingcalled beta2-
microglobulin -B2M- builds up in soft tissues, bones, and joints. The
deposits can cause joint and or bone pain. High-flux membranes and or
noctournal hemodialysis remove more B2M, which may help prevent or
treat this problem.
Anaphylaxis - ANSWER-Anaphylaxis is a fast severe immune response to
an allergen. Hives, itching, or wheezing may occur. Anaphylactic shock
may cause blood pressure drop; change in heart rhythms or arrest; and
swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat. This problem can be fatal.
Anastomosis - ANSWER-An anastomosis is a surgical connection beteen
two blood vessels. Dialysis needles should not be inserted into the area
of the anastomosis in a fistual or graft.
Adsorb - ANSWER-Adsorb means to attract and hold. The dialyzer
membrane adsorbs blood proteins to the walls of the hollow fibers
during a treatment.
This can make reused dialyzers more biocompatible than new ones - if
bleach is not used to remove the protein coating. - ANSWER-
Advance Directives - ANSWER-Advance directives outline a patient's
wishes for medical treatment in case he or she becomes too ill to make
such choices. A living will is one type of advance directive.
, The patient's family and other members of the care team should be
told of the patient's wishes when an advance directive is done and
given a copy to keep. - ANSWER-
Afferent - ANSWER-means toward an organ.
Air Detector - ANSWER-The air - or foam detector checks blood in the
venous line of the extracorporeal circuit for air. Air in a patient's
bloodstream can stop the blood flow or heartbeat, causing death.
If the detector finds air, an alarm will sound, the blood pump will stop,
and the venous bloodline will clamp to keep air from reaching the
patient. - ANSWER-
Air Embolism - ANSWER-An air embolism occurs when air bubbles enter
the bloodstream and flow into a vessel small enough to be blocked by
the air. The air in the vessel acts like a clot, blocking the flow of blood.
Dialysis machines have an air detector on the venous bloodline to help
prevent this problem, which can be fatal. - ANSWER-
Albumin - ANSWER-Albumin is a blood protein. Lo serum albumin levels
-<3.5 g/dL- may mean a patient is undernourished. Malnutrition is a
common in dialysis patients and raises their risk of death.
TECHNICIAN) COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE WITH 580 HIGH-
YIELD PRACTICE QUESTIONS, DETAILED ANSWER
EXPLANATIONS AND RATIONALES, HEMODIALYSIS
PRINCIPLES, PATIENT CARE CONCEPTS, SAFETY AND
INFECTION CONTROL REVIEW, CLINICAL APPLICATION
SCENARIOS, TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES, AND
COMPREHENSIVE CERTIFICATION EXAM PREPARATION
TOOLS – 2026/2027 LATEST UPDATED EDITION
Abscess - ANSWER-An abscess is an infection under the skin. It looks
lika blister or pimple filled with fluid or pus. If needles are inserted into
or near an abscess, infection of a dialysis access or other tissues may
occur.
Access - ANSWER-An access -vascular access- is a route into the
bloodstream that allows enough blood flow for hemodialysis. For
permanent access, a surgeon connects a vein to an artery.
This can be done directly - fistula- or with a piece of synthetic tubing -
graft. For short term access, a catheter may be placed in a large central
vein. - ANSWER-
Acid - ANSWER-An acid is substance with a pH below 7.0 that can
donate a hydrogen ion -H+. In the human body, acids form when
protein and other foods are broken down by cell metabolism.
,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - AIDS - ANSWER-
Acute Kidney Failure - ANSWER-Acute kidney failure has a sudden
onset. It is most often caused by an illness, injury, or toxin that stresses
the kidneys. Some patients who survive acute kidney failure can
recover kidney function. Others die or go on to develop chronic kidney
failure.
Alum - ANSWER-Alum is an aluminum compound. It is often added to
city water supplies to remove sediment and make the water clearer.
Aluminum can build up in the bodies and brains of dialysis patients.
Aluminum in dialysis water must be kept at low levels with water
treatment. - ANSWER-
Aluminum-Related Bone Disease - ARBD - ANSWER-ARBD is cause by
long-term exposure to aluminum. Aluminum builds up in the tissues at
the point where new bone forms and be seen on X-ray. Sources of
aluminum include dialysis water, medications, and cookware.
Phosphate binders with aluminum are also a source, but these are
rarely used today. Symptoms of ARBD can include deep bone pain,
muscle weakness, and fractures. - ANSWER-
,Amyloidosis - ANSWER-Amyloidosis occurs when aproteingcalled beta2-
microglobulin -B2M- builds up in soft tissues, bones, and joints. The
deposits can cause joint and or bone pain. High-flux membranes and or
noctournal hemodialysis remove more B2M, which may help prevent or
treat this problem.
Anaphylaxis - ANSWER-Anaphylaxis is a fast severe immune response to
an allergen. Hives, itching, or wheezing may occur. Anaphylactic shock
may cause blood pressure drop; change in heart rhythms or arrest; and
swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat. This problem can be fatal.
Anastomosis - ANSWER-An anastomosis is a surgical connection beteen
two blood vessels. Dialysis needles should not be inserted into the area
of the anastomosis in a fistual or graft.
Adsorb - ANSWER-Adsorb means to attract and hold. The dialyzer
membrane adsorbs blood proteins to the walls of the hollow fibers
during a treatment.
This can make reused dialyzers more biocompatible than new ones - if
bleach is not used to remove the protein coating. - ANSWER-
Advance Directives - ANSWER-Advance directives outline a patient's
wishes for medical treatment in case he or she becomes too ill to make
such choices. A living will is one type of advance directive.
, The patient's family and other members of the care team should be
told of the patient's wishes when an advance directive is done and
given a copy to keep. - ANSWER-
Afferent - ANSWER-means toward an organ.
Air Detector - ANSWER-The air - or foam detector checks blood in the
venous line of the extracorporeal circuit for air. Air in a patient's
bloodstream can stop the blood flow or heartbeat, causing death.
If the detector finds air, an alarm will sound, the blood pump will stop,
and the venous bloodline will clamp to keep air from reaching the
patient. - ANSWER-
Air Embolism - ANSWER-An air embolism occurs when air bubbles enter
the bloodstream and flow into a vessel small enough to be blocked by
the air. The air in the vessel acts like a clot, blocking the flow of blood.
Dialysis machines have an air detector on the venous bloodline to help
prevent this problem, which can be fatal. - ANSWER-
Albumin - ANSWER-Albumin is a blood protein. Lo serum albumin levels
-<3.5 g/dL- may mean a patient is undernourished. Malnutrition is a
common in dialysis patients and raises their risk of death.
