ARDMS SPI REVIEW QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWER PLUS RATIONALE |
LATEST 2026-2027 UPDATE
What action below would be most in keeping with the ALARA principle while
performing a diagnostic ultrasound examination?
A: Allow multiple students to scan an obstetrical patient because the fetus is in a
good position for imaging.
B: Prolong the sonogram to make videos of the fetus for each family member.
C: Complete the diagnostic scan in a timely fashion at the lowest output power
that achieves a quality image.
D: Maximize the acoustic output to brighten the overall image.
E: Extend the sonogram beyond the intended scope of the exam requisition. -
ANSWERS C: Complete the diagnostic scan in a timely fashion at the lowest
output power that achieves a quality image.
What does the ALARA principle stand for? - ANSWERS As Low As Reasonable
Achievable
During performance of an obstetrical ultrasound exam you adjust the system
parameters to improve the image. Which of the following parameters would
increase acoustic exposure?
A: Increase gain
B: Increase TGC
C: Increase frequency
D: Increase transmit power
,E: Increase frame averaging - ANSWERS D: Increase transmit power
While performing a sonogram to minimize risk to the fetus which imaging mode
trade off would be most applicable?
A: Use M-mode instead of pulsed-wave Doppler to measure the fetal heart rate.
B: Use color Doppler instead of power Doppler to image the umbilical cord.
C: Use pulsed-wave Doppler instead of power Doppler to evaluate the fetal heart.
D: Use harmonics instead of fundamental to image the fetal spine.
E: All of the above. - ANSWERS A: Use M-mode instead of pulsed-wave
Doppler to measure the fetal heart rate.
Gain, TGC, and frame averaging do not affect _______ and therefore do not affect
_______. - ANSWERS -Sound transmission
-Exposure
T or F: Increasing frequency does not increase exposure. - ANSWERS True
What potential bioeffect occurs through absorption of sound energy by tissue?
A: Cavitation
B: Heating
C: Attenuation
D: Reflection
E: Refraction - ANSWERS B: Heating
When practicing universal precautions you should do all of the following EXCEPT:
,A: Wear gloves when there is a potential for contact with patient bodily fluids.
B: Change gloves when moving from one patient to another.
C: Wash hands immediately after gloves are removed.
D: Wear face masks or eye protection whenever there is a possibility of blood
splashing into your face.
E: Wash gloves between exams for re-use from one patient to another. -
ANSWERS E: Wash gloves between exams for RE-use from one patient to
another.
A nosocomial infection is defined as one that is:
A: Resistant to antibiotics
B: Restricted to the respiratory system
C: Hospital-acquired
D: Not contagious
E: Requires isolation - ANSWERS C: Hospital-acquired
Thermally induced biological effects should be preventable by avoiding a local
tissue temperature increase exceeding:
A: 1 degree C
B: 4 degrees C
C: 10 degrees C
D: 95 degrees F
E: None; thermal effects have no threshold. - ANSWERS A: 1 degree C
Which intensity descriptor has the lowest numerical value for the characterization
of a pulsed-wave ultrasonic field?
, A: SATA
B: SPTA
C: SATP
D: SPTP
E: These intensity descriptors are only used for continuous-wave ultrasound. -
ANSWERS A: SATA
Increased tissue heating could occur when you:
A: Decrease frequency.
B: Increase transmit power.
C: Decrease exposure time.
D: Decrease pulse repetition frequency.
E: All of the above - ANSWERS B: Increase transmit power.
A study designed to determine if there is an association between an adverse effect
in a population and exposure to a particular agent is a(n):
A: Case report
B: Epidemiological study
C: In vitro study
D: In vivo study
E: Single-incident investigation - ANSWERS B: Epidemiological study
Which of the following actions is NOT compliant with HIPAA?
A: Cropping all patient identifiers from images used for teaching purposes.
CORRECT ANSWER PLUS RATIONALE |
LATEST 2026-2027 UPDATE
What action below would be most in keeping with the ALARA principle while
performing a diagnostic ultrasound examination?
A: Allow multiple students to scan an obstetrical patient because the fetus is in a
good position for imaging.
B: Prolong the sonogram to make videos of the fetus for each family member.
C: Complete the diagnostic scan in a timely fashion at the lowest output power
that achieves a quality image.
D: Maximize the acoustic output to brighten the overall image.
E: Extend the sonogram beyond the intended scope of the exam requisition. -
ANSWERS C: Complete the diagnostic scan in a timely fashion at the lowest
output power that achieves a quality image.
What does the ALARA principle stand for? - ANSWERS As Low As Reasonable
Achievable
During performance of an obstetrical ultrasound exam you adjust the system
parameters to improve the image. Which of the following parameters would
increase acoustic exposure?
A: Increase gain
B: Increase TGC
C: Increase frequency
D: Increase transmit power
,E: Increase frame averaging - ANSWERS D: Increase transmit power
While performing a sonogram to minimize risk to the fetus which imaging mode
trade off would be most applicable?
A: Use M-mode instead of pulsed-wave Doppler to measure the fetal heart rate.
B: Use color Doppler instead of power Doppler to image the umbilical cord.
C: Use pulsed-wave Doppler instead of power Doppler to evaluate the fetal heart.
D: Use harmonics instead of fundamental to image the fetal spine.
E: All of the above. - ANSWERS A: Use M-mode instead of pulsed-wave
Doppler to measure the fetal heart rate.
Gain, TGC, and frame averaging do not affect _______ and therefore do not affect
_______. - ANSWERS -Sound transmission
-Exposure
T or F: Increasing frequency does not increase exposure. - ANSWERS True
What potential bioeffect occurs through absorption of sound energy by tissue?
A: Cavitation
B: Heating
C: Attenuation
D: Reflection
E: Refraction - ANSWERS B: Heating
When practicing universal precautions you should do all of the following EXCEPT:
,A: Wear gloves when there is a potential for contact with patient bodily fluids.
B: Change gloves when moving from one patient to another.
C: Wash hands immediately after gloves are removed.
D: Wear face masks or eye protection whenever there is a possibility of blood
splashing into your face.
E: Wash gloves between exams for re-use from one patient to another. -
ANSWERS E: Wash gloves between exams for RE-use from one patient to
another.
A nosocomial infection is defined as one that is:
A: Resistant to antibiotics
B: Restricted to the respiratory system
C: Hospital-acquired
D: Not contagious
E: Requires isolation - ANSWERS C: Hospital-acquired
Thermally induced biological effects should be preventable by avoiding a local
tissue temperature increase exceeding:
A: 1 degree C
B: 4 degrees C
C: 10 degrees C
D: 95 degrees F
E: None; thermal effects have no threshold. - ANSWERS A: 1 degree C
Which intensity descriptor has the lowest numerical value for the characterization
of a pulsed-wave ultrasonic field?
, A: SATA
B: SPTA
C: SATP
D: SPTP
E: These intensity descriptors are only used for continuous-wave ultrasound. -
ANSWERS A: SATA
Increased tissue heating could occur when you:
A: Decrease frequency.
B: Increase transmit power.
C: Decrease exposure time.
D: Decrease pulse repetition frequency.
E: All of the above - ANSWERS B: Increase transmit power.
A study designed to determine if there is an association between an adverse effect
in a population and exposure to a particular agent is a(n):
A: Case report
B: Epidemiological study
C: In vitro study
D: In vivo study
E: Single-incident investigation - ANSWERS B: Epidemiological study
Which of the following actions is NOT compliant with HIPAA?
A: Cropping all patient identifiers from images used for teaching purposes.
