RPFT Online Practice Questions and Answers

A 35-year-old healthy male is performing a maximal stress test as part of an annual physical. The following data are observed:

The patient denies any symptoms. Which of the following should a pulmonary function technologist do first?

A. Obtain an arterial blood gas while continuing exercise

B. Move the pulse oximeter sensor to another site

C. Administer oxygen at 3-4 L/min by nasal cannula

D. Terminate the test and stabilize the patient.

A body plethysmograph box pressure transducer fails the electronic calibration check after multiple attempts. Which of the following should a pulmonary function technologist do?

1.

Perform a biologic control test

2.

Inspect the door seal.

3.

Re-zero the box pressure transducer.

4.

Perform a physical pressure calibration.

A. 1, 2, and 4 only

B. 1, 3, and 4 only

C. 2, 3, and 4 only

D. 1, 2, and 3 only

While setting up an exercise laboratory in a city with an altitude of 8,600 ft (2,775 m), a pulmonary function technologist notices the fuel cell O2 analyzer is displaying 15.2%. Which of the following is the best explanation for this finding?

A. This exercise system will not work at high altitude.

B. The analyzer is responding to P1O2.

C. F1O2 decreases with increasing altitude.

D. The fuel cell needs to be changed.

Treadmill speed can be verified by

A. Multiplying the belt length by the cycles/min.

B. Dividing the height by the horizontal distance.

C. Multiplying the cycles/min by the height.

D. Dividing the cycles/min by the belt length.

The following data were obtained from a bronchial challenge test:

APC20 of 2 mg/mL was obtained the next day in another laboratory. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for these data?

A. The two test results are within day-to-day variability.

B. Incorrect doses of methacholine were administered.

C. The spirometer accuracy drifted during the test.

D. The patient's effort was inconsistent.

A physician orders smoking cessation counseling for a 60-year-old male with a new diagnosis of CHF and COPD. The patient has failed several attempts to quit smoking using nicotine gum. Which of the following should a pulmonary function technologist recommend?

A. Switch to a nicotine patch.

B. Use alternative medicine such as acupuncture.

C. Add a trial of bupropion (Zyban).

D. Increase the dosage of the nicotine replacement.

A 6-year-old child has a history of repeated episodes of wheezing and shortness of breath. A pulmonary function technologist has difficulty obtaining repeatable spirometry results. Which of the following tests should be performed next?

A. MVV

B. DLco

C. SGaw

D. SpO2

Which of the following is a suitable policy for following Standard Precautions in a pulmonary function laboratory?

A. Eye protection is required when obtaining ABGs from patients with hepatitis.

B. Reusable mouthpieces should be disposed when a patient has a history of tuberculosis.

C. Gloves are optional when obtaining arterial blood samples using a kit

D. Reusable mouthpieces should be disinfected between each patient.

While assessing a patient's expired gases at rest prior to exercise, a pulmonary function technologist calculates the RER as 0.6. Which of the following is the most likely explanation?

A. The patient has an elevated VDAVT

B. A gas analyzer is malfunctioning

C. The expired gas is contaminated with air

D. The patient is hyperventilating

A patient who is about to begin pulmonary function testing is visibly upset and complains to a pulmonary function technologist that she felt a receptionist was rude to her. Which of the following should the technologist do?

A. Try to get the patient to calm down by telling her that the receptionist is probably just having a bad day.

B. Give the patient time to calm down and ask the laboratory manager to become involved.

C. Ignore the complaint because it is not going to affect the testing about to begin.

D. Accompany the patient back to the reception area and try to determine who was at fault.