CABT Exam Flashcards

Q: What is the CABT exam pass rate?

ACI/AAMI does not publish a pass rate for the CABT. To pass, you must correctly answer at least 75 of the 100 scored multiple-choice questions (75%) within the 2-hour time limit.

Q: What happens if I fail the CABT exam?

You must wait at least 60 days before retaking. You're limited to 3 attempts within a 2-year period, and if you fail a third time you must wait 1 year before reapplying to the program. There are no refunds for failed attempts.

Q: Do I need work experience or an employer sponsor to take the CABT?

No. The CABT is an entry-level, self-sponsored exam open to anyone who is at least a junior in high school (11th grade). No biomedical work experience, degree, or employer sponsorship is required.

Q: How long does the CABT certification last?

5 years, and it does not renew. Before it expires, you must retake the CABT exam or advance to a higher ACI credential like CBET or CRES to stay certified.

Q: How is the CABT different from the CBET?

The CABT is an entry-level credential for people just entering biomedical equipment technology, with no experience requirement. The CBET is the full professional certification requiring 2-4 years of hands-on BMET experience; the CABT is designed as a stepping stone toward it.

Q: Is the CABT exam available year-round?

Yes. Unlike ACI's CBET, CRES, and CHTM exams, which are limited to May/November testing windows, the CABT is offered year-round as an online proctored exam and must be scheduled within 6 months of purchase.

Question 1

Metric prefix: kilo (k)

Accepted Answer

Multiply by 1,000. Example: 1 kW = 1,000 W. Biomedical techs use metric prefixes constantly when reading device power ratings and specs.

Question 2

Metric prefix: milli (m)

Accepted Answer

Divide by 1,000 (×10⁻³). Example: 1 mL = 0.001 L. Small fluid volumes and voltages on device labels are often given in milli-units.

Question 3

Metric prefix: micro (µ)

Accepted Answer

One-millionth (×10⁻⁶) of a unit — for example, a capacitor's value given in microfarads (µF). Used for extremely small electrical quantities in circuit specs.

Question 4

Convert 2,500 mL to liters

Accepted Answer

2.5 L. Converting mL to L means dividing by 1,000, which moves the decimal point three places to the left.

Question 5

Convert 37°C to Fahrenheit

Accepted Answer

98.6°F, using F = (C × 9/5) + 32. 37°C is normal human body temperature, a conversion worth memorizing cold.

Question 6

Convert 98.6°F to Celsius

Accepted Answer

37°C, using C = (F − 32) × 5/9. Know both formulas — CABT reasoning items can ask for either direction of the conversion.

Question 7

How to read a troubleshooting flowchart

Accepted Answer

Follow the branches step by step in order rather than skipping ahead. Each yes/no decision point narrows down the fault before you replace any parts.

Question 8

A trend graph shows one month with a sharp spike in equipment failures — first action?

Accepted Answer

Investigate the cause (connections, settings, usage patterns) before assuming the device is defective or jumping to a repair or replacement.

Question 9

Best first move in troubleshooting logic

Accepted Answer

Rule out the simplest, most common cause first — a loose cable, dead battery, or blown fuse — before suspecting a complex internal failure.

Question 10

Where to find manufacturer-specific repair steps

Accepted Answer

The equipment's service manual. It contains model-specific flowcharts, test points, and error-code references that general knowledge can't replace.

Question 11

Comparing failure-rate data across three device models on a table

Accepted Answer

The model with the lowest failure percentage is the most reliable choice — read the actual numbers rather than assuming based on brand or age.

Question 12

How do you confirm a repair is actually complete?

Accepted Answer

Re-test the device and verify it passes before returning it to clinical use. A fix isn't done until it's verified, not just performed.

Question 13

Pulse oximeter — what it measures

Accepted Answer

Blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) using light absorption through tissue, typically at a fingertip. Normal adult SpO2 is 95-100%.

Question 14

NIBP

Accepted Answer

Non-invasive blood pressure. Measured with an inflatable cuff and oscillometric sensing, without puncturing an artery (unlike an invasive arterial line).

Question 15

Capnography measures

Accepted Answer

End-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) in exhaled breath, normally 35-45 mmHg. It's the gold-standard check for confirming correct endotracheal tube placement.

Question 16

ECG/EKG function

Accepted Answer

Records the heart's electrical activity through skin electrodes, used to detect arrhythmias and continuously monitor cardiac rhythm.

Question 17

Telemetry monitoring

Accepted Answer

Wireless transmission of a patient's vital signs (usually ECG) from a bedside or ambulatory transmitter to a central monitoring station.

Question 18

Defibrillator function

Accepted Answer

Delivers a controlled electrical shock to the heart to stop a life-threatening arrhythmia (like ventricular fibrillation) so a normal rhythm can resume.

Question 19

Infusion pump air-in-line alarm

Accepted Answer

Triggers when an air bubble is detected in the IV tubing, because infusing air into a patient can cause a dangerous air embolism.

Question 20

Electrical safety analyzer (ESA)

Accepted Answer

Tests leakage current and ground integrity on patient-care equipment. It's the standard tool for verifying a device is electrically safe before it touches a patient.

Question 21

Multimeter uses

Accepted Answer

Measures voltage, current, and resistance in a circuit. A biomedical tech uses it to check fuses, batteries, and continuity while troubleshooting.

Question 22

Suction unit function

Accepted Answer

Removes fluids and secretions from a patient's airway or wound site using negative (vacuum) pressure.

Question 23

A device powers on but the display is blank — likely first cause to check

Accepted Answer

The display cable connection. A loose or disconnected cable is a far more common cause than a failed main board, and it's much faster to rule out.

Question 24

Defibrillator energy output tests below tolerance — correct action

Accepted Answer

Remove the device from clinical service immediately and escalate to depot or vendor repair. Never return an out-of-spec life-support device to use.

Question 25

Microshock

Accepted Answer

Electrical current applied directly to or near the heart, bypassing skin resistance. It's dangerous at microamp levels — the leakage-current safety limit is ~10 µA (0.01 mA), far less than macroshock, because no skin resistance offers protection.

Question 26

Macroshock

Accepted Answer

Electrical current passing through intact skin. Skin resistance protects against low currents, but over 100 mA through the body can cause fatal ventricular fibrillation.

Question 27

LOTO

Accepted Answer

Lockout/Tagout — de-energize and physically lock equipment before servicing it, then tag it to identify who did it and why. The lock prevents re-activation; the tag only warns others and is never a substitute for the lock.

Question 28

Hospital-grade electrical plug

Accepted Answer

Marked with a green dot and built to stricter grounding and pull-force standards than a standard commercial plug. Required in patient-care areas.

Question 29

US ground wire color

Accepted Answer

Green or bare copper. In standard US wiring, black is hot and white is neutral.

Question 30

Radiation safety cardinal rules

Accepted Answer

Time, Distance, Shielding — minimize exposure time, maximize distance from the source, and use shielding barriers to reduce dose.

Question 31

Oxygen cylinder color (US)

Accepted Answer

Green. Under the US color-coding convention, nitrous oxide is blue, medical air is yellow, and carbon dioxide is gray.

Question 32

SDS Section 4

Accepted Answer

First-aid measures. The Safety Data Sheet's standardized 16-section GHS format lets you find emergency response information for any chemical quickly, regardless of manufacturer.

Question 33

Ohm's Law

Accepted Answer

V = I × R (voltage equals current times resistance). Rearrange to I = V/R or R = V/I depending on which two values you already know.

Question 34

Multimeter reads "OL" across a fuse

Accepted Answer

OL means infinite resistance (open circuit) — the fuse is blown and must be replaced, not reset.

Question 35

Fuse vs. circuit breaker

Accepted Answer

A fuse melts on overcurrent and must be physically replaced (single use). A circuit breaker trips and can be manually reset (reusable). A circuit that trips repeatedly points to a breaker issue, not a blown fuse.

Question 36

AC vs. DC current

Accepted Answer

AC (alternating current) periodically reverses direction, like wall outlet power. DC (direct current) flows in one constant direction, like battery power.

Question 37

Capacitor function

Accepted Answer

Stores electrical charge and releases it, used for filtering, timing, and smoothing voltage in a circuit.

Question 38

Transformer function

Accepted Answer

Changes (steps up or down) an AC voltage level between its primary and secondary windings using electromagnetic induction.

Question 39

ESD wrist strap purpose

Accepted Answer

Grounds the technician to prevent electrostatic discharge from damaging sensitive electronic components while handling circuit boards.

Question 40

LAN vs. WAN

Accepted Answer

A LAN (local area network) connects devices within one site or building. A WAN (wide area network) connects multiple sites or LANs across greater distances.

Question 41

VPN

Accepted Answer

Virtual Private Network — creates an encrypted tunnel for secure remote access to a network over the internet.

Question 42

Firewall function

Accepted Answer

Filters incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules, blocking unauthorized access to protect connected medical devices and systems.

Question 43

HIPAA

Accepted Answer

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act — the federal law protecting the privacy and security of patient health information (PHI).

Question 44

Phishing

Accepted Answer

A fraudulent message, often email, designed to trick a user into revealing credentials or installing malware. A leading cause of healthcare data breaches.

Question 45

VLAN

Accepted Answer

Virtual LAN — logically segments a single physical network into separate broadcast domains, often used to isolate medical devices from general hospital traffic.

Question 46

Heart

Accepted Answer

A four-chambered muscular pump that circulates blood throughout the body. Its electrical activity is what an ECG records.

Question 47

Lungs

Accepted Answer

The primary gas-exchange organs — oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide leaves it across the alveoli during respiration.

Question 48

Kidneys

Accepted Answer

Filter waste and excess fluid from the blood to produce urine, and help regulate blood pressure and electrolyte balance.

Question 49

Normal adult resting heart rate

Accepted Answer

60-100 beats per minute. Values outside this range — bradycardia below, tachycardia above — commonly trigger patient monitor alarms.

Question 50

Circulatory system components

Accepted Answer

Heart, blood, and blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries). Arteries carry blood away from the heart; veins return it.

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