Free CABT Exam Flashcards

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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