Dialysis Technician Practice Exam

A dialyzer, also known as an artificial kidney, is a crucial component in the dialysis process as it performs the function of filtering waste products from the blood. When evaluating its characteristics, surface area and membrane permeability are vital because they directly influence the dialyzer's efficiency in removing toxins and excess fluid. Surface area refers to the amount of material available for the blood to come into contact with, which enhances the dialyzer's ability to extract waste efficiently. Membrane permeability, on the other hand, indicates how well the membrane allows certain substances to pass while retaining others, affecting the dialyzer’s selectivity in filtering. Blood flow rate is another essential parameter that calculates how quickly blood can be processed through the dialyzer, ensuring that the dialysis session is carried out effectively within a predetermined time frame. In contrast, capacity is not typically used as a standard characteristic when describing a dialyzer. While capacity might refer to the overall volume or quantity of blood that a dialysis machine can handle or process, it does not define the operational functionality and performance characteristics specific to the dialyzer itself.