Dialysis Technician Practice Exam

What are the three main ways to remove solutes in dialysis?

1. Diffusion, Filtration, Sedimentation

2. Convection, Absorption, Filtration

3. Diffusion, Convection, Absorption

4. Evaporation, Sedimentation, Diffusion

The correct answer is: Diffusion, Convection, Absorption

The three main ways to remove solutes in dialysis are diffusion, convection, and absorption. Diffusion is the primary mechanism in dialysis, where solutes move from an area of higher concentration (in the blood) to an area of lower concentration (in the dialysis solution or dialysate). This process is essential as it allows waste products, such as urea and creatinine, to be effectively cleared from the blood. Convection, also known as solvent drag, refers to the movement of solutes along with the movement of water. During dialysis, when water is forced across the semi-permeable membrane due to pressure differentials, solutes that are dissolved in the water also move with it, enhancing the removal of larger solutes that might not diffuse as efficiently. Absorption is not typically considered a primary mechanism in dialysis, as it refers more to the uptake of solutes by the material rather than their removal. However, in some advanced dialysis techniques, it might play a supplementary role in capturing certain solutes. The other choices include methods not relevant to dialysis solute removal. For example, sedimentation and evaporation do not apply to the mechanisms used in dialysis, as they pertain more to the separation of particles based on size and the