EKG Technician Practice Test

EKG EKG Acquisition Practice Questions

EKG Acquisition makes up 22 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest EKG practice test. Here are 10 of the 88 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.

Updated 2026-11-10 by the Tigertest team. Weighted to the NHA CET test plan. Rhythm items describe the strip in words; practice with real tracings too.

1. 1. A technician sets up a routine resting 12-lead. Which paper speed and gain settings are standard?

   • A.50 mm/s and 10 mm/mV
   • B.25 mm/s and 10 mm/mV
   • C.12.5 mm/s and 20 mm/mV
   • D.25 mm/s and 5 mm/mV

   Answer: B. Standard settings are 25 mm/s and 10 mm/mV, so each small box equals 0.04 s and 0.1 mV. 50 mm/s and 5 mm/mV are special adjustments that must be labeled, not the default.

2. 2. At standard gain, the standardization (calibration) mark printed at the start of the tracing should measure:

   • A.20 mm tall and 10 small boxes wide
   • B.5 mm tall, 1 small box wide
   • C.1 mm tall, 2 large boxes wide
   • D.10 mm tall, two large boxes high

   Answer: D. A 1 mV calibration pulse at 10 mm/mV draws a mark 10 mm (two large boxes) tall. Its width varies by machine and only reflects paper speed; a 5 mm tall mark means the gain was set to half standard, and a 20 mm mark means double gain.

3. 3. During a 12-lead, the QRS complexes in V2 through V4 are so tall they run into the leads above and below. The technician should:

   • A.Set gain to 5 mm/mV and note it
   • B.Set paper speed to 50 mm/s
   • C.Trim the tall complexes when mounting
   • D.Move V2 through V4 one space lower

   Answer: A. Halving the gain to 5 mm/mV shrinks the complexes to fit, and the half-height standardization mark documents the change. Faster paper speed widens complexes but does not shorten them, and moving electrodes creates a nonstandard tracing.

4. 4. A technician switches paper speed to 50 mm/s to separate the waves of a very fast rhythm. At this speed, each small box represents:

   • A.0.08 second
   • B.0.04 second, as at standard speed
   • C.0.02 second
   • D.0.20 second

   Answer: C. Doubling the speed spreads the same time over twice the paper, so 1 mm equals 0.04 / 2 = 0.02 s. Assuming the usual 0.04 s would double every interval, so the speed change must be labeled on the tracing.

5. 5. A clinic is choosing where to store its boxes of thermal EKG paper. Which location best protects future tracings from fading?

   • A.On top of the warm EKG machine
   • B.Next to the autoclave in the supply room
   • C.A cool, dark, dry cabinet
   • D.A shelf beside a sunny window

   Answer: C. Thermal paper darkens or fades with heat and light, so it is kept cool, dry, and out of light. Storing it on the machine seems convenient, but the machine's warmth degrades the paper.

6. 6. A technician finishes a 12-lead and removes the electrodes. Before the next patient, the lead wires and clips should be:

   • A.Wiped with an approved disinfectant
   • B.Cleaned only when visibly soiled
   • C.Rinsed under hot running water
   • D.Autoclaved weekly

   Answer: A. Cables and the machine are disinfected between every patient with an approved wipe per the manufacturer. Waiting for visible soiling allows pathogen transfer, and soaking or autoclaving can damage the cables.

7. 7. Using the AHA color code, a technician picks up the red lead wire. Where does it attach?

   • A.Right arm
   • B.Right leg (ground)
   • C.Left arm
   • D.Left leg

   Answer: D. In the AHA system RA is white, LA black, RL green, LL red, and chest leads brown. Red belongs on the right arm only in the IEC (European) code, a common mix-up.

8. 8. While restocking the EKG cart, a technician finds a pouch of electrodes past its expiration date with gel that feels dry. The technician should:

   • A.Use them on short tracings only
   • B.Discard them and open a fresh pack
   • C.Moisten the gel with water first
   • D.Add extra tape to hold them on

   Answer: B. Expired or dried gel conducts poorly and causes a wandering baseline and poor contact, so the electrodes are discarded. Wetting the gel with water does not restore the conductive adhesive.

9. 9. The machine completes its power-on self-test, and the technician enters the patient's name, date of birth, and ID number. What else should be entered?

   • A.The patient's insurance carrier and group
   • B.Current medications such as digoxin
   • C.The technician's diagnosis
   • D.The patient's home phone number

   Answer: B. Medications such as digoxin and beta blockers change the tracing, so they are entered for the reader along with date and time. Technicians do not diagnose, and insurance details do not belong on the tracing.

10. 10. A patient arrives with body lotion on the chest. Before applying the electrodes, the technician should:

    • A.Press the electrodes firmly over the lotion
    • B.Wipe with a dry towel only
    • C.Apply extra gel over the lotion
    • D.Clean with alcohol, dry, lightly abrade

    Answer: D. Alcohol removes oil and lotion, drying prevents poor adhesion, and light abrasion removes dead skin to improve contact. Extra gel or firm pressure over lotion still leaves a barrier that causes artifact.