Free ARRT Nuclear Medicine Technology Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the ARRT Nuclear Medicine Technology Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Before a nuclear medicine patient leaves, the technologist wants to verify that the patient can follow the preparation instructions for tomorrow. Which request best uses teach-back?

   1. A.Please explain in your own words how you will prepare tomorrow.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Please repeat the instructions exactly as they appear on this sheet.
   3. C.Please confirm that the written instructions seem clear to you.
   4. D.Please tell me whether you have received these instructions before.

   Explanation: The source states, "In a teach-back, you ask the patient or family caregiver to explain the information they need to know or actions they need to take, in their own words." The patient's own explanation demonstrates understanding rather than verbatim repetition, agreement or prior exposure.

   Reference: AHRQ TeamSTEPPS: Teach-Back — Tool: Teach-Back, opening paragraph

2. 2An adult technologist works at an NRC-licensed nuclear medicine facility. Excluding planned special exposures, what is the annual total effective dose equivalent limit used in controlling this worker's occupational exposure?

   1. A.5 mSv
   2. B.15 mSv
   3. C.50 mSvCorrect answer: C
   4. D.150 mSv

   Explanation: The source states: "The total effective dose equivalent being equal to 5 rems (0.05 Sv); or" 0.05 Sv equals 50 mSv. This is an occupational limit, while ALARA requires efforts to keep actual doses below limits.

   Reference: 10 CFR Part 20 — Standards for Protection Against Radiation — § 20.1201(a)(1)(i)

3. 3Before dispensing today's doses, a technologist measures the same long-lived reference source in the dose calibrator using the same geometry as yesterday. What performance characteristic is this primarily checking?

   1. A.Linearity across activities
   2. B.Constancy of responseCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Volume dependence
   4. D.Background subtraction

   Explanation: The source states: "activity reading on each scale recorded; day to day readings should agree within 10%." The reference source provides a stable repeated measurement for constancy. Comparing day-to-day readings checks reproducibility, rather than activity-range linearity or changing-volume response.

   Reference: IAEA Nuclear Medicine Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students — § 10.5.3, pp. 307–309

4. 4At administration time, a Tc-99m preparation contains 40 mCi of Tc-99m. Under the NRC molybdenum-breakthrough limit, what is the maximum Mo-99 activity permitted in this preparation?

   1. A.0.006 µCi
   2. B.0.6 µCi
   3. C.6 µCiCorrect answer: C
   4. D.6000 µCi

   Explanation: The source states: "0.15 microcurie of molybdenum-99 per millicurie of technetium-99m" 40 mCi × 0.15 µCi/mCi = 6 µCi. Converting the Tc activity to curies but retaining the per-mCi factor gives 0.006; an extra decimal shift gives 0.6; treating the factor as mCi/mCi gives 6000 µCi.

   Reference: 10 CFR Part 35 — Medical Use of Byproduct Material — § 35.204(a)(1)

5. 5A technologist calls the supervising clinician: "The patient has developed acute shortness of breath during imaging." In an SBAR handoff, which element does this statement provide?

   1. A.Background
   2. B.Assessment
   3. C.SituationCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Recommendation

   Explanation: The source states, "Situation states what is currently happening with the patient." The statement reports the current problem, rather than relevant history, an interpretation of its cause or a requested action.

   Reference: AHRQ TeamSTEPPS: SBAR — Using SBAR effectively, Situation

6. 6When a technologist declares a pregnancy, the estimated embryo/fetus occupational dose is already 4.8 mSv. Under NRC rules, what is the maximum additional embryo/fetus dose allowed during the remainder of that pregnancy?

   1. A.0.2 mSv
   2. B.0.5 mSvCorrect answer: B
   3. C.1.0 mSv
   4. D.5.0 mSv

   Explanation: The source states: "If the dose equivalent to the embryo/fetus is found to have exceeded 0.5 rem (5 mSv), or is within 0.05 rem (0.5 mSv) of this dose, by the time the woman declares the pregnancy to the licensee, the licensee shall be deemed to be in compliance with paragraph (a) of this section if the additional dose equivalent to the embryo/fetus does not exceed 0.05 rem (0.5 mSv) during the remainder of the pregnancy." The special declaration provision applies because 4.8 mSv is within 0.5 mSv of 5 mSv. It permits at most another 0.5 mSv, rather than simply subtracting 4.8 from 5.

   Reference: 10 CFR Part 20 — Standards for Protection Against Radiation — § 20.1208(d)

7. 7A dose calibrator must be checked for proportional response from high to low activity. Which procedure directly evaluates that property?

   1. A.Repeat a fixed source measurement each morning.
   2. B.Count an empty sample vial at each energy setting.
   3. C.Measure a decaying source through a broad activity range.Correct answer: C
   4. D.Change the volume while keeping total activity fixed.

   Explanation: The IAEA states: "The quarterly check of linearity by the so-called ‘decay method’ begins with a high activity (~37 Gbq), independently calibrated 99mTc source and its activity is assayed at 12 h intervals over three consecutive days." The decay method tests linearity over activity. Fixed-source constancy, background, and volume-response measurements test other properties.

   Reference: IAEA Nuclear Medicine Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students — p. 309 — dose-calibrator linearity by the decay method

8. 8An NRC-licensed department elutes its Mo-99/Tc-99m generator three times in one day. Which eluates require Mo-99 concentration measurement under § 35.204(b)?

   1. A.Only the first eluate of the day
   2. B.Only the final eluate of the day
   3. C.Only an eluate after a failed purity test
   4. D.Each eluate from the generatorCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: The source states: "A licensee that uses molybdenum-99/technetium-99m generators for preparing a technetium-99m radiopharmaceutical shall measure the molybdenum-99 concentration in each eluate from a generator" Each eluate must be tested. A less frequent practice described in an older general manual does not replace this applicable NRC requirement.

   Reference: 10 CFR Part 35 — Medical Use of Byproduct Material — § 35.204(b)

9. 9An alert adult with diabetes becomes shaky while waiting for a scan. Capillary glucose is 58 mg/dL, and the patient can swallow safely. Under the NIDDK initial treatment guidance, which amount of oral glucose or carbohydrate should be given?

   1. A.5–10 grams
   2. B.15–20 gramsCorrect answer: B
   3. C.30–40 grams
   4. D.45–60 grams

   Explanation: The source states, "Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrates right away." The patient is alert and able to take oral treatment; 15–20 grams is the recommended initial amount, followed by reassessment.

   Reference: NIDDK: Low Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia) — How do I treat low blood glucose?

10. 10A corridor outside an NRC-licensed hot laboratory is an unrestricted area. Radiation there comes from stored sources, not released patients. What is the maximum dose from external sources permitted in any one hour under § 20.1301(a)(2)?

    1. A.0.002 mSv
    2. B.0.02 mSvCorrect answer: B
    3. C.0.2 mSv
    4. D.2 mSv

    Explanation: The source states: "The dose in any unrestricted area from external sources, exclusive of the dose contributions from patients administered radioactive material and released in accordance with § 35.75, does not exceed 0.002 rem (0.02 millisievert) in any one hour." The applicable limit is 0.02 mSv in any one hour; an annual limit cannot substitute for this hourly restriction.

    Reference: 10 CFR Part 20 — Standards for Protection Against Radiation — § 20.1301(a)(2)