Free ETA Biomedical Electronics Technician (BMD) certification exam Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the ETA Biomedical Electronics Technician (BMD) certification exam practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1What distinguishes microshock from macroshock in medical electrical safety?

   1. A.Current is delivered directly to cardiac muscle.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Low current enters the body through external skin contacts.
   3. C.High current enters the body through external skin contacts.
   4. D.Current heats the skin at an external contact point.

   Explanation: The guide states, "the term microshock is used to describe direct shocks to the cardiac muscle." The defining distinction is direct cardiac exposure. External skin paths describe macroshock even when the current is small; contact heating does not define microshock.

   Reference: Introduction to Electrical Safety Testing: Part I — Page 1, physiological effects

2. 2What conversion occurs at a biopotential electrode connecting tissue to an electronic recording instrument?

   1. A.Electronic current in tissue becomes ionic current in the wire.
   2. B.Ionic current flows through both tissue and the metal wire.
   3. C.Ionic current in tissue becomes electronic current in the wire.Correct answer: C
   4. D.Electronic current flows through both tissue and the metal wire.

   Explanation: ADI states that the electrode "converts the ion current to electron current." The interface connects ionic tissue conduction to electronic conduction in the metal; reversing the direction or assigning one conduction carrier to both media misstates the interface.

   Reference: Biopotential Electrode Sensors in ECG/EEG/EMG Systems — Introduction, biopotential electrode

3. 3Which IPv4 configuration value determines whether a destination belongs to the local subnet?

   1. A.The default gateway address
   2. B.The subnet maskCorrect answer: B
   3. C.The preferred DNS server
   4. D.The TCP destination port

   Explanation: Microsoft states, "The subnet mask is used by the TCP/IP protocol to determine whether a host is on the local subnet or on a remote network." A gateway provides a next hop, DNS resolves names, and a TCP port identifies an application endpoint; these do not divide network and host bits.

   Reference: Understand TCP/IP addressing and subnetting basics — Subnet mask

4. 4Which lost kidney function is directly replaced by hemodialysis?

   1. A.Producing erythropoietin to stimulate red-cell formation
   2. B.Activating vitamin D for calcium regulation
   3. C.Filtering wastes and excess water from the bloodCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Secreting renin to participate in blood-pressure control

   Explanation: NIDDK states, "Hemodialysis is a treatment to filter wastes and water from your blood". The treatment directly replaces filtration and fluid removal; the other options describe kidney endocrine functions rather than the machine’s replacement function.

   Reference: Hemodialysis — Hemodialysis, introductory definition

5. 5What type of physical energy is used in medical X-ray imaging?

   1. A.High-frequency acoustic pressure waves
   2. B.Electromagnetic radiationCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Static magnetic flux without radiation
   4. D.Mechanical surface vibrations

   Explanation: NIBIB states, "X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation". Acoustic waves and mechanical vibrations describe different phenomena, while a static magnetic field is not the transmitted X-ray beam.

   Reference: Medical X-rays — What are medical X-rays?

6. 6A technician needs the distance to individual loss events along a long, inaccessible optical-fiber link. Which instrument supplies a trace of those events?

   1. A.An optical time-domain reflectometerCorrect answer: A
   2. B.A visual fault locator
   3. C.A stand-alone optical power meter
   4. D.A light-source and power-meter loss test set

   Explanation: Fluke states that an OTDR measures "the location, loss and characteristics of individual events". A VFL relies on visible escaping light, while power-meter and loss-set measurements do not locate individual events along an inaccessible link.

   Reference: White Paper: Troubleshooting Fiber — Advanced Troubleshooting with Optical Time Domain Reflectometers (OTDR)

7. 7Which reprocessing step removes soil that could interfere with subsequent sterilization of reusable surgical equipment?

   1. A.Applying sterilization indicator tape
   2. B.Wrapping the instrument for storage
   3. C.Testing the sterilizer’s biological indicator
   4. D.Thorough cleaning before sterilizationCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: CDC states, "Thorough cleaning is essential before high-level disinfection and sterilization". Residual organic and inorganic material interferes with those processes; packaging or indicator checks do not replace soil removal.

   Reference: Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008 — Definition of Terms, Cleaning

8. 8Which blood component primarily delivers oxygen from the lungs to tissues?

   1. A.Platelets
   2. B.Red blood cellsCorrect answer: B
   3. C.White blood cells
   4. D.Plasma proteins

   Explanation: MedlinePlus states, "Red blood cells (RBC) deliver oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and organs." White cells chiefly defend against infection, while platelets support clotting.

   Reference: Blood — Summary—blood cell functions

9. 9On an IntelliVue H.0 monitor, ECG Fallback is On. In single-lead analysis, the primary lead has a LEAD OFF INOP for more than 10 seconds and another lead is available. What happens?

   1. A.The monitor waits for the failed lead without changing its primary lead
   2. B.The available lead becomes the primary leadCorrect answer: B
   3. C.The failed lead remains primary but its LEAD OFF indication is cleared
   4. D.The monitor disables ECG and uses only a pulse-rate source for analysis

   Explanation: The guide states that the available lead "automatically becomes the primary lead." This lead fallback uses a remaining valid ECG lead; it does not hide a failed connection, wait without switching, or replace valid ECG analysis with pulse-only monitoring.

   Reference: IntelliVue Patient Monitor Configuration Guide — ECG Configuration Implications—Fallback, p. 37

10. 10For ideal op-amp analysis, what input-current assumption is made at the two input terminals?

    1. A.Equal nonzero currents flow into both inputs
    2. B.The input currents equal the output current
    3. C.Current enters only the inverting input
    4. D.No current flows into either inputCorrect answer: D

    Explanation: TI assumes input current is "zero." This is an ideal-model assumption, not a guarantee that every practical amplifier has zero bias current.

    Reference: Understanding Basic Analog – Ideal Op Amps — Introduction—ideal assumptions, p. 2