Certified EkG technician (CET) Practice Exam

What function should an EKG technician utilize to control and regulate the height of EKG waveforms on the tracing?

1. Speed

2. Gain

3. Voltage

4. Amplitude

The correct answer is: Gain

The ability to control and regulate the height of EKG waveforms on the tracing is accomplished through the gain setting. Gain refers to the amplification of the electrical signals produced by the heart, which directly influences how tall or short the waveforms appear on the EKG printout. By adjusting the gain, an EKG technician can ensure that the waveforms are clearly visible and within the optimal range for analysis. Using appropriate gain settings is crucial for accurate interpretation of the EKG; too low a gain can result in faint waveforms that may be difficult to read, while too high a gain can cause the waveforms to exceed the paper's margins, making it hard to analyze the entire tracing effectively. Therefore, using gain appropriately allows the EKG technician to produce a clear and diagnostic EKG recording. Other functionalities mentioned, such as speed, voltage, and amplitude, do not specifically address the height of the EKG waveform. Speed affects the rate at which the EKG paper moves, which influences time measurements but not height. Voltage refers to the electrical potential that generates the heart signals but is not a direct manipulation on the EKG tracing itself, while amplitude is often used synonymously with height but is not the term used in this context for regulation