Certified EkG technician (CET) Practice Exam

Which lead should a technician place on the right lower side of the anterior torso during an exercise test?

1. Lead 1

2. Lead 3

3. Lead RL

4. Lead aVF

The correct answer is: Lead RL

During an exercise test, the placement of the electrocardiogram leads is crucial for obtaining accurate readings of the heart's electrical activity. The lead placed on the right lower side of the anterior torso is designated as the right leg (RL) electrode. This electrode serves as a reference point for the EKG and helps to reduce noise and artifacts in the recording caused by muscle movement and electrical interference. The right leg lead plays an important role in completing the EKG circuit, providing a ground reference that ensures the resultant data reflects primarily the heart's electrical activity rather than movement or other electrical signals. This is particularly important during an exercise test, where patients may be moving significantly, and muscle activity could otherwise interfere with the readings. Each of the other options relates to different leads that are not placed in the right lower region specifically for this purpose. Thus, the right leg lead is the appropriate choice for this scenario, ensuring that the technician collects clear and accurate heart activity readings throughout the exercise test.