Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) Practice Exam

The primary purpose of a desiccant in a pulmonary function test (PFT) machine is to remove moisture from the air or gas samples that are being analyzed. Maintaining the correct level of humidity is crucial for accurate measurements in pulmonary function tests. Excess moisture can affect the performance of the equipment and lead to erroneous readings by altering the specific contributions of gases present in the sample. By using a desiccant, the system ensures that the air being analyzed is dry, allowing for more accurate assessments of lung function and gas exchange. In this context, the other options are not relevant to the primary utility of the desiccant; cooling, CO2 absorption, and oxygen provision are functions associated with different components or systems within medical technology but do not pertain to the desiccant's role in a PFT machine.