Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) Practice Exam

What could cause artifact on the monitor during body box testing?

1. Improper calibration of the device

2. Patient's jaw movement

3. Previous patient data still in the system

4. External environmental factors

The correct answer is: Patient's jaw movement

Artifact on the monitor during body box testing can be caused by various factors, and one prominent reason is the patient's jaw movement. When a patient moves their jaw, it can create fluctuations in the measured parameters, leading to inaccuracies in the results displayed on the monitor. This movement can disrupt the airflow patterns and pressure measurements that the body box relies on to assess lung volumes and capacities, thereby generating misleading data or artifacts in the readings. Other choices, while potentially problematic, do not primarily fit the context of producing artifacts during the test in the same direct manner. Improper calibration affects accuracy but does not create artifacts in real-time monitoring as jaw movement does. Previous patient data could cause confusion or incorrect readings but wouldn’t necessarily produce visible artifacts. Lastly, external environmental factors might influence the testing conditions but are less likely to create the same immediate and direct artifacts seen from patient movement. Understanding these nuances helps in recognizing the importance of patient stillness during respiratory assessments.