Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

In the context of dialysis, the term "solvent" refers to the medium in which solutes are dissolved and can pass through a semipermeable membrane. The correct answer, treated water, is integral to the hemodialysis process because it serves as the primary solvent that dilutes the dialysate and helps to facilitate the removal of waste products from the blood.

Treated water is used to create the dialysate, which is formulated to have specific concentrations of electrolytes that promote the diffusion of toxins and excess fluids from the blood into the dialysate. This process allows for effective detoxification of the patient's blood during the dialysis treatment.

In comparison, while dialysate itself is composed of treated water mixed with solutes, it is not solely a solvent but rather a solution facilitating the dialysis process. Blood contains the waste products that need to be filtered out but does not act as a solvent in this context. Sodium chloride is an electrolyte used in the composition of dialysate but does not function as a solvent either. Understanding the role of treated water as a solvent in dialysis is key in recognizing how waste removal and fluid balance are achieved during the procedure.