If the conductivity alarm test fails during machine setup, what action should the technician take?

• A. Recalibrate the conductivity test
• B. Notify the equipment technician
• C. Continue with setup
• D. Restart the machine

Answer: (B)

When a conductivity alarm test fails during setup, you must stop and notify the equipment technician. Safety relies on the alarm functioning properly to ensure the dialysate conductivity stays within safe limits. A failure suggests a sensor, wiring, or calibration issue that could lead to delivering incorrect dialysate if not addressed. A trained technician needs to inspect, recalibrate if appropriate, or repair the sensor and verify the test passes before proceeding. Recalibrating or continuing without fixing the fault could compromise patient safety, so escalation to the right technical staff is the correct action.