Dialysate with high conductivity will cause ______ and low conductivity will cause ________.

Study for the FMC Patient Care Technician (PCT) Test. Equip yourself with essential knowledge through flashcards and multiple choice questions, each accompanied by hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Dialysate with high conductivity typically indicates a higher concentration of solutes, such as electrolytes, which can lead to a hypertonic environment when it interacts with red blood cells. This hypertonic solution draws water out of the cells, resulting in crenation, which is the process of cell shrinkage and distortion. Hence, high conductivity of dialysate causes crenation.

On the other hand, low conductivity in dialysate suggests a lower concentration of solutes, creating a hypotonic environment. In this situation, water will move into the red blood cells, leading to swelling and possibly hemolysis, which is the rupture of the cells. Therefore, low conductivity in the dialysate aligns with hemolysis.

This reasoning clarifies why the correct answer accurately describes the physiological responses of red blood cells to varying conductivity levels of dialysate.

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