Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) Practice exam

The angiogram is considered the "gold standard" for determining the presence of coronary artery disease because it provides direct visualization of the coronary arteries. During an angiogram, a contrast dye is injected into the coronary arteries, and X-ray images are taken to assess blood flow and identify any blockages or narrowing of the arteries. This method is highly accurate and allows for immediate evaluation of coronary artery disease.

The other options, while useful in their own right, do not offer the same level of precision. The thallium stress test uses a radioactive tracer to assess blood flow to the heart muscle during stress, but it is indirect and can result in false positives or negatives. The exercise stress test evaluates how the heart performs under physical stress but similarly does not provide a direct view of the coronary arteries. The MUGA scan, which assesses the heart's function by imaging the blood pool, focuses on cardiac function rather than the presence of blockages in the coronary arteries.