NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) practice quiz

Question 1

Which type of precaution requires a healthcare worker to wear a gown, gloves, mask, and eye protection when entering a patient's room?

Accepted Answer

Transmission-based precautions

Answer

Standard precautions only

Answer

Contact precautions only

Answer

Droplet precautions only

Question 2

Under HIPAA, a patient's blood test results can be shared with which of the following without additional patient authorization?

Accepted Answer

The patient's treating physician

Answer

The patient's employer

Answer

A friend of the patient who asks at the front desk

Answer

A coworker not involved in the patient's care

Question 3

Which order of draw is correct for a routine venipuncture using evacuated tubes?

Accepted Answer

Blood culture, coagulation tube, SST, heparin, EDTA, glycolytic inhibitor

Answer

SST, EDTA, blood culture, glycolytic inhibitor, heparin

Answer

Coagulation tube, EDTA, blood culture, SST, glycolytic inhibitor

Answer

EDTA, SST, coagulation tube, blood culture, heparin

Question 4

What color top does a tube containing EDTA have?

Accepted Answer

Lavender

Answer

Green

Answer

Red

Answer

Light blue

Question 5

What is the primary purpose of applying a tourniquet before venipuncture?

Accepted Answer

To distend the veins by restricting venous blood flow

Answer

To numb the skin around the puncture site, so the patient feels less pain at insertion

Answer

To clean the skin before needle insertion, by pressing the antiseptic into the surface

Answer

To increase arterial blood flow, which makes the vein larger and the draw faster

Question 6

A phlebotomist finds that the physician's order is for a fasting lipid panel, but the patient ate breakfast. What should the phlebotomist do?

Accepted Answer

Notify the ordering physician and do not draw the fasting specimen

Answer

Draw the specimen anyway and note the non-fasting status on the tube

Answer

Proceed with the draw since the lab can adjust for fasting status

Answer

Ask the patient to come back tomorrow without giving any notice to the physician

Question 7

OSHA requires employers to offer the Hepatitis B vaccine to employees with occupational exposure. Within what timeframe must the vaccine be offered?

Accepted Answer

Within 10 working days of initial assignment

Answer

Within 24 hours of hire

Answer

Only after an exposure incident occurs

Answer

Once per year during annual health screenings

Question 8

A phlebotomist is drawing from an antecubital vein and the patient reports tingling and numbness in the hand. What is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The needle has contacted or entered a nerve

Answer

The needle gauge is too large for the patient's vein

Answer

The blood is flowing too quickly into the tube

Answer

The tourniquet is too tight and restricting arterial flow

Question 9

A phlebotomist sustained a needlestick injury from a patient who later tests positive for HIV. Which of the following is NOT a recommended component of the post-exposure evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Testing the phlebotomist's baseline hepatitis A antibody titer

Answer

Testing the source patient's blood for HIV, HBV and HCV, with their consent where required

Answer

Evaluating and counseling the exposed employee

Answer

Documenting the circumstances of the exposure incident

Question 10

A patient wears a red "restricted extremity" band on the left arm after a mastectomy. The order is for routine labs. What should the phlebotomist do?

Accepted Answer

Draw from the right arm with a routine venipuncture

Answer

Draw from the left arm, since the band is only a reminder

Answer

Draw from the left hand instead of the forearm

Answer

Refuse the draw until the surgeon is reached

Question 11

An SST tube is centrifuged before complete clot formation has occurred. What artifact will appear in the resulting serum sample?

Accepted Answer

Fibrin strands or micro-clots that can interfere with automated analyzer probes

Answer

No effect on the sample, since the gel barrier keeps the serum clear and free of clots

Answer

Complete hemolysis of all red blood cells, which makes the serum appear bright red

Answer

A falsely low potassium result, since the cells absorb the potassium in the specimen

Question 12

A physician orders a CBC with differential and blood cultures. Which tube is drawn first in the order of draw?

Accepted Answer

Blood culture bottle

Answer

Red-top serum tube

Answer

Green-top heparin tube

Answer

Lavender-top EDTA tube

Question 13

What is the minimum handwashing time with soap and water in CDC hand-hygiene guidance for healthcare workers?

Accepted Answer

At least 15 seconds

Answer

At least 5 seconds

Answer

Exactly 2 minutes

Answer

At least 5 minutes

Question 14

A green-top tube contains which anticoagulant?

Accepted Answer

Heparin

Answer

Sodium citrate

Answer

Sodium fluoride

Answer

EDTA

Question 15

When preparing a venipuncture site for blood culture collection, which antiseptic is the preferred first-line agent for skin preparation?

Accepted Answer

70% isopropyl alcohol followed by chlorhexidine gluconate

Answer

Povidone-iodine applied with a circular scrub motion, and allowed to dry for thirty seconds

Answer

70% isopropyl alcohol alone, wiped once and allowed to dry before the needle is inserted

Answer

Hydrogen peroxide followed by a dry gauze, which removes surface bacteria before the draw

Question 16

How should a phlebotomist identify an inpatient before drawing blood?

Accepted Answer

Have the patient state name and birth date, then match wristband and requisition

Answer

Check the name on the door sign, since it is updated with each new admission

Answer

Ask a coworker who recognizes the patient to confirm the name before the draw

Answer

Confirm the room number and bed position only, since inpatients cannot change rooms

Question 17

Which vein is the preferred first-choice site for routine adult venipuncture?

Accepted Answer

The median cubital vein in the antecubital fossa

Answer

A small dorsal hand vein as the first choice, since these veins are easy to see

Answer

A leg or foot vein before trying the arm, since these are rarely affected by shock

Answer

The basilic vein near the brachial artery, since it is the largest vein in the arm

Question 18

At what angle and bevel orientation should the needle enter the skin for routine venipuncture?

Accepted Answer

15 to 30 degrees with the bevel facing up

Answer

Straight down at 90 degrees into the arm

Answer

Parallel to the skin with the bevel sideways

Answer

45 degrees with the bevel facing downward

Question 19

Which evacuated tube is appropriate when the order calls for serum rather than plasma?

Accepted Answer

Red-top serum tube

Answer

Light blue citrate tube

Answer

Lavender-top EDTA tube

Answer

Green-top heparin tube

Question 20

A nervous outpatient hesitates before a blood draw. What is the best response?

Accepted Answer

Explain the draw, confirm consent, and answer questions calmly

Answer

Skip the explanation to save time

Answer

Have coworkers hold the patient still, so the draw can be done before the patient leaves

Answer

Proceed even though the patient says no, since the order is signed by the physician

Question 21

Where should a heel stick be performed on a newborn?

Accepted Answer

Puncture the medial or lateral plantar heel under 2 mm deep

Answer

Puncture the posterior heel directly over the bone, since the skin is thinnest there

Answer

Collect the sample from the earlobe, since it is less painful than the foot

Answer

Use the infant's middle finger as the first choice, since it is easy to reach

Question 22

Which needle gauge is standard for routine adult venipuncture?

Accepted Answer

21-gauge needle for routine adult antecubital venipuncture

Answer

16-gauge needle for every adult draw, since a larger bore makes blood flow more quickly

Answer

Butterfly set for every antecubital draw

Answer

25-gauge needle for all routine collections, since a smaller bore causes less pain

Question 23

Which finding requires rejection of a chemistry specimen for hemolysis?

Accepted Answer

Pink or red discoloration of serum or plasma

Answer

Clearly printed barcoded labels, since the lab can scan them only when they are legible

Answer

Tubes that feel slightly warm from handling, since heat damages the cells in the sample

Answer

A small clot visible in a serum tube, since clots are caused by hemolysis in the tube

Question 24

What PPE is required to draw blood from a patient in airborne precautions for tuberculosis?

Accepted Answer

Fit-tested N95 respirator with eye protection

Answer

A surgical mask alone without eye protection, since it blocks airborne particles

Answer

No special precautions for a stable patient

Answer

Gloves alone with no respiratory protection

Question 25

A patient arrives for a glucose tolerance test after eating breakfast. What should the phlebotomist do?

Accepted Answer

Confirm the required fast was completed before starting the test

Answer

Note the meal but run the test anyway, since glucose is only mildly affected by food

Answer

Give the patient a glass of water first, since it removes the effect of the breakfast

Answer

Draw immediately even though the patient just ate, since the physician can adjust the result

Question 26

Why must some specimens be protected from light during transport?

Accepted Answer

Bilirubin and other light-sensitive analytes degrading

Answer

Clotting stopping completely in daylight, which prevents the specimen from being tested

Answer

Red cells multiplying rapidly in sunlight, which increases the cell count in the sample

Answer

EDTA losing potency under fluorescent light, which allows the specimen to clot in the tube

Question 27

A CBC is ordered. Which tube color and additive are correct?

Accepted Answer

Lavender-top tubes contain EDTA for hematology tests

Answer

Light blue-top tubes contain sodium citrate for hematology tests

Answer

Green-top tubes contain heparin for hematology tests

Answer

Gray-top tubes contain sodium fluoride for hematology tests

Question 28

Which additive is required in the light blue-top tube?

Accepted Answer

Sodium citrate at a 9:1 blood-to-additive ratio

Answer

Sodium fluoride with potassium oxalate

Answer

Lithium heparin regardless of ratio

Answer

Potassium EDTA in any fill volume

Question 29

Which signs warn that a patient is about to faint during venipuncture?

Accepted Answer

Pale sweaty skin with nausea and lightheadedness

Answer

Hives, itching, and wheezing after antiseptic use

Answer

Rapid localized swelling at the puncture site

Answer

Electric pain shooting into the fingers

Question 30

When may a phlebotomist use alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead of soap and water?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol sanitizer when hands are not visibly soiled

Answer

Skip hand hygiene whenever gloves will be worn

Answer

Use soap and water only and never sanitizer

Answer

Use sanitizer only when hands are visibly bloody

Question 31

Which equipment choice suits elderly patients with fragile veins?

Accepted Answer

Small-gauge butterfly with gentle draw pressure

Answer

A large-bore needle for faster filling

Answer

Tourniquet left on for several minutes

Answer

Forceful syringe suction to save time

Question 32

When should a trough drug level be collected?

Accepted Answer

Draw trough specimens just before the next dose

Answer

Delay the draw until hours after dosing

Answer

Collect levels at any random convenient hour

Answer

Measure only peak levels after infusion

Question 33

Why is the basilic vein a last choice in the antecubital fossa?

Accepted Answer

It lies near the brachial artery and the median nerve

Answer

It is usually too small to fill evacuated tubes

Answer

It has valves that block needle entry

Answer

Its blood contains more tissue fluid than other veins

Question 34

Which finger is preferred for adult capillary puncture?

Accepted Answer

The middle or ring finger of the non-dominant hand

Answer

The index finger of the dominant hand

Answer

The thumb of the dominant hand

Answer

Either earlobe, whichever is easier to reach

Question 35

How many inversions does a serum separator tube require?

Accepted Answer

Invert SST tubes gently five times

Answer

Shake SST tubes violently for mixing

Answer

Skip mixing for SST tubes entirely

Answer

Invert SST tubes thirty times forcefully

Question 36

How many identifiers are required before specimen collection?

Accepted Answer

Two identifiers such as name and date of birth

Answer

Patient name alone is sufficient

Answer

Room and bed numbers alone

Answer

Visual recognition without questions

Question 37

During a skin puncture, an EDTA microcollection container and a serum container are both ordered. Which is filled first?

Accepted Answer

The EDTA container, then the serum one

Answer

The serum container, then the EDTA one

Answer

Either container, in no set order

Answer

Both at once from the same blood drop

Question 38

How is a fainting patient positioned?

Accepted Answer

Supine with the legs elevated

Answer

Head between knees while seated

Answer

Sitting bolt upright in the chair

Answer

Standing up with the arms raised

Question 39

Which collection practice is most likely to cause hemolysis and ruin chemistry specimens?

Accepted Answer

Forcing blood rapidly through a small-gauge needle or shaking tubes vigorously

Answer

Allowing alcohol to air-dry fully before the venipuncture is performed

Answer

Using the recommended needle gauge with gentle tube inversions after collection

Answer

Releasing the tourniquet promptly after blood flow begins in the first tube

Question 40

Why do glucose tubes contain fluoride?

Accepted Answer

Fluoride blocks glycolysis for accuracy

Answer

EDTA preserves glucose better than fluoride

Answer

Heparin fully stops red cells using glucose

Answer

Serum preserves glucose for several days