AAMA Phlebotomy and Specimen Collection 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the FIRST action after accidental needlestick injury during phlebotomy?
- Complete an incident report
- Notify the supervisor
- Wash the site thoroughly with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Apply a tourniquet above the puncture site
Correct answer: Wash the site thoroughly with soap and water
Immediately washing the wound with soap and water for several minutes is the first step to reduce pathogen transmission risk.
Question 2: Which of the following is a pre-analytical error that can cause hemolysis in a blood specimen?
- Improper centrifuge settings in the lab
- Using too large a syringe with too much suction force (Correct answer)
- Delayed processing at room temperature
- Labeling the tube after centrifugation
Correct answer: Using too large a syringe with too much suction force
Applying excessive vacuum or suction can rupture red blood cells, causing hemolysis before the sample reaches the lab.
Question 3: A patient is on anticoagulant therapy. Which finding during venipuncture site assessment would require the MOST caution?
- Visible veins at the antecubital fossa
- Petechiae on the forearm (Correct answer)
- Warm skin temperature
- A history of anxiety
Correct answer: Petechiae on the forearm
Petechiae indicate capillary fragility or a bleeding/clotting disorder, requiring extra pressure after puncture and careful technique.
Question 4: Why must the skin be allowed to fully dry after antiseptic cleansing before venipuncture?
- To prevent specimen contamination with alcohol (Correct answer)
- To reduce patient discomfort
- To allow veins to dilate
- To improve adhesion of the bandage
Correct answer: To prevent specimen contamination with alcohol
Residual alcohol can hemolyze red blood cells and contaminate certain analytes, particularly blood alcohol levels.
Question 5: Which specimen type is collected to perform a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) trough level?
- Specimen drawn just before the next scheduled dose (Correct answer)
- Specimen drawn 1 hour after dose administration
- Specimen drawn at peak absorption time
- Random specimen at any time
Correct answer: Specimen drawn just before the next scheduled dose
A trough level is the lowest drug concentration, drawn immediately before the next dose to assess minimum effective levels.
Question 6: When collecting a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity, which collection method minimizes contamination?
- Random catch in a standard cup
- Midstream clean-catch technique (Correct answer)
- Catheter bag drainage specimen
- First-morning void into a non-sterile container
Correct answer: Midstream clean-catch technique
The midstream clean-catch method reduces contamination from periurethral flora, yielding more accurate culture results.
Question 7: Which of the following blood collection systems uses a vacuum-assisted tube and is the standard for most clinical labs?
- Syringe and transfer device
- Evacuated tube system (ETS) (Correct answer)
- Butterfly with open collection
- Lancet capillary system
Correct answer: Evacuated tube system (ETS)
The evacuated tube system (ETS) uses pre-measured vacuum in color-coded tubes and is the standard method for most adult venipuncture.
AAMA Phlebotomy and Specimen Collection 3
What is the FIRST action after accidental needlestick injury during phlebotomy?