Phlebotomy and Specimen Collection Flashcards
6 cards from real CCMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Phlebotomy and Specimen Collection flashcards as text
The correct order of draw when using evacuated tubes begins with which tube?
Answer: Blood culture bottles
Blood culture bottles are drawn first in the order of draw because they require the most sterile, uncontaminated sample.
A patient is a 'difficult stick.' Which of the following actions is appropriate?
Answer: Attempt venipuncture no more than 2 times before requesting assistance
Standard practice limits venipuncture attempts to 2 per phlebotomist before requesting a more experienced colleague to prevent patient injury and distress.
What is the purpose of inverting blood collection tubes after filling?
Answer: To mix the additive with the blood to prevent clotting or activate it
Gentle inversion mixes the additive (anticoagulant, clot activator, etc.) thoroughly with the blood to ensure proper function of the additive.
For a urine culture, which collection method provides the most accurate uncontaminated specimen?
Answer: Catheterized specimen
A catheterized specimen bypasses urethral flora entirely, providing the most accurate, uncontaminated urine specimen for culture and sensitivity testing.
Which of the following represents proper labeling of a blood specimen immediately after collection?
Answer: Label tubes at the bedside in the presence of the patient after collection
Specimens must be labeled at the bedside immediately after collection, in the presence of the patient, to prevent mislabeling errors.
A phlebotomist accidentally sustains a needlestick injury. What is the first action to take?
Answer: Squeeze the puncture site to express blood, then wash with soap and water
The immediate first aid response to a needlestick is to squeeze gently to encourage bleeding, then wash thoroughly with soap and water to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission.