Basic Flashcards
7 cards from real Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Basic flashcards as text
A phlebotomist notices that a collected SST tube has visible clots after centrifugation. What most likely caused this?
Answer: Too few inversions after collection
Insufficient mixing after collection prevents the clot activator in an SST from working uniformly, leading to fibrin clots in the serum.
What is the maximum recommended time a tourniquet should remain applied before venipuncture?
Answer: 1 minute
CLSI guidelines recommend tourniquet application for no longer than 1 minute to avoid hemoconcentration and analyte changes.
Which lab test requires a 2:1 blood-to-additive ratio in the collection tube?
Answer: Prothrombin time (PT)
Coagulation tubes (light-blue tops) require a precise 9:1 blood-to-sodium citrate ratio; underfilling the tube dilutes the anticoagulant and falsely prolongs clotting times.
A patient is taking warfarin (Coumadin). Which tube should be drawn for therapeutic monitoring?
Answer: Light-blue top (sodium citrate)
Warfarin therapy is monitored via PT/INR, which requires a sodium citrate (light-blue top) tube to preserve coagulation factor activity.
What is the correct response when a patient states they have a latex allergy before venipuncture?
Answer: Use latex-free gloves, tourniquets, and supplies throughout the procedure
A reported latex allergy requires replacing all latex-containing items with latex-free alternatives to prevent an allergic reaction.
In the order of draw, why are coagulation tubes (light-blue) drawn before other additive tubes?
Answer: To avoid tissue thromboplastin from altering coagulation results
Tissue thromboplastin released during skin puncture can activate coagulation; drawing the coagulation tube early (after a discard tube when using a butterfly) minimizes this contamination.
Which of the following specimens requires protection from light during transport?
Answer: Bilirubin specimen
Bilirubin is photosensitive and degrades rapidly when exposed to light, so specimens must be wrapped in foil or placed in an amber bag.