General Practice 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 General Practice flashcards as text
Which body position is preferred for most outpatient venipuncture procedures?
Answer: Seated in a phlebotomy chair with arm supported
A seated position with the arm supported reduces the risk of fainting injury and keeps the arm stable for the procedure.
What color tube top is used when no additive is present (plain glass tube for serum)?
Answer: Red (plain/no additive)
A plain red-top tube contains no additives and allows blood to clot naturally to produce serum after centrifugation.
A phlebotomist must verify a patient's identity. Which is the BEST two-identifier method?
Answer: Ask the patient to state their full name and date of birth, then compare to the order
Active patient participation in stating name and DOB, compared to the order, is the safest two-identifier method for preventing specimen mix-ups.
Which of the following actions is most likely to cause a collapsed vein during venipuncture?
Answer: Applying excessive vacuum by pulling the plunger too fast in a syringe draw
Drawing back a syringe plunger too rapidly creates excess negative pressure that collapses fragile veins, especially in elderly patients.
Phlebotomists are required to wear gloves primarily to protect against:
Answer: Bloodborne pathogen exposure for both phlebotomist and patient
Gloves are a PPE barrier required by OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to protect against exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials.
What is the correct order of the draw when collecting a light-blue (citrate), SST (gold), and lavender (EDTA) tube?
Answer: Light-blue, SST, lavender
The correct order is: light-blue (coagulation) first after blood cultures, then SST, then EDTA, per CLSI guidelines to prevent additive carryover.
After applying pressure to a venipuncture site, how should the phlebotomist dispose of the used needle?
Answer: Immediately discard the uncapped needle directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container
Needles must never be recapped and must be discarded immediately into a puncture-resistant sharps container to prevent needlestick injuries.