Routine Collection Procedures 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 Routine Collection Procedures flashcards as text
What is the primary vein of choice for routine venipuncture in adults?
Answer: Median cubital vein
The median cubital vein is the preferred site because it is large, well-anchored, and least likely to roll or cause complications.
A light blue-top sodium citrate tube has an incorrect blood-to-additive ratio. What is the MOST likely consequence?
Answer: Falsely prolonged clotting times
Excess anticoagulant relative to blood dilutes clotting factors, causing falsely prolonged PT and aPTT results.
Why is it important to ask a patient to make a fist but NOT pump it repeatedly before venipuncture?
Answer: Repeated pumping elevates potassium levels, affecting results
Repeated fist pumping causes pseudohyperkalemia by releasing potassium from muscle cells into the bloodstream.
Which of the following conditions is a contraindication for using the basilic vein?
Answer: The vein is near the brachial artery and median nerve
The basilic vein lies close to the brachial artery and median nerve, increasing risk of arterial puncture or nerve injury.
A hemolyzed specimen is most likely to cause erroneously elevated results for which analyte?
Answer: Potassium
Red blood cells contain high intracellular potassium; hemolysis releases this potassium into the serum, falsely elevating results.
In the order of draw, which tube comes IMMEDIATELY after the blood culture bottles?
Answer: Sodium citrate (light blue top)
Sodium citrate tubes follow blood cultures in the order of draw to avoid carryover contamination affecting coagulation tests.
What does the term 'hemoconcentration' refer to in phlebotomy?
Answer: Concentration of blood components due to prolonged tourniquet use
Prolonged tourniquet application (>1 minute) causes fluid to shift into tissues, concentrating blood cells and large molecules.