Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) MCQ 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When labeling a blood specimen tube, which information is REQUIRED at the bedside before leaving the patient?
- Physician name and test ordered
- Patient name, date of birth, date/time of collection, and phlebotomist ID (Correct answer)
- Room number and floor only
- Hospital accession number printed from the lab
Correct answer: Patient name, date of birth, date/time of collection, and phlebotomist ID
CLSI and accreditation standards require that tubes be labeled at the time of collection with patient identifiers (name, DOB), collection date/time, and the collector's ID.
Question 2: A newborn heelstick should be performed at which depth to avoid bone puncture?
- No more than 1.0 mm
- No more than 2.0 mm (Correct answer)
- No more than 3.0 mm
- No more than 4.0 mm
Correct answer: No more than 2.0 mm
Neonatal heelstick lancets should not penetrate more than 2.0 mm to avoid puncturing the calcaneus bone and causing osteomyelitis.
Question 3: Which of the following represents a pre-analytical error in phlebotomy?
- Incorrect instrument calibration in the lab
- Misidentifying the patient before collection (Correct answer)
- Reagent degradation during analysis
- Data entry error by the laboratory technician
Correct answer: Misidentifying the patient before collection
Pre-analytical errors occur before the specimen reaches the analyzer; patient misidentification during collection is a classic and dangerous pre-analytical error.
Question 4: What is the purpose of warming the heelstick site before performing a capillary puncture on a neonate?
- To sterilize the skin surface
- To increase arterial blood flow and improve specimen volume (Correct answer)
- To reduce the perception of pain
- To prevent petechiae formation
Correct answer: To increase arterial blood flow and improve specimen volume
Warming the site (up to 42°C for 3–5 minutes) causes local vasodilation, arterialization of capillary blood, and increased blood flow for adequate specimen collection.
Question 5: Which of the following is the CORRECT chain of custody procedure when collecting a forensic or legal blood specimen (e.g., blood alcohol)?
- Use a standard venipuncture technique with no special documentation
- Document every transfer of the specimen and use a sealed, initialed evidence bag (Correct answer)
- Allow the patient to witness collection only
- Collect the specimen in a gray-top tube and send to any certified lab
Correct answer: Document every transfer of the specimen and use a sealed, initialed evidence bag
Forensic specimens require strict chain-of-custody documentation — every person who handles the specimen must sign and date to ensure integrity and admissibility.
Question 6: A phlebotomist is asked to collect a timed specimen for cortisol. The order states '8 AM fasting.' The patient says they ate at 7:30 AM. What should the phlebotomist do?
- Collect the specimen anyway and note nothing on the tube
- Collect the specimen and document the patient's non-fasting status (Correct answer)
- Refuse to collect the specimen and discharge the patient
- Collect the specimen after making the patient fast for one more hour
Correct answer: Collect the specimen and document the patient's non-fasting status
The phlebotomist should collect the specimen since the timed draw is clinically critical, but must document the patient's actual fasting status so clinicians can interpret results accurately.
Question 7: What is the PRIMARY reason for allowing alcohol to dry completely after site preparation before performing a venipuncture?
- To allow the vein to re-dilate after vasoconstriction
- To prevent stinging, hemolysis, and inaccurate ethanol test results (Correct answer)
- To give time to assemble all equipment
- To reduce the risk of hematoma formation
Correct answer: To prevent stinging, hemolysis, and inaccurate ethanol test results
Wet alcohol at the puncture site causes patient stinging, can hemolyze the specimen, and will falsely elevate blood alcohol (ethanol) test results.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) MCQ 5
When labeling a blood specimen tube, which information is REQUIRED at the bedside before leaving the patient?