Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam General 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A capillary blood gas specimen is collected by heel stick from a neonate. What must be done BEFORE puncturing?
- Cool the heel with ice
- Warm the heel to 42°C for 3–5 minutes (Correct answer)
- Apply a tourniquet above the ankle
- Cleanse with povidone-iodine only
Correct answer: Warm the heel to 42°C for 3–5 minutes
Warming the heel increases blood flow (arterialization) so the capillary sample better reflects arterial blood gas values.
Question 2: Which specimen requires protection from light during transport?
- CBC in EDTA tube
- Bilirubin specimen (Correct answer)
- Basic metabolic panel in SST
- Prothrombin time in citrate tube
Correct answer: Bilirubin specimen
Bilirubin degrades rapidly when exposed to light, so the tube must be wrapped in foil or placed in an amber bag.
Question 3: What does the abbreviation 'SOP' stand for in a clinical laboratory context?
- Standard Operating Procedure (Correct answer)
- Specimen Output Protocol
- Standard Order of Priority
- Safety Oversight Plan
Correct answer: Standard Operating Procedure
SOPs are written documents that provide step-by-step instructions to ensure consistent, safe laboratory practices.
Question 4: A phlebotomist accidentally sustains a needlestick after drawing blood from an HCV-positive patient. The FIRST action is to:
- Notify the supervisor and complete an incident report
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Apply a tourniquet above the injury
- Begin post-exposure prophylaxis immediately
Correct answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
Immediately washing the wound with soap and water is the first physical step to reduce pathogen load at the exposure site.
Question 5: Which tube additive is found in a royal blue (dark blue) tube used for trace element testing?
- Lithium heparin or EDTA (metal-free) (Correct answer)
- Sodium fluoride
- Thrombin
- Sodium citrate
Correct answer: Lithium heparin or EDTA (metal-free)
Royal blue tubes contain either metal-free EDTA or metal-free sodium heparin to prevent trace metal contamination from the additive itself.
Question 6: Hemolysis in a specimen is MOST likely caused by which phlebotomy error?
- Using an evacuated tube that is too large
- Drawing blood too slowly through a small-gauge needle (Correct answer)
- Allowing the tourniquet on for less than one minute
- Collecting in the correct order of draw
Correct answer: Drawing blood too slowly through a small-gauge needle
Slow, forceful aspiration through a small-gauge needle creates turbulence and shear forces that lyse red blood cells.
Question 7: What information is the MINIMUM required on a specimen label at the time of collection?
- Patient name, date of birth, and collector ID
- Patient name, date of birth, date/time, and collector ID (Correct answer)
- Patient name, room number, and physician name
- Patient MRN, diagnosis, and collection time
Correct answer: Patient name, date of birth, date/time, and collector ID
CLSI standards require at minimum: patient name, date of birth (or second identifier), date and time of collection, and phlebotomist ID.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam General 3
A capillary blood gas specimen is collected by heel stick from a neonate.
What must be done BEFORE puncturing?