Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam General Practice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient's arm shows a hematoma at a previous venipuncture site. What is the best action?
- Draw from the same site to avoid additional sticks
- Select a different vein, avoiding the hematoma area (Correct answer)
- Apply a tourniquet directly over the hematoma
- Warm the hematoma with a heat pack before drawing
Correct answer: Select a different vein, avoiding the hematoma area
Drawing through or near a hematoma can cause specimen contamination and increased patient discomfort.
Question 2: Which additive in a lavender (EDTA) tube preserves blood cells for a CBC?
- Sodium citrate
- Lithium heparin
- EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) (Correct answer)
- Sodium fluoride
Correct answer: EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)
EDTA chelates calcium to prevent clotting and preserves cellular morphology for complete blood count testing.
Question 3: What is the maximum recommended tourniquet application time before venipuncture?
- 30 seconds
- 1 minute (Correct answer)
- 2 minutes
- 5 minutes
Correct answer: 1 minute
Tourniquet application beyond one minute causes hemoconcentration, which can falsely elevate some analyte results.
Question 4: When labeling a blood specimen at bedside, when should labels be applied?
- Before the draw to save time
- Immediately after collection while still at the patient's side (Correct answer)
- After returning to the lab
- Any time before specimen processing
Correct answer: Immediately after collection while still at the patient's side
Labeling at bedside immediately after collection prevents specimen mix-ups and is required by patient safety standards.
Question 5: A gray-top tube contains sodium fluoride. What test is it primarily used for?
- Prothrombin time (PT)
- Glucose and lactate testing (Correct answer)
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Blood cultures
Correct answer: Glucose and lactate testing
Sodium fluoride inhibits glycolysis, preserving glucose levels in the specimen for accurate glucose and lactate testing.
Question 6: Which vein is considered the first choice for routine venipuncture in adults?
- Cephalic vein
- Basilic vein
- Median cubital vein (Correct answer)
- Dorsal hand vein
Correct answer: Median cubital vein
The median cubital vein is the preferred site because it is large, well-anchored, and poses minimal risk to adjacent nerves and arteries.
Question 7: If a patient is receiving IV fluids in the left arm, where should venipuncture be performed?
- Below the IV site in the left arm
- Above the IV site in the left arm
- In the right arm (Correct answer)
- Either arm — IV fluids don't affect results
Correct answer: In the right arm
IV fluids dilute blood and alter analyte concentrations, so the opposite arm must be used to obtain accurate results.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam General Practice 2
A patient's arm shows a hematoma at a previous venipuncture site.
What is the best action?