Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam General Practice 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which needle gauge is most commonly used for routine adult venipuncture?
- 18 gauge
- 21 gauge (Correct answer)
- 25 gauge
- 27 gauge
Correct answer: 21 gauge
A 21-gauge needle is the standard for adult venipuncture, balancing adequate blood flow with minimal vein trauma.
Question 2: What does the term 'hemolysis' mean in the context of a blood specimen?
- Clotting of the specimen
- Rupture of red blood cells releasing hemoglobin (Correct answer)
- Excessive white blood cell count
- Contamination with bacteria
Correct answer: Rupture of red blood cells releasing hemoglobin
Hemolysis causes falsely elevated potassium and other intracellular analytes, often requiring recollection.
Question 3: A patient reports feeling faint during a blood draw. What should the phlebotomist do first?
- Finish the draw quickly before the patient faints
- Remove the needle, have the patient lower their head, and monitor them (Correct answer)
- Call a physician immediately before doing anything else
- Apply more pressure with the tourniquet to keep the patient alert
Correct answer: Remove the needle, have the patient lower their head, and monitor them
Removing the needle and positioning the patient safely (head lowered or lying flat) prevents injury from vasovagal syncope.
Question 4: What is the correct angle of needle insertion for most routine venipunctures?
- 5–10 degrees
- 15–30 degrees (Correct answer)
- 45–60 degrees
- 90 degrees
Correct answer: 15–30 degrees
A 15–30 degree angle allows the needle to enter the vein lumen without passing through the posterior wall.
Question 5: Which specimen type is required for coagulation tests such as PT and aPTT?
- Serum from a red-top tube
- Plasma from a light-blue (sodium citrate) tube (Correct answer)
- Whole blood from a lavender-top tube
- Plasma from a green-top heparin tube
Correct answer: Plasma from a light-blue (sodium citrate) tube
Sodium citrate binds calcium to prevent clotting, and the correct 9:1 blood-to-additive ratio is critical for accurate coagulation results.
Question 6: Standard Precautions require a phlebotomist to treat every patient's blood as if it is:
- Safe unless a known infection is documented
- Potentially infectious regardless of diagnosis (Correct answer)
- Infectious only if the patient has HIV or hepatitis
- Sterile until proven otherwise
Correct answer: Potentially infectious regardless of diagnosis
Standard Precautions apply to all patients' blood and body fluids to protect healthcare workers from unknown infections.
Question 7: A phlebotomist accidentally sustains a needlestick injury. What is the FIRST action?
- Complete the blood draw, then report the incident
- Immediately wash the wound with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Apply a tourniquet above the puncture site
- Squeeze out as much blood as possible from the wound
Correct answer: Immediately wash the wound with soap and water
Washing with soap and water immediately reduces the risk of pathogen transmission and is the recommended first response per CDC guidelines.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam General Practice 3
Which needle gauge is most commonly used for routine adult venipuncture?