Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam General Practice 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When collecting a blood culture, why must the venipuncture site be cleaned with both chlorhexidine/alcohol and allowed to dry?
- To reduce patient anxiety about the procedure
- To eliminate skin flora that could contaminate the culture (Correct answer)
- To dilate the vein for easier access
- To remove any visible bruising from previous draws
Correct answer: To eliminate skin flora that could contaminate the culture
Proper skin antisepsis is critical because skin contamination is the leading cause of false-positive blood culture results.
Question 2: What is the purpose of inverting additive tubes gently after collection?
- To remove air bubbles that cause hemolysis
- To mix the blood with the additive evenly (Correct answer)
- To activate clot formation in all tube types
- To check that the tube is filled correctly
Correct answer: To mix the blood with the additive evenly
Gentle inversion ensures thorough mixing of blood with the additive while avoiding hemolysis caused by vigorous shaking.
Question 3: A phlebotomist is asked to collect a specimen marked STAT. What does STAT indicate?
- The specimen should be stored until the end of the shift
- The specimen requires immediate collection and processing (Correct answer)
- Standard turnaround time applies
- The test needs special temperature handling
Correct answer: The specimen requires immediate collection and processing
STAT orders are urgent and must be collected and delivered for processing immediately, typically within minutes.
Question 4: Which patient condition is a contraindication to using the antecubital area on one arm?
- The patient is right-handed
- A fistula or graft is present in that arm (Correct answer)
- The patient has a minor bruise on the wrist
- The patient prefers the other arm
Correct answer: A fistula or graft is present in that arm
Drawing from an arm with an arteriovenous (AV) fistula or graft can damage it, cause inaccurate results, and create complications for dialysis patients.
Question 5: What is the recommended minimum volume of hand sanitizer to use for hand hygiene between patients?
- One small drop
- Enough to cover all surfaces of both hands (Correct answer)
- Only a visible foam layer on the palms
- The amount that dries in under 5 seconds
Correct answer: Enough to cover all surfaces of both hands
WHO and CDC guidelines require full coverage of all hand surfaces with alcohol-based sanitizer and rubbing until completely dry.
Question 6: A light-blue top tube for coagulation is accidentally underfilled. What should the phlebotomist do?
- Use the tube anyway since a little underfill is acceptable
- Discard the tube and collect a new one at the correct fill level (Correct answer)
- Add a few drops from another tube to top it off
- Centrifuge immediately to compensate for the lower volume
Correct answer: Discard the tube and collect a new one at the correct fill level
Underfilled sodium citrate tubes have an excess of anticoagulant relative to blood, which falsely prolongs clotting times.
Question 7: Which of the following is a pre-analytical error that can affect laboratory results?
- A malfunctioning analyzer in the lab
- Incorrect patient identification before the draw (Correct answer)
- Improper calibration of lab equipment
- Transcription error by the reporting software
Correct answer: Incorrect patient identification before the draw
Pre-analytical errors occur before the specimen reaches the analyzer and include patient ID mistakes, improper collection, and mislabeling.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam General Practice 4
When collecting a blood culture, why must the venipuncture site be cleaned with both chlorhexidine/alcohol and allowed to dry?