Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam General Practice 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which body position is preferred for most outpatient venipuncture procedures?
- Standing upright at the phlebotomy station
- Seated in a phlebotomy chair with arm supported (Correct answer)
- Lying flat in a supine position
- Seated on the exam table with arm hanging down
Correct answer: Seated in a phlebotomy chair with arm supported
A seated position with the arm supported reduces the risk of fainting injury and keeps the arm stable for the procedure.
Question 2: What color tube top is used when no additive is present (plain glass tube for serum)?
- Lavender
- Red (plain/no additive) (Correct answer)
- Green
- Yellow
Correct answer: Red (plain/no additive)
A plain red-top tube contains no additives and allows blood to clot naturally to produce serum after centrifugation.
Question 3: A phlebotomist must verify a patient's identity. Which is the BEST two-identifier method?
- Ask the patient's room number and confirm by glancing at the door sign
- Ask the patient to state their full name and date of birth, then compare to the order (Correct answer)
- Use only the wristband barcode scan without asking the patient
- Confirm by asking a nearby nurse who the patient is
Correct answer: Ask the patient to state their full name and date of birth, then compare to the order
Active patient participation in stating name and DOB, compared to the order, is the safest two-identifier method for preventing specimen mix-ups.
Question 4: Which of the following actions is most likely to cause a collapsed vein during venipuncture?
- Using a winged (butterfly) needle set
- Applying excessive vacuum by pulling the plunger too fast in a syringe draw (Correct answer)
- Inserting the needle at 15 degrees
- Using a 21-gauge needle for collection
Correct answer: Applying excessive vacuum by pulling the plunger too fast in a syringe draw
Drawing back a syringe plunger too rapidly creates excess negative pressure that collapses fragile veins, especially in elderly patients.
Question 5: Phlebotomists are required to wear gloves primarily to protect against:
- Patient discomfort during the procedure
- Bloodborne pathogen exposure for both phlebotomist and patient (Correct answer)
- Needle contamination during packaging
- Chemical burns from alcohol swabs
Correct answer: Bloodborne pathogen exposure for both phlebotomist and patient
Gloves are a PPE barrier required by OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to protect against exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials.
Question 6: What is the correct order of the draw when collecting a light-blue (citrate), SST (gold), and lavender (EDTA) tube?
- Lavender, SST, light-blue
- SST, lavender, light-blue
- Light-blue, SST, lavender (Correct answer)
- Light-blue, lavender, SST
Correct answer: Light-blue, SST, lavender
The correct order is: light-blue (coagulation) first after blood cultures, then SST, then EDTA, per CLSI guidelines to prevent additive carryover.
Question 7: After applying pressure to a venipuncture site, how should the phlebotomist dispose of the used needle?
- Recap the needle and place it in a regular trash can
- Immediately discard the uncapped needle directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container (Correct answer)
- Place the needle on the tray temporarily until the labeling is done
- Break the needle off the holder before discarding
Correct answer: Immediately discard the uncapped needle directly into a puncture-resistant sharps container
Needles must never be recapped and must be discarded immediately into a puncture-resistant sharps container to prevent needlestick injuries.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam General Practice 5
Which body position is preferred for most outpatient venipuncture procedures?