Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Patient Preparation and Identification 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient states they are allergic to latex. Which action is most appropriate?
- Proceed normally since phlebotomy tubes are not made of latex
- Use latex-free gloves and latex-free tourniquet for the procedure (Correct answer)
- Have the patient sign a waiver and use standard equipment
- Notify the physician before proceeding
Correct answer: Use latex-free gloves and latex-free tourniquet for the procedure
Latex-free gloves and tourniquets must be substituted to prevent an allergic reaction in latex-sensitive patients.
Question 2: Which statement about patient education before blood collection is CORRECT?
- Patients should always be told that the procedure is painless to reduce anxiety
- Patients should be informed of the procedure in terms they can understand (Correct answer)
- Detailed anatomical explanations reduce patient anxiety
- Patient education is the physician's responsibility, not the phlebotomist's
Correct answer: Patients should be informed of the procedure in terms they can understand
Clear, plain-language communication helps the patient understand the procedure and provides implicit informed consent.
Question 3: A patient's requisition indicates 'STAT' status. How does this affect patient identification?
- Identification steps may be abbreviated to save time
- Standard two-identifier verification is still required regardless of urgency (Correct answer)
- Only the patient's room number is needed for STAT draws
- The ordering physician's presence substitutes for ID verification
Correct answer: Standard two-identifier verification is still required regardless of urgency
STAT urgency does not waive identification requirements; two patient identifiers must always be confirmed.
Question 4: What does the term 'basal state' mean in the context of patient preparation?
- The patient is lying supine during collection
- The patient is in a resting, fasting state, typically early morning (Correct answer)
- The patient has avoided strenuous exercise for 30 minutes
- The patient's body temperature is within normal range
Correct answer: The patient is in a resting, fasting state, typically early morning
Basal state refers to the early-morning, 12-hour fasted, rested condition that provides the most reproducible reference values.
Question 5: A patient has had a mastectomy on the right side. Which arm should be used for venipuncture?
- Right arm, since the mastectomy was to the chest, not the arm
- Left arm, to avoid the lymphedema risk on the affected side (Correct answer)
- Either arm; mastectomy has no bearing on venipuncture site selection
- The foot veins should be used instead
Correct answer: Left arm, to avoid the lymphedema risk on the affected side
After mastectomy, lymph node removal increases the ipsilateral arm's risk of infection and lymphedema, so the contralateral arm is preferred.
Question 6: A patient arrives for an early-morning fasting glucose and mentions they brushed their teeth and swallowed toothpaste. What should the phlebotomist do?
- Proceed; toothpaste does not significantly affect glucose levels
- Reschedule the test for another day with strict NPO instructions
- Notify the ordering physician to decide whether to proceed (Correct answer)
- Draw the specimen and document the toothpaste ingestion as a variable
Correct answer: Notify the ordering physician to decide whether to proceed
Ingesting any substance during fasting is a deviation that should be communicated to the ordering provider for a clinical decision.
Question 7: Which of the following is the correct way to greet and begin identifying an outpatient?
- 'Are you Jane Smith?' to confirm their identity quickly
- 'Please state your full name and date of birth for me.' (Correct answer)
- 'Can you show me your insurance card?'
- 'What test are you here for today?'
Correct answer: 'Please state your full name and date of birth for me.'
Open-ended questions ('state your name') prevent patients from simply agreeing with a suggested name, reducing identification errors.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Patient Preparation and Identification 4
A patient states they are allergic to latex.
Which action is most appropriate?