Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Patient Preparation and Identification 5

Question 1

A patient taking diuretics has been asked to collect a 24-hour urine specimen. What instruction is most important?

Accepted Answer

Discard the first morning void, then collect all urine for the next 24 hours

Answer

The standard 24-hour urine protocol begins with discarding the first morning void and collecting all subsequent urine through and including the next morning's first void.

Question 2

Which pre-analytical variable is most likely to affect potassium (K+) results if not controlled?

Accepted Answer

Prolonged tourniquet application causing hemolysis

Answer

Prolonged tourniquet use can cause hemolysis, releasing intracellular potassium and falsely elevating serum K+ levels.

Question 3

When collecting a specimen from a minor under 18, whose consent is typically required before the procedure?

Accepted Answer

A parent or legal guardian, unless the minor is legally emancipated

Answer

Minors generally cannot provide their own medical consent; a parent or legal guardian must authorize the procedure unless the minor is legally emancipated.

Question 4

A patient has an IV infusing in the left antecubital vein. Where should the phlebotomist draw?

Accepted Answer

The right arm or another site distal to the IV

Answer

Drawing from a site ipsilateral to or below an IV infusion risks specimen dilution; the contralateral arm or a distal alternative site is preferred.

Question 5

A phlebotomist collects blood from a patient who later reports the phlebotomist never confirmed their identity. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A pre-analytical error

Answer

Failure to verify patient identity before collection is a pre-analytical error that can result in wrong-patient specimen labeling.

Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Practice Test

Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Practice Test

Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Patient Preparation and Identification 5