Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Safety and Compliance 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which hepatitis virus poses the GREATEST occupational risk to phlebotomists due to its hardiness on surfaces?
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B (Correct answer)
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis D
Correct answer: Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can survive on dry surfaces for up to 7 days and has a higher transmission risk per needlestick than HIV or HCV.
Question 2: What concentration of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution is recommended for decontaminating blood spills?
- 1:10 dilution (approximately 5,250 ppm) (Correct answer)
- 1:100 dilution
- 1:1000 dilution
- Undiluted bleach
Correct answer: 1:10 dilution (approximately 5,250 ppm)
A 1:10 bleach solution (approximately 5,250 ppm available chlorine) is recommended by the CDC for decontaminating blood spills.
Question 3: A phlebotomist is asked to collect blood from a patient in airborne isolation for tuberculosis. What additional PPE is required?
- Surgical mask
- N95 respirator (Correct answer)
- Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR)
- Double-layered surgical mask
Correct answer: N95 respirator
Airborne precautions for tuberculosis require a fitted N95 respirator or higher-level respiratory protection.
Question 4: Under HIPAA, which situation allows a phlebotomist to share a patient's lab results?
- When a family member requests the results over the phone
- When the information is needed for treatment by another authorized provider (Correct answer)
- When the patient has been discharged from the hospital
- When a coworker asks out of curiosity
Correct answer: When the information is needed for treatment by another authorized provider
HIPAA permits sharing protected health information for treatment purposes with authorized healthcare providers involved in the patient's care.
Question 5: What is the recommended practice for labeling a blood specimen tube?
- Label the tube before the draw at the nursing station
- Label the tube at the patient's bedside immediately after collection (Correct answer)
- Label all tubes at the end of the collection round
- Allow the nurse to label after the phlebotomist leaves
Correct answer: Label the tube at the patient's bedside immediately after collection
Specimen tubes must be labeled at the patient's bedside immediately after collection to prevent mislabeling errors.
Question 6: Which OSHA standard requires employers to offer hepatitis B vaccination free of charge to exposed employees?
- Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom)
- Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) (Correct answer)
- Respiratory Protection Standard
- Personal Protective Equipment Standard
Correct answer: Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)
The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard mandates that employers provide the hepatitis B vaccine series at no cost to at-risk employees.
Question 7: When a chemical spill occurs in the phlebotomy area, what should the phlebotomist consult FIRST?
- Hospital administration policy manual
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the chemical (Correct answer)
- OSHA website
- Coworker with experience in spills
Correct answer: Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the chemical
The SDS provides immediate, specific information on the chemical's hazards, protective measures, and spill cleanup procedures.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Safety and Compliance 4
Which hepatitis virus poses the GREATEST occupational risk to phlebotomists due to its hardiness on surfaces?