Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Special Specimen Collections 4

Question 1

A sputum specimen for culture and sensitivity should ideally be collected at what time of day?

Accepted Answer

First thing in the morning upon waking

Answer

Early morning sputum is preferred because secretions accumulate overnight and yields the highest concentration of organisms for accurate culture results.

Question 2

Which of the following describes the correct handling of a specimen collected for cryoglobulin analysis?

Accepted Answer

Keep warm at 37°C from collection through centrifugation

Answer

Cryoglobulins precipitate at cold temperatures, so the specimen must be kept at 37°C until centrifugation to prevent false-negative results from protein loss.

Question 3

When collecting a specimen for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which tube is used and what is the maximum time before testing?

Accepted Answer

EDTA (lavender-top); must test within 4 hours of collection

Answer

ESR is performed on EDTA whole blood and must be tested within 4 hours of collection (or 12 hours if refrigerated at 4°C) to yield valid results.

Question 4

What is the minimum volume of each blood culture bottle (aerobic and anaerobic) typically required for an adult collection?

Accepted Answer

8–10 mL per bottle

Answer

Standard adult blood culture protocols require 8–10 mL per bottle to maximize pathogen detection sensitivity.

Question 5

A timed specimen for cortisol is ordered at 8 AM and 4 PM. Why is timing critical for this test?

Accepted Answer

Cortisol follows a diurnal rhythm with peak levels in the morning and nadir in the evening

Answer

Cortisol levels follow a circadian pattern, peaking in the early morning and reaching their lowest point in the evening; timed draws allow evaluation of this normal variation.

Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Practice Test

Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Practice Test

Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Special Specimen Collections 4