Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Trivia 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary reason a tourniquet should not be left on a patient's arm for more than one minute?
- It causes vein collapse
- It may cause hemoconcentration and inaccurate results (Correct answer)
- It restricts arterial flow permanently
- It damages the tourniquet material
Correct answer: It may cause hemoconcentration and inaccurate results
Prolonged tourniquet application causes hemoconcentration, where larger molecules accumulate and falsely elevate certain lab values.
Question 2: What does the acronym 'PPE' stand for in a healthcare setting?
- Patient Protection Equipment
- Personal Protective Equipment (Correct answer)
- Professional Phlebotomy Essentials
- Pathogen Prevention Ensemble
Correct answer: Personal Protective Equipment
PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment and includes gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection used to prevent exposure to infectious agents.
Question 3: Which condition causes a patient's veins to be difficult to locate and may require a butterfly needle on a hand vein?
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Dehydration (Correct answer)
- Tachycardia
Correct answer: Dehydration
Dehydration reduces blood volume and vein distension, making veins harder to locate and palpate.
Question 4: A yellow/black tiger-top or SST tube contains which additive?
- EDTA
- Clot activator and gel separator (Correct answer)
- Sodium citrate
- Potassium oxalate
Correct answer: Clot activator and gel separator
SST (Serum Separator Tube) contains a clot activator (silica particles) and a gel that separates serum from the clot after centrifugation.
Question 5: What is 'iatrogenic anemia' in the context of phlebotomy?
- Anemia caused by a patient's diet
- Anemia induced by excessive blood draws by healthcare providers (Correct answer)
- Anemia resulting from a blood transfusion reaction
- Anemia inherited genetically
Correct answer: Anemia induced by excessive blood draws by healthcare providers
Iatrogenic anemia refers to anemia caused by repeated or excessive blood draws by medical staff, a recognized concern especially in ICU patients.
Question 6: Which term describes a collapsed vein during venipuncture when vacuum draw pressure is too high?
- Thrombosis
- Hematoma
- Vein collapse (Correct answer)
- Phlebitis
Correct answer: Vein collapse
Vein collapse occurs when the vacuum pressure of an evacuated tube exceeds the pressure inside a fragile or small vein, cutting off blood flow.
Question 7: Which blood culture collection technique is critical to prevent contamination?
- Cleaning the site with soap and water
- Scrubbing the venipuncture site with 70% isopropyl alcohol followed by chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine (Correct answer)
- Wiping the site with a dry gauze pad
- Applying antibiotic ointment before the draw
Correct answer: Scrubbing the venipuncture site with 70% isopropyl alcohol followed by chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine
Blood cultures require a two-step antiseptic technique—alcohol followed by chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine—to minimize false-positive results from skin flora contamination.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Trivia 3
What is the primary reason a tourniquet should not be left on a patient's arm for more than one minute?