Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Trivia 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following describes the correct order of draw when using evacuated tubes?
- Lavender, light blue, red, gray
- Light blue, red/SST, green, lavender, gray (Correct answer)
- Red, green, lavender, light blue, gray
- Gray, lavender, green, red, light blue
Correct answer: Light blue, red/SST, green, lavender, gray
CLSI order of draw is: blood cultures, light blue (citrate), red/SST, green (heparin), lavender (EDTA), gray (fluoride/oxalate) to prevent cross-contamination between additives.
Question 2: What is the proper disposal method for used phlebotomy needles?
- Recapping and placing in a regular trash can
- Immediately placing in an approved sharps container without recapping (Correct answer)
- Breaking the needle and placing in a biohazard bag
- Recapping with a two-handed technique and discarding in a biohazard bag
Correct answer: Immediately placing in an approved sharps container without recapping
Used needles must be discarded immediately in an approved puncture-resistant sharps container without recapping to prevent needlestick injuries.
Question 3: A patient reports feeling faint and lightheaded during a blood draw. What is the phlebotomist's first action?
- Continue the draw quickly to finish before syncope occurs
- Remove the needle, apply pressure, and have the patient lower their head or lie down (Correct answer)
- Offer the patient juice immediately
- Call the physician before taking any action
Correct answer: Remove the needle, apply pressure, and have the patient lower their head or lie down
Removing the needle and positioning the patient safely (reclined or head between knees) is the immediate priority to prevent injury from fainting.
Question 4: What is the maximum recommended time between specimen collection and centrifugation for most chemistry tests?
- 15 minutes
- 30 minutes
- 2 hours (Correct answer)
- 4 hours
Correct answer: 2 hours
Most specimens should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection to prevent cellular metabolism from altering analyte concentrations.
Question 5: Which test requires a specimen to be transported on ice immediately after collection?
- CBC with differential
- Ammonia level (Correct answer)
- PT/INR
- Lipid panel
Correct answer: Ammonia level
Ammonia is highly unstable and must be transported on ice to slow red blood cell metabolism that continuously produces ammonia after collection.
Question 6: What is the role of the serum separator gel in an SST tube?
- It activates clotting by providing a silica surface
- It forms a physical barrier between serum and clot after centrifugation (Correct answer)
- It prevents platelet aggregation during transport
- It stabilizes analytes sensitive to light exposure
Correct answer: It forms a physical barrier between serum and clot after centrifugation
The gel is thixotropic and changes viscosity during centrifugation, migrating between the clot and serum to form a stable physical barrier for specimen integrity.
Question 7: Which organization certifies phlebotomists at the national level in the United States and awards the CPT credential?
- American Red Cross
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA) (Correct answer)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- The Joint Commission
Correct answer: National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) administers the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam, one of the primary national certification credentials for phlebotomists.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Trivia 5
Which of the following describes the correct order of draw when using evacuated tubes?