Phlebotomy Exam Simulation Flashcards
8 cards from real Phlebotomy Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 8 Phlebotomy Exam Simulation flashcards as text
A phlebotomist selects a vein in the antecubital fossa but cannot see it—only palpate it. The correct approach is to:
Answer: Palpate carefully to confirm vein location, depth, and direction, then proceed with the draw
Palpation is an essential venipuncture skill; a vein that is palpable but not visible can be safely accessed by an experienced phlebotomist using tactile guidance.
The antimicrobial paint used to clean the skin before blood culture collection is typically:
Answer: Chlorhexidine gluconate (0.5% or higher) with 70% alcohol, or povidone-iodine followed by alcohol
Blood cultures require vigorous skin antisepsis with chlorhexidine-alcohol or povidone-iodine to reduce skin flora contamination, which would produce false-positive blood culture results.
A patient receiving chemotherapy has a platelet count of 20,000/μL (normal 150,000–400,000/μL). After routine venipuncture, the phlebotomist should apply pressure for approximately how long?
Answer: At least 5–10 minutes or until hemostasis is confirmed
Severe thrombocytopenia (20,000/μL) dramatically impairs primary hemostasis; prolonged manual pressure of 5–10 minutes is essential to prevent hematoma formation.
Which anatomical structure runs parallel and medial to the median cubital vein and must be avoided during antecubital venipuncture?
Answer: Brachial artery
The brachial artery runs medial to the antecubital fossa; accidental arterial puncture causes pulsatile bright red blood, hematoma, and pain—it must be avoided.
When a phlebotomist encounters a hematoma developing during venipuncture, the correct action is to:
Answer: Remove the needle immediately, apply firm pressure, and document the complication
When a hematoma begins forming, immediately remove the needle, apply firm pressure, and document—continuing to draw through a hematoma worsens tissue damage and produces a contaminated specimen.
A phlebotomist is drawing from a patient with an IV line in the right arm. The patient has no accessible veins in the left arm. What is the BEST approach?
Answer: Stop the IV infusion for 2 minutes, draw distal to the IV site in the same arm, discard the first 5 mL
When only the IV arm is available, stop the infusion, wait 2 minutes, draw distal to the IV site, and discard an initial aliquot to remove IV fluid from the local vasculature.
The 'syncope' complication during phlebotomy is MOST often caused by:
Answer: A vasovagal response triggered by anxiety, pain, or the sight of blood
Vasovagal syncope (fainting) during phlebotomy results from vagal nerve activation that slows the heart and drops blood pressure, most commonly triggered by anxiety, pain, or blood sight.
After a successful venipuncture, tubes should be mixed by:
Answer: Gentle inversion 8–10 times immediately after collection
Tubes must be gently inverted 8–10 times immediately after collection to mix blood with additives; vigorous shaking causes hemolysis and excessive foam, while inadequate mixing causes clotting in anticoagulant tubes.