Specialty Certified Medical Assistant Clinical Procedures and Patient Care 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which method is used to obtain a urine specimen that minimizes contamination from the external genitalia?
- Random collection
- Clean-catch midstream collection (Correct answer)
- Catheterized collection only
- First-void morning specimen
Correct answer: Clean-catch midstream collection
Clean-catch midstream collection reduces external contamination by cleaning the genital area and discarding initial urine before collecting the specimen.
Question 2: When performing a venipuncture, which vein is most commonly used for blood draws in adults?
- Cephalic vein
- Basilic vein
- Median cubital vein (Correct answer)
- Metacarpal vein
Correct answer: Median cubital vein
The median cubital vein in the antecubital fossa is the preferred site due to its large size, stability, and accessibility.
Question 3: What is the purpose of applying a tourniquet before venipuncture?
- To sterilize the puncture site
- To distend the veins and make them more accessible (Correct answer)
- To prevent bruising after the draw
- To measure blood pressure at the draw site
Correct answer: To distend the veins and make them more accessible
A tourniquet temporarily restricts venous blood return, causing veins to engorge and become more visible and palpable for needle insertion.
Question 4: Which tube color is used for a complete blood count (CBC) collection?
- Red top (no additive)
- Blue top (sodium citrate)
- Lavender/purple top (EDTA) (Correct answer)
- Green top (heparin)
Correct answer: Lavender/purple top (EDTA)
The lavender/purple top tube contains EDTA anticoagulant, which preserves cell morphology and is required for CBC analysis.
Question 5: When administering an intradermal injection for a tuberculosis (TB) skin test, what is the correct angle of needle insertion?
- 90 degrees
- 45 degrees
- 10-15 degrees (Correct answer)
- 30 degrees
Correct answer: 10-15 degrees
Intradermal injections are administered at a 10-15 degree angle to deposit the medication just beneath the skin surface, creating a visible wheal.
Question 6: How long should a medical assistant apply pressure to a venipuncture site after needle withdrawal?
- 10-15 seconds
- 1-2 minutes or until bleeding stops (Correct answer)
- 5 minutes minimum regardless of bleeding
- No pressure needed if gauge is small
Correct answer: 1-2 minutes or until bleeding stops
Pressure should be applied for 1-2 minutes or until bleeding stops to promote clot formation and prevent hematoma formation.
Specialty Certified Medical Assistant Clinical Procedures and Patient Care 2
Which method is used to obtain a urine specimen that minimizes contamination from the external genitalia?