Phlebotomy NCCT Practice Exam
Questions with Revised and
Updated Answers
The patient on hemodialysis with a left AV shunt has undergone a right sided
mastectomy and has an order for a STAT glucose. After consulting with the physician
the phlebotomist is told to perform a capillary draw. Which of the following sites should
the phlebotomist use?
right middle finger
left ring finger
left thumb
right little finger - Answer- left ring finger
When inspecting a patient's arm before performing a venipuncture, the most desirable
site appears to be the back of the hand. Which of the following venipuncture methods is
most appropriate in this situation?
evacuated tube
needle and syringe
butterfly needle
capillary puncture - Answer- butterfly needle
Which of the following sites should the phlebotomist use for newborn screening blood
collection?
lateral or medial plantar surface of the heel
antecubital fossa
superficial scalp vein
lateral surface of the great toe - Answer- lateral or medial plantar surface of the heel
An inpatient with a left-sided mastectomy has a hematoma in the left arm and an active
IV in the right arm. Which of the following is an appropriate site for venipuncture?
distal to the IV
proximal to the IV
distal to the hematoma
proximal to the hematoma - Answer- distal to the IV
Which of the following is the maximum amount of time a phlebotomist can leave a
tourniquet secured in place prior to venous access?
thirty seconds
three minutes
two minutes
one minute - Answer- one minute
,When performing a venipuncture, sudden swelling is observed at the insertion site.
Which of the following actions should the phlebotomist take?
Continue obtaining the blood sample. This is a localized reaction to the venipuncture.
Release the tourniquet, remove the needle, and immediately apply pressure at the site.
Apply firm pressure above the area of swelling to direct the blood flow into the collection
device.
Leave the tourniquet in place, immediately remove the needle, and apply pressure at
the site. - Answer- Release the tourniquet, remove the needle, and immediately apply
pressure at the site
Before drawing a patient the phlebotomist notices a droplet of dried blood on the arm of
the phlebotomy chair. Which of the following should the phlebotomist do?
Use a gloved hand to scrape up the blood, clean with disinfectant, then absorb with
paper towel.
Use an alcohol pad to wipe the dried droplet of blood, then dry with paper towel.
Moisten the droplet with water, clean with anti-microbial soap, then dry with paper towel.
Use disinfectant to moisten the droplet, absorb with paper towel, then clean with
disinfectant. - Answer- Use disinfectant to moisten the droplet, absorb with paper towel,
then clean with disinfectant
If a phlebotomist has questions about disposing of outdated hazardous chemicals,
where should she look to find this information?
HIPAA
MSDS
CLIA
NIOSH - Answer- MSDS
Which of the following is a site preparation solution required for collecting blood cultures
and blood alcohol levels?
povidone-iodine
soap and water
hydrogen peroxide
isopropyl alcohol - Answer- povidone-iodine
A patient presents to have a diagnostic HIV test drawn. Which of the following forms of
consent must the phlebotomist obtain prior to venipuncture?
expressed
implied
informed
verbal - Answer- informed
The phlebotomist has a requisition for chemistry and coagulation testing. Which of the
following is the correct tube selection and order of draw?
light blue, SST
red, royal blue
, SST, royal blue
red, light blue - Answer- light blue, SST
Which of the following actions should the phlebotomist take to decrease the potential for
hemolysis of a blood specimen in an EDTA tube?
Store the tube in the refrigerator after the specimen has been collected.
Use a 25 gauge needle or smaller to collect the specimen.
Allow the tube to stand for 20 minutes prior to processing.
Gently invert the tube after collecting the specimen. - Answer- Gently invert the tube
after collecting the specimen
Which of the following steps is completed first in performing venipuncture?
apply the tourniquet
cleanse site with an alcohol wipe
identify the patient
arrange tubes in order of draw - Answer- identify the patient
After centrifuging a blood specimen, the phlebotomist notes the serum has a reddish
appearance. Which of the following has occurred?
The finding is normal.
The specimen is contaminated with neutrophils.
A buffy coat has formed and discolored the serum.
The specimen is hemolyzed. - Answer- the specimen is hemolyzed
The phlebotomist applies the tourniquet, but then has trouble relocating the vein after
several minutes of palpation. Which of the following is an expected outcome in these
test results?
falsely elevated K levels from tissue damage
fibrinolysis from hemodilution
falsely decreased iron levels from hemolysis
falsely increased platelets from clotting - Answer- falsely elevated K levels from tissue
damage
Capillary blood specimens are most likely to be successfully collected from patients that
are extremely obese.
are dehydrated.
have poor peripheral circulation.
have peripheral edema. - Answer- are extremely obese
After performing a venipuncture on a patient the phlebotomist notices the patient is
bending his elbow to hold the gauze in place. This action is contraindicated because
bending the elbow is likely to
create a hematoma.
cause hemostasis.
cause bacterial infection.
result in hemorrhage. - Answer- create a hematoma
Questions with Revised and
Updated Answers
The patient on hemodialysis with a left AV shunt has undergone a right sided
mastectomy and has an order for a STAT glucose. After consulting with the physician
the phlebotomist is told to perform a capillary draw. Which of the following sites should
the phlebotomist use?
right middle finger
left ring finger
left thumb
right little finger - Answer- left ring finger
When inspecting a patient's arm before performing a venipuncture, the most desirable
site appears to be the back of the hand. Which of the following venipuncture methods is
most appropriate in this situation?
evacuated tube
needle and syringe
butterfly needle
capillary puncture - Answer- butterfly needle
Which of the following sites should the phlebotomist use for newborn screening blood
collection?
lateral or medial plantar surface of the heel
antecubital fossa
superficial scalp vein
lateral surface of the great toe - Answer- lateral or medial plantar surface of the heel
An inpatient with a left-sided mastectomy has a hematoma in the left arm and an active
IV in the right arm. Which of the following is an appropriate site for venipuncture?
distal to the IV
proximal to the IV
distal to the hematoma
proximal to the hematoma - Answer- distal to the IV
Which of the following is the maximum amount of time a phlebotomist can leave a
tourniquet secured in place prior to venous access?
thirty seconds
three minutes
two minutes
one minute - Answer- one minute
,When performing a venipuncture, sudden swelling is observed at the insertion site.
Which of the following actions should the phlebotomist take?
Continue obtaining the blood sample. This is a localized reaction to the venipuncture.
Release the tourniquet, remove the needle, and immediately apply pressure at the site.
Apply firm pressure above the area of swelling to direct the blood flow into the collection
device.
Leave the tourniquet in place, immediately remove the needle, and apply pressure at
the site. - Answer- Release the tourniquet, remove the needle, and immediately apply
pressure at the site
Before drawing a patient the phlebotomist notices a droplet of dried blood on the arm of
the phlebotomy chair. Which of the following should the phlebotomist do?
Use a gloved hand to scrape up the blood, clean with disinfectant, then absorb with
paper towel.
Use an alcohol pad to wipe the dried droplet of blood, then dry with paper towel.
Moisten the droplet with water, clean with anti-microbial soap, then dry with paper towel.
Use disinfectant to moisten the droplet, absorb with paper towel, then clean with
disinfectant. - Answer- Use disinfectant to moisten the droplet, absorb with paper towel,
then clean with disinfectant
If a phlebotomist has questions about disposing of outdated hazardous chemicals,
where should she look to find this information?
HIPAA
MSDS
CLIA
NIOSH - Answer- MSDS
Which of the following is a site preparation solution required for collecting blood cultures
and blood alcohol levels?
povidone-iodine
soap and water
hydrogen peroxide
isopropyl alcohol - Answer- povidone-iodine
A patient presents to have a diagnostic HIV test drawn. Which of the following forms of
consent must the phlebotomist obtain prior to venipuncture?
expressed
implied
informed
verbal - Answer- informed
The phlebotomist has a requisition for chemistry and coagulation testing. Which of the
following is the correct tube selection and order of draw?
light blue, SST
red, royal blue
, SST, royal blue
red, light blue - Answer- light blue, SST
Which of the following actions should the phlebotomist take to decrease the potential for
hemolysis of a blood specimen in an EDTA tube?
Store the tube in the refrigerator after the specimen has been collected.
Use a 25 gauge needle or smaller to collect the specimen.
Allow the tube to stand for 20 minutes prior to processing.
Gently invert the tube after collecting the specimen. - Answer- Gently invert the tube
after collecting the specimen
Which of the following steps is completed first in performing venipuncture?
apply the tourniquet
cleanse site with an alcohol wipe
identify the patient
arrange tubes in order of draw - Answer- identify the patient
After centrifuging a blood specimen, the phlebotomist notes the serum has a reddish
appearance. Which of the following has occurred?
The finding is normal.
The specimen is contaminated with neutrophils.
A buffy coat has formed and discolored the serum.
The specimen is hemolyzed. - Answer- the specimen is hemolyzed
The phlebotomist applies the tourniquet, but then has trouble relocating the vein after
several minutes of palpation. Which of the following is an expected outcome in these
test results?
falsely elevated K levels from tissue damage
fibrinolysis from hemodilution
falsely decreased iron levels from hemolysis
falsely increased platelets from clotting - Answer- falsely elevated K levels from tissue
damage
Capillary blood specimens are most likely to be successfully collected from patients that
are extremely obese.
are dehydrated.
have poor peripheral circulation.
have peripheral edema. - Answer- are extremely obese
After performing a venipuncture on a patient the phlebotomist notices the patient is
bending his elbow to hold the gauze in place. This action is contraindicated because
bending the elbow is likely to
create a hematoma.
cause hemostasis.
cause bacterial infection.
result in hemorrhage. - Answer- create a hematoma
