1|Page
NHA CPT PHLEBOTOMY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026-2027 – 125
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES |
TERMS, EXAMPLES, HIGH-YIELD CONTENT
## Table of Contents
| Section | Topic | Question Numbers | Count |
|---------|-------|----------------|-------|
| 1 | Phlebotomy Fundamentals & Terminology | 1 – 20 | 20 |
| 2 | Infection Control, Safety & PPE | 21 – 35 | 15 |
| 3 | Anatomy & Physiology for Phlebotomy | 36 – 50 | 15 |
| 4 | Patient Preparation & Identification | 51 – 65 | 15 |
| 5 | Venipuncture Procedures & Equipment | 66 – 85 | 20 |
| 6 | Dermal (Capillary) Punctures | 86 – 95 | 10 |
| 7 | Special Collections (Blood Cultures, Glucose, etc.) | 96 – 105 | 10 |
| 8 | Complications & Troubleshooting | 106 – 115 | 10 |
| 9 | Specimen Processing, Handling & Storage | 116 – 125 | 10 |
| **Total** | | **1 – 125** | **125** |
---
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## SECTION 1: PHLEBOTOMY FUNDAMENTALS &
TERMINOLOGY (Q1–20)
**Term Bank:** *Antecubital fossa, Venipuncture, Hemolysis,
Phlebotomy, Lumen, Evacuated tube system, Tourniquet, Gauge, Order
of draw, Hematoma, Edema, Fasting, Syncope, Petechiae, Sclerosed
vein, Palpation, Reflux, Anticoagulant, Serum, Plasma*
---
**1. What is the definition of phlebotomy?**
A) The study of blood cells
B) The incision of a vein for blood collection
C) The administration of intravenous fluids
D) The examination of blood under a microscope
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** Phlebotomy comes from Greek *phlebos* (vein) +
*tome* (incision). It refers specifically to puncturing a vein for blood
collection.
**High-Yield Tip:** Remember "phlebo" = vein; "tomy" = incision/cut.
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**2. Which vein is the FIRST choice for routine venipuncture in the
antecubital fossa?**
A) Basilic vein
B) Cephalic vein
C) Median cubital vein
D) Radial vein
**Correct Answer:** C
**Rationale:** The median cubital vein is large, superficial, well-
anchored, and least painful. It has the lowest risk of damaging
underlying nerves or arteries.
**High-Yield Tip:** Median cubital = first choice. Basilic = last choice
(near brachial artery and nerve).
**3. The median cubital vein is located in which anatomical area?**
A) Wrist
B) Antecubital fossa (inner elbow)
C) Dorsal hand
D) Foot
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** The antecubital fossa is the triangular area on the
anterior elbow – primary site for venipuncture.
, 4|Page
**High-Yield Tip:** "Antecubital" = "in front of the elbow."
**4. What does "gauge" refer to when describing a needle?**
A) The length of the needle
B) The diameter (bore) of the needle – larger gauge = smaller diameter
C) The color of the needle hub
D) The brand of the needle
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** Gauge is inversely related to diameter: 18G is large
(wide bore), 25G is small (fine bore). Routine venipuncture uses 21-
23G.
**High-Yield Tip:** "Gauge up = diameter down" (21G is bigger than
23G).
**5. Which needle gauge is most commonly used for routine adult
venipuncture?**
A) 16G
B) 18G
C) 21G or 22G
D) 25G
**Correct Answer:** C
NHA CPT PHLEBOTOMY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026-2027 – 125
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES |
TERMS, EXAMPLES, HIGH-YIELD CONTENT
## Table of Contents
| Section | Topic | Question Numbers | Count |
|---------|-------|----------------|-------|
| 1 | Phlebotomy Fundamentals & Terminology | 1 – 20 | 20 |
| 2 | Infection Control, Safety & PPE | 21 – 35 | 15 |
| 3 | Anatomy & Physiology for Phlebotomy | 36 – 50 | 15 |
| 4 | Patient Preparation & Identification | 51 – 65 | 15 |
| 5 | Venipuncture Procedures & Equipment | 66 – 85 | 20 |
| 6 | Dermal (Capillary) Punctures | 86 – 95 | 10 |
| 7 | Special Collections (Blood Cultures, Glucose, etc.) | 96 – 105 | 10 |
| 8 | Complications & Troubleshooting | 106 – 115 | 10 |
| 9 | Specimen Processing, Handling & Storage | 116 – 125 | 10 |
| **Total** | | **1 – 125** | **125** |
---
,2|Page
## SECTION 1: PHLEBOTOMY FUNDAMENTALS &
TERMINOLOGY (Q1–20)
**Term Bank:** *Antecubital fossa, Venipuncture, Hemolysis,
Phlebotomy, Lumen, Evacuated tube system, Tourniquet, Gauge, Order
of draw, Hematoma, Edema, Fasting, Syncope, Petechiae, Sclerosed
vein, Palpation, Reflux, Anticoagulant, Serum, Plasma*
---
**1. What is the definition of phlebotomy?**
A) The study of blood cells
B) The incision of a vein for blood collection
C) The administration of intravenous fluids
D) The examination of blood under a microscope
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** Phlebotomy comes from Greek *phlebos* (vein) +
*tome* (incision). It refers specifically to puncturing a vein for blood
collection.
**High-Yield Tip:** Remember "phlebo" = vein; "tomy" = incision/cut.
,3|Page
**2. Which vein is the FIRST choice for routine venipuncture in the
antecubital fossa?**
A) Basilic vein
B) Cephalic vein
C) Median cubital vein
D) Radial vein
**Correct Answer:** C
**Rationale:** The median cubital vein is large, superficial, well-
anchored, and least painful. It has the lowest risk of damaging
underlying nerves or arteries.
**High-Yield Tip:** Median cubital = first choice. Basilic = last choice
(near brachial artery and nerve).
**3. The median cubital vein is located in which anatomical area?**
A) Wrist
B) Antecubital fossa (inner elbow)
C) Dorsal hand
D) Foot
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** The antecubital fossa is the triangular area on the
anterior elbow – primary site for venipuncture.
, 4|Page
**High-Yield Tip:** "Antecubital" = "in front of the elbow."
**4. What does "gauge" refer to when describing a needle?**
A) The length of the needle
B) The diameter (bore) of the needle – larger gauge = smaller diameter
C) The color of the needle hub
D) The brand of the needle
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** Gauge is inversely related to diameter: 18G is large
(wide bore), 25G is small (fine bore). Routine venipuncture uses 21-
23G.
**High-Yield Tip:** "Gauge up = diameter down" (21G is bigger than
23G).
**5. Which needle gauge is most commonly used for routine adult
venipuncture?**
A) 16G
B) 18G
C) 21G or 22G
D) 25G
**Correct Answer:** C
