NCCT PHLEBOTOMY PRACTICE COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
PREPARATION GUIDE WITH HIGH-YIELD REVISION QUESTIONS,
PRACTICE QUESTIONS, DETAILED ANSWER EXPLANATIONS,
VENIPUNCTURE PROCEDURES, SPECIMEN COLLECTION
TECHNIQUES, INFECTION CONTROL STANDARDS, PATIENT
SAFETY PRINCIPLES, QUALITY ASSURANCE CONCEPTS, AND
COMPLETE PHLEBOTOMY CERTIFICATION SUCCESS TOOLKIT |
UPDATED FOR 2026/2027 | LATEST EDITION
1. A phlebotomist has received a requisition for a blood draw on a
patient with a coagulation disorder. The phlebotomist should be sure
to:
a.) collect the specimen from the hand to avoid a hematoma
b.) use a blood pressure cuff to apply consistent pressure
c.) hold pressure on the draw site until bleeding has stopped
d.) call the doctor to confirm the collection site
c. hold pressure on the draw site until bleeding has stopped
2. When a phlebotomist enters a patient's room to collect a STAT
blood sample, a sign above the bed states that all collections should
be from the patient's central port. Which of the following should the
phlebotomist do NEXT?
a. proceed with sample collection from the central port and alert the
nurse when finished.
b. exit the patient's room, and proceed directly to the next patient on
the collection list.
c. identify the patient and ask for confirmation that the sign is
accurate before proceeding with the collection.
d. communicate with the test order to the nursing staff and wait for
one of them to collect the sample
d. communicate with the test order to the nursing staff and wait for one of
them to collect the sample
3. Which of the following actions should the phlebotomist take when
disposing of a needle following a venipuncture?
a. push the needle guard over the needle until it clicks and then place
in a biohazard bag
b. recap the needle and place it immediately in a sharps container
,c. recap the needle and place it on the blood collection tray
d. place the needle with safety device activated immediately in a
sharps container.
d. place the needle with safety device activated immediately in a sharps
container
4. Which of the following is the correct method for transferring blood
from a syringe into evacuated tubes?
a. remove the hypodermic needle from the syringe and transfer the
blood into capped evacuated tubes by pushing on the syringe plunger
b. uncap the evacuated tubes, place them into a tube rack and
transfer the blood from the syringe through the hypodermic needle
c. uncap the evacuated tubes, place them into a tube rack and
transfer blood from the syringe using a syringe transfer device
d. remove the hypodermic needle from the syringe after activating the
safety device and transfer the blood into a capped evacuated tubes
using a syringe transfer device
d. remove the hypodermic needle from the syringe after activating the
safety device and transfer the blood into capped evacuated tubes using a
syringe transfer device
5. Which of the following precautions should be used for a patient
with pulmonary TB?
a. standard and droplet
b. contact and airborne
c. airborne and standard
d. droplet and contact
c. airborne and standard
6. Which of the following is an example of a pre-analytical error made
at the time of collection?
a. failing to mix tubes
b. incomplete requisition
c. waiting to centrifuge
d. delay in transporting
a. failing to mix tubes
7. At which of the following times should a test tube be labeled with
the patient's identification?
a. after leaving the patient's room
b. while the patient's room, before drawing the blood
c. before entering the patient's room
d. while in the patient's room, after drawing the blood
,d. while in the patient's room, after drawing the blood
8. Which of the following is an example of negative nonverbal
communication?
a. folding the arms across the chest
b. maintaining eye contact
c. taking notes
d. nodding the head
a. folding the arms across the chest
9. 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?
a. fibrinolysis from hemodilution
b. falsely elevated K levels from tissue damage
c. falsely increased platelets from clotting
d. falsely decreased iron levels from hemolysis
b. falsely elevated K levels from tissue damage
10. Which of the following statements by a new phlebotomist
indicates the need for further education on standard precautions?
a. "I will wear a gown, gloves, and mask for inpatient collections"
b. "Sharps containers should be replaced when 2/3 full"
c. "I will perform hand hygiene after removing gloves"
d. "Antimicrobial wipes may be used for cleaning a collection area at
the end of a shift."
a. "I will wear a gown, gloves, and mask for inpatient collections"
11. The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act exists to protect
healthcare workers from accidental exposure to:
a. blood borne pathogens
b. carcinogens
c. biologic toxins
d. hazardous chemicals
a. blood borne pathogens
12. Which of the following is the reason for wiping off the FIRST drop
of blood from the patient's finger with gauze when performing a
capillary puncture?
a. the first drop of blood may contain traces of tissue fluids
b. the first drop may be contaminated by the lancet
c. the first drop of blood contains too much oxygen
a. the first drop of blood may contain traces of tissue fluids
, 13. Which of the following is the maximum amount of time a
phlebotomist can leave a tourniquet secured in place prior to venous
access?
a. two minutes
b. three minutes
c. one minute
d. thirty seconds
c. one minute
14. The physician orders a hemoglobin level to be checked on a 2-
month-old patient. Which of the following sites should the
phlebotomist use to obtain the specimen?
a. superficial scalp vein
b. lateral fingertip
c. heel of the foot
d. antecubital space
c. heel of the foot
15. When performing a venipuncture, the phlebotomist is stuck with a
bloody needle upon withdrawal from the patient. What is the FIRST
thing the phlebotomist should do?
a. wash the exposed area with soap and water
b. report to a supervisor
c. document the incident
d. seek immediate medical attention
a. wash the exposed area with soap and water
16. A patient has an order for a routine 24-hour urine, with no other
special instructions. During the patient education process, the
phlebotomist must tell the patient that the process must begin:
a. with an empty bladder and end with a full bladder
b. and end with a full bladder
c. and end with an empty bladder
d. with a full bladder and end with an empty bladder
c. and end with an empty bladder
17. A phlebotomist collects a cryofibrinogen specimen, places the
specimen in a biohazard specimen bag, then onto slurry of ice and
water and transports it to the lab in a timely manner. In this case the
phlebotomist:
a. performed proper specimen handling
b. should have protected the specimen from light
PREPARATION GUIDE WITH HIGH-YIELD REVISION QUESTIONS,
PRACTICE QUESTIONS, DETAILED ANSWER EXPLANATIONS,
VENIPUNCTURE PROCEDURES, SPECIMEN COLLECTION
TECHNIQUES, INFECTION CONTROL STANDARDS, PATIENT
SAFETY PRINCIPLES, QUALITY ASSURANCE CONCEPTS, AND
COMPLETE PHLEBOTOMY CERTIFICATION SUCCESS TOOLKIT |
UPDATED FOR 2026/2027 | LATEST EDITION
1. A phlebotomist has received a requisition for a blood draw on a
patient with a coagulation disorder. The phlebotomist should be sure
to:
a.) collect the specimen from the hand to avoid a hematoma
b.) use a blood pressure cuff to apply consistent pressure
c.) hold pressure on the draw site until bleeding has stopped
d.) call the doctor to confirm the collection site
c. hold pressure on the draw site until bleeding has stopped
2. When a phlebotomist enters a patient's room to collect a STAT
blood sample, a sign above the bed states that all collections should
be from the patient's central port. Which of the following should the
phlebotomist do NEXT?
a. proceed with sample collection from the central port and alert the
nurse when finished.
b. exit the patient's room, and proceed directly to the next patient on
the collection list.
c. identify the patient and ask for confirmation that the sign is
accurate before proceeding with the collection.
d. communicate with the test order to the nursing staff and wait for
one of them to collect the sample
d. communicate with the test order to the nursing staff and wait for one of
them to collect the sample
3. Which of the following actions should the phlebotomist take when
disposing of a needle following a venipuncture?
a. push the needle guard over the needle until it clicks and then place
in a biohazard bag
b. recap the needle and place it immediately in a sharps container
,c. recap the needle and place it on the blood collection tray
d. place the needle with safety device activated immediately in a
sharps container.
d. place the needle with safety device activated immediately in a sharps
container
4. Which of the following is the correct method for transferring blood
from a syringe into evacuated tubes?
a. remove the hypodermic needle from the syringe and transfer the
blood into capped evacuated tubes by pushing on the syringe plunger
b. uncap the evacuated tubes, place them into a tube rack and
transfer the blood from the syringe through the hypodermic needle
c. uncap the evacuated tubes, place them into a tube rack and
transfer blood from the syringe using a syringe transfer device
d. remove the hypodermic needle from the syringe after activating the
safety device and transfer the blood into a capped evacuated tubes
using a syringe transfer device
d. remove the hypodermic needle from the syringe after activating the
safety device and transfer the blood into capped evacuated tubes using a
syringe transfer device
5. Which of the following precautions should be used for a patient
with pulmonary TB?
a. standard and droplet
b. contact and airborne
c. airborne and standard
d. droplet and contact
c. airborne and standard
6. Which of the following is an example of a pre-analytical error made
at the time of collection?
a. failing to mix tubes
b. incomplete requisition
c. waiting to centrifuge
d. delay in transporting
a. failing to mix tubes
7. At which of the following times should a test tube be labeled with
the patient's identification?
a. after leaving the patient's room
b. while the patient's room, before drawing the blood
c. before entering the patient's room
d. while in the patient's room, after drawing the blood
,d. while in the patient's room, after drawing the blood
8. Which of the following is an example of negative nonverbal
communication?
a. folding the arms across the chest
b. maintaining eye contact
c. taking notes
d. nodding the head
a. folding the arms across the chest
9. 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?
a. fibrinolysis from hemodilution
b. falsely elevated K levels from tissue damage
c. falsely increased platelets from clotting
d. falsely decreased iron levels from hemolysis
b. falsely elevated K levels from tissue damage
10. Which of the following statements by a new phlebotomist
indicates the need for further education on standard precautions?
a. "I will wear a gown, gloves, and mask for inpatient collections"
b. "Sharps containers should be replaced when 2/3 full"
c. "I will perform hand hygiene after removing gloves"
d. "Antimicrobial wipes may be used for cleaning a collection area at
the end of a shift."
a. "I will wear a gown, gloves, and mask for inpatient collections"
11. The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act exists to protect
healthcare workers from accidental exposure to:
a. blood borne pathogens
b. carcinogens
c. biologic toxins
d. hazardous chemicals
a. blood borne pathogens
12. Which of the following is the reason for wiping off the FIRST drop
of blood from the patient's finger with gauze when performing a
capillary puncture?
a. the first drop of blood may contain traces of tissue fluids
b. the first drop may be contaminated by the lancet
c. the first drop of blood contains too much oxygen
a. the first drop of blood may contain traces of tissue fluids
, 13. Which of the following is the maximum amount of time a
phlebotomist can leave a tourniquet secured in place prior to venous
access?
a. two minutes
b. three minutes
c. one minute
d. thirty seconds
c. one minute
14. The physician orders a hemoglobin level to be checked on a 2-
month-old patient. Which of the following sites should the
phlebotomist use to obtain the specimen?
a. superficial scalp vein
b. lateral fingertip
c. heel of the foot
d. antecubital space
c. heel of the foot
15. When performing a venipuncture, the phlebotomist is stuck with a
bloody needle upon withdrawal from the patient. What is the FIRST
thing the phlebotomist should do?
a. wash the exposed area with soap and water
b. report to a supervisor
c. document the incident
d. seek immediate medical attention
a. wash the exposed area with soap and water
16. A patient has an order for a routine 24-hour urine, with no other
special instructions. During the patient education process, the
phlebotomist must tell the patient that the process must begin:
a. with an empty bladder and end with a full bladder
b. and end with a full bladder
c. and end with an empty bladder
d. with a full bladder and end with an empty bladder
c. and end with an empty bladder
17. A phlebotomist collects a cryofibrinogen specimen, places the
specimen in a biohazard specimen bag, then onto slurry of ice and
water and transports it to the lab in a timely manner. In this case the
phlebotomist:
a. performed proper specimen handling
b. should have protected the specimen from light
