Phlebotomy Technician – Questions and Answers | over 200
Questions
1. A phlebotomist reviews a lab requisition and verifies the patient's identity by asking their full
name and date of birth—then confirms those details against the wristband before proceeding.
Which step have they completed correctly?
✅ A) Accurate patient identification before collection
B) Confirming fasting status
C) Palpating for the best vein
D) Labeling the tube post-collection
2. You’re preparing to collect a fasting blood glucose, and the patient reports they last ate 6
hours ago. What should you do?
A) Proceed—you only need a 6-hour fast
✅ B) Inform the patient they must be fasting for at least 8 hours and reschedule
C) Cancel the test indefinitely
D) Switch to a non-fasting glucose test
3. A patient has fragile veins that collapse easily. Which equipment choice is MOST
appropriate?
✅ A) A syringe with butterfly needle, transferring to evacuated tubes
B) Straight needle and evacuated tube
C) Lancet for fingerstick
D) High-gauge butterfly needle
4. Which color tube is typically used for CBC testing due to its EDTA additive?
A) Light blue
B) Green
✅ C) Lavender
D) Red
5. When drawing multiple tubes using an ETS system, which order of draw is correct?
A) Lavender, green, red
✅ B) Light blue, red (serum), green, lavender
,C) Red, blue, lavender
D) Green, red, blue
6. You notice petechiae forming below a patient’s tourniquet. What should you do?
A) Leave it in place to continue draw
✅ B) Remove the tourniquet immediately and release pressure
C) Advance needle immediately
D) Slap their arm to disperse petechiae
7. The term venostasis refers to:
A) Process of drawing blood
✅ B) Congestion or stagnation of blood in a vein when a tourniquet is left on too long
C) Application of antiseptic
D) Clotting inside a tube
8. Which action is considered a pre-analytical error?
✅ A) Mislabeling a patient’s tubes
B) Running an expired analyzer
C) Offering clarification on fasting requirements
D) Storing tubes at 4 °C
9. What is the correct antiseptic and application time for routine venipuncture?
A) Soap and water for 10 seconds
✅ B) 70% isopropyl alcohol, rubbing in a circular motion, and allowing to dry
C) Hydrogen peroxide for 1 minute
D) Povidone-iodine for 15 seconds
10. Which precaution is required when collecting blood from a patient on droplet isolation?
✅ A) Wear a surgical mask and gloves
B) Wear gown only
C) Use N95 mask only
D) Perform venipuncture outside room
,11. A phlebotomist draws a blood culture using a syringe. What is the next correct step after
collection?
A) Dispose of needle and syringe in trash
✅ B) Transfer blood aseptically to blood culture bottles before removing needle
C) Pour blood into red-top tube
D) Remove syringe and recap before transport
12. Which tube is designated for coagulation tests like PT/INR?
✅ A) Light blue (sodium citrate)
B) Lavender
C) Green
D) Gray
13. A patient faints mid-draw. What’s your first action?
A) Complete tube collection
✅ B) Immediately remove the needle and support their head; then call for help
C) Tighten tourniquet
D) Offer juice and continue
14. A newborn heel stick requires collecting from the lateral plantar surface rather than the
center. Why?
A) Easier access
✅ B) To avoid bone injury and joint involvement
C) Better blood flow
D) No proper reason
15. What is the standard depth limit for infant heel puncture?
A) 3 mm
✅ B) 2 mm
C) 5 mm
D) 1 mm
16. Which test result is most likely affected by hemolysis?
A) Hemoglobin A1C
✅ B) Potassium
, C) Prothrombin time (PT)
D) Sodium
17. What does OSHA require after potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens?
A) No action needed
✅ B) Immediate washing, reporting, and evaluation
C) Resume work without intervention
D) Use sanitizer only
18. Which tube would you choose for serum chemistry tests?
A) EDTA lavender-top
✅ B) SST (serum-separator red/gray)
C) Green-top sodium heparin
D) Gray-top fluoride/potassium oxalate
19. You realize you forgot to invert an additive tube after collection. What must you do?
A) Let it stand. No issue
✅ B) Gently invert it the correct number of times before labeling and sending to lab
C) Discard and redraw
D) Break tube gently
20. During capillary collection from an adult fingerstick, what volume is generally considered
adequate for most point-of-care tests?
A) 1 mL
✅ B) 250–500 μL
C) 2–3 mL
D) 50 μL
21. Before starting a venipuncture, a phlebotomist confirms the patient’s identity, reviews the lab
requisition, and inspects the venipuncture site. Which two actions are essential for minimizing
risk of misidentification and infection?
A) Palpate vein while patient is standing
✅ B) Verify patient name and date of birth against requisition and wristband, and clean the site
with 70% isopropyl alcohol allowing it to dry completely
C) Apply tourniquet before patient verification
D) Massage site to improve blood flow
Questions
1. A phlebotomist reviews a lab requisition and verifies the patient's identity by asking their full
name and date of birth—then confirms those details against the wristband before proceeding.
Which step have they completed correctly?
✅ A) Accurate patient identification before collection
B) Confirming fasting status
C) Palpating for the best vein
D) Labeling the tube post-collection
2. You’re preparing to collect a fasting blood glucose, and the patient reports they last ate 6
hours ago. What should you do?
A) Proceed—you only need a 6-hour fast
✅ B) Inform the patient they must be fasting for at least 8 hours and reschedule
C) Cancel the test indefinitely
D) Switch to a non-fasting glucose test
3. A patient has fragile veins that collapse easily. Which equipment choice is MOST
appropriate?
✅ A) A syringe with butterfly needle, transferring to evacuated tubes
B) Straight needle and evacuated tube
C) Lancet for fingerstick
D) High-gauge butterfly needle
4. Which color tube is typically used for CBC testing due to its EDTA additive?
A) Light blue
B) Green
✅ C) Lavender
D) Red
5. When drawing multiple tubes using an ETS system, which order of draw is correct?
A) Lavender, green, red
✅ B) Light blue, red (serum), green, lavender
,C) Red, blue, lavender
D) Green, red, blue
6. You notice petechiae forming below a patient’s tourniquet. What should you do?
A) Leave it in place to continue draw
✅ B) Remove the tourniquet immediately and release pressure
C) Advance needle immediately
D) Slap their arm to disperse petechiae
7. The term venostasis refers to:
A) Process of drawing blood
✅ B) Congestion or stagnation of blood in a vein when a tourniquet is left on too long
C) Application of antiseptic
D) Clotting inside a tube
8. Which action is considered a pre-analytical error?
✅ A) Mislabeling a patient’s tubes
B) Running an expired analyzer
C) Offering clarification on fasting requirements
D) Storing tubes at 4 °C
9. What is the correct antiseptic and application time for routine venipuncture?
A) Soap and water for 10 seconds
✅ B) 70% isopropyl alcohol, rubbing in a circular motion, and allowing to dry
C) Hydrogen peroxide for 1 minute
D) Povidone-iodine for 15 seconds
10. Which precaution is required when collecting blood from a patient on droplet isolation?
✅ A) Wear a surgical mask and gloves
B) Wear gown only
C) Use N95 mask only
D) Perform venipuncture outside room
,11. A phlebotomist draws a blood culture using a syringe. What is the next correct step after
collection?
A) Dispose of needle and syringe in trash
✅ B) Transfer blood aseptically to blood culture bottles before removing needle
C) Pour blood into red-top tube
D) Remove syringe and recap before transport
12. Which tube is designated for coagulation tests like PT/INR?
✅ A) Light blue (sodium citrate)
B) Lavender
C) Green
D) Gray
13. A patient faints mid-draw. What’s your first action?
A) Complete tube collection
✅ B) Immediately remove the needle and support their head; then call for help
C) Tighten tourniquet
D) Offer juice and continue
14. A newborn heel stick requires collecting from the lateral plantar surface rather than the
center. Why?
A) Easier access
✅ B) To avoid bone injury and joint involvement
C) Better blood flow
D) No proper reason
15. What is the standard depth limit for infant heel puncture?
A) 3 mm
✅ B) 2 mm
C) 5 mm
D) 1 mm
16. Which test result is most likely affected by hemolysis?
A) Hemoglobin A1C
✅ B) Potassium
, C) Prothrombin time (PT)
D) Sodium
17. What does OSHA require after potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens?
A) No action needed
✅ B) Immediate washing, reporting, and evaluation
C) Resume work without intervention
D) Use sanitizer only
18. Which tube would you choose for serum chemistry tests?
A) EDTA lavender-top
✅ B) SST (serum-separator red/gray)
C) Green-top sodium heparin
D) Gray-top fluoride/potassium oxalate
19. You realize you forgot to invert an additive tube after collection. What must you do?
A) Let it stand. No issue
✅ B) Gently invert it the correct number of times before labeling and sending to lab
C) Discard and redraw
D) Break tube gently
20. During capillary collection from an adult fingerstick, what volume is generally considered
adequate for most point-of-care tests?
A) 1 mL
✅ B) 250–500 μL
C) 2–3 mL
D) 50 μL
21. Before starting a venipuncture, a phlebotomist confirms the patient’s identity, reviews the lab
requisition, and inspects the venipuncture site. Which two actions are essential for minimizing
risk of misidentification and infection?
A) Palpate vein while patient is standing
✅ B) Verify patient name and date of birth against requisition and wristband, and clean the site
with 70% isopropyl alcohol allowing it to dry completely
C) Apply tourniquet before patient verification
D) Massage site to improve blood flow
