NCCT Certification EXAM, questions answered
MULTIPLE CHOICES WITH RATIONALES| 2025 verified
graded A+ already passed!
Which of the following specimens is likely to be considered STAT?
A. therapeutic drug levels
B. lactic acid
C. electrolytes
D. blood smears - (ANSWER)lactic acid
Rationale
A lactic acid level is likely to be a STAT order as this analyte deteriorates very
quickly after being drawn and is usually associated with emergency situations.
Therapeutic drug levels, electrolytes and blood smears are much more stable
analytes.
A phlebotomist is assigned to manage an outpatient draw station. Prioritize the
following patients in the correct order.
A. 2-hour post-prandial glucose level due in 40 minutes
B. type and screen on a pre-operative patient due for surgery that day
C.weekly PT/INR
D.STAT troponin level on a patient sent over from a doctor's office -
(ANSWER)STAT troponin level on a patient sent over from a doctor's office, type
and screen on a pre-operative patient due for surgery that day, 2-hour post-
prandial glucose level due in 40 minutes, weekly PT/INR
,Rationale
It is important that a phlebotomist be able to prioritize blood draw orders. This
assures that patients get correct and timely medical treatment. A STAT troponin
level is used to triage the possibility of heart attack. The type and screen for
surgery the same day is needed so the Blood Bank staff can assure blood
components can be ready if necessary. For accurate results, timed tests need to
be drawn within a certain window. The weekly PT/INR can be done anytime.
A phlebotomist performs a blood draw testing for CBC, chemistry, and bilirubin.
After the draw, the phlebotomist wraps the bilirubin tube in aluminum foil. Which
of the following was the reason for the wrapping of the bilirubin tube?
A. To cool down the specimen.
B. To maintain the specimen at 37 degrees Celsius.
C. To protect specimen from light.
D. To prevent contamination of the specimen. - (ANSWER)To protect specimen
from light.
Rationale
Levels of bilirubin are susceptible to deterioration if exposed to light. Bilirubin is
the most sensitive - it may drop in concentration as much as 50% in one hour.
Therefore these tests are protected from light by either wrapping the specimen in
aluminum foil or transferring the spun serum or plasma to a brown aliquot tube.
The specimen does not have to be cooled down or maintained at body
temperature (37oC). Also, the foil wrapping does not prevent contamination of
the specimen.
,Which of the following correctly matches the test with the appropriate special
handling instructions?
A. vitamin A specimen kept warm using a heating pack
B. cryoglobulin level protected from light with aluminum foil
C. ammonia level kept warm using a heating pack
D. lactic acid chilled in slurry of ice and water - (ANSWER)lactic acid chilled in
slurry of ice and water
Rationale
Some blood specimens require special treatment and handling to preserve the
analyte while being transported to the lab for testing. Lactic acid and ammonia
are chilled in ice slurries as they deteriorate very quickly at room temperature.
Cryoglobulin must be kept at body temperature (in a 37 degree C heat block) until
analysis can begin. Vitamin A samples need to be protected from light and may be
wrapped with aluminum foil.
The phlebotomist draws blood from a patient in an isolation room. The specimen
should be properly taken to the lab in a
A. red biohazard bag
B. yellow bag
C. biohazard transport bag
D. brown paper bag - (ANSWER)biohazard transport bag
Rationale
, Biohazard transport bags are used to transfer specimens to the lab in an effort to
prevent the spread on infection. There are two pockets. The inside one holds the
specimen and the outside pocket is for any labels or paperwork. Red biohazard
bags are used for disposal of medical waste such as used gloves or objects
contaminated with blood or body fluids. Yellow bags are used for containing
contaminated linens or PPE. Brown paper bags are not used for specimen
transport.
Which of the following samples is still acceptable when kept at room temperature
for 8 hours after collection?
A. a urine sample
B. a stool culture
C. a glucose test in a gray top tube
D. a B12 test in a red top tube - (ANSWER)a glucose test in a gray top tube
Rationale
Glucose levels are stable in a gray top tube at room temperature for up to three
days because they contain the glycolytic inhibitor sodium fluoride. A urine or stool
sample would need to be refrigerated to prevent overgrowth of bacteria or
deterioration of analytes. Red top tubes for B12 levels should be centrifuged and
the serum removed from the cells within 2 hours of collection.
Which of the following blood tests require special handling? (Select the three (3)
correct answers.)
A. CBC
MULTIPLE CHOICES WITH RATIONALES| 2025 verified
graded A+ already passed!
Which of the following specimens is likely to be considered STAT?
A. therapeutic drug levels
B. lactic acid
C. electrolytes
D. blood smears - (ANSWER)lactic acid
Rationale
A lactic acid level is likely to be a STAT order as this analyte deteriorates very
quickly after being drawn and is usually associated with emergency situations.
Therapeutic drug levels, electrolytes and blood smears are much more stable
analytes.
A phlebotomist is assigned to manage an outpatient draw station. Prioritize the
following patients in the correct order.
A. 2-hour post-prandial glucose level due in 40 minutes
B. type and screen on a pre-operative patient due for surgery that day
C.weekly PT/INR
D.STAT troponin level on a patient sent over from a doctor's office -
(ANSWER)STAT troponin level on a patient sent over from a doctor's office, type
and screen on a pre-operative patient due for surgery that day, 2-hour post-
prandial glucose level due in 40 minutes, weekly PT/INR
,Rationale
It is important that a phlebotomist be able to prioritize blood draw orders. This
assures that patients get correct and timely medical treatment. A STAT troponin
level is used to triage the possibility of heart attack. The type and screen for
surgery the same day is needed so the Blood Bank staff can assure blood
components can be ready if necessary. For accurate results, timed tests need to
be drawn within a certain window. The weekly PT/INR can be done anytime.
A phlebotomist performs a blood draw testing for CBC, chemistry, and bilirubin.
After the draw, the phlebotomist wraps the bilirubin tube in aluminum foil. Which
of the following was the reason for the wrapping of the bilirubin tube?
A. To cool down the specimen.
B. To maintain the specimen at 37 degrees Celsius.
C. To protect specimen from light.
D. To prevent contamination of the specimen. - (ANSWER)To protect specimen
from light.
Rationale
Levels of bilirubin are susceptible to deterioration if exposed to light. Bilirubin is
the most sensitive - it may drop in concentration as much as 50% in one hour.
Therefore these tests are protected from light by either wrapping the specimen in
aluminum foil or transferring the spun serum or plasma to a brown aliquot tube.
The specimen does not have to be cooled down or maintained at body
temperature (37oC). Also, the foil wrapping does not prevent contamination of
the specimen.
,Which of the following correctly matches the test with the appropriate special
handling instructions?
A. vitamin A specimen kept warm using a heating pack
B. cryoglobulin level protected from light with aluminum foil
C. ammonia level kept warm using a heating pack
D. lactic acid chilled in slurry of ice and water - (ANSWER)lactic acid chilled in
slurry of ice and water
Rationale
Some blood specimens require special treatment and handling to preserve the
analyte while being transported to the lab for testing. Lactic acid and ammonia
are chilled in ice slurries as they deteriorate very quickly at room temperature.
Cryoglobulin must be kept at body temperature (in a 37 degree C heat block) until
analysis can begin. Vitamin A samples need to be protected from light and may be
wrapped with aluminum foil.
The phlebotomist draws blood from a patient in an isolation room. The specimen
should be properly taken to the lab in a
A. red biohazard bag
B. yellow bag
C. biohazard transport bag
D. brown paper bag - (ANSWER)biohazard transport bag
Rationale
, Biohazard transport bags are used to transfer specimens to the lab in an effort to
prevent the spread on infection. There are two pockets. The inside one holds the
specimen and the outside pocket is for any labels or paperwork. Red biohazard
bags are used for disposal of medical waste such as used gloves or objects
contaminated with blood or body fluids. Yellow bags are used for containing
contaminated linens or PPE. Brown paper bags are not used for specimen
transport.
Which of the following samples is still acceptable when kept at room temperature
for 8 hours after collection?
A. a urine sample
B. a stool culture
C. a glucose test in a gray top tube
D. a B12 test in a red top tube - (ANSWER)a glucose test in a gray top tube
Rationale
Glucose levels are stable in a gray top tube at room temperature for up to three
days because they contain the glycolytic inhibitor sodium fluoride. A urine or stool
sample would need to be refrigerated to prevent overgrowth of bacteria or
deterioration of analytes. Red top tubes for B12 levels should be centrifuged and
the serum removed from the cells within 2 hours of collection.
Which of the following blood tests require special handling? (Select the three (3)
correct answers.)
A. CBC
