Phlebotomy Technician Quiz

The phlebotomy technician is washing her hands at the beginning of a shift. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

• Turn the faucet off with her wet hand.

• Use enough soap to form a lather.

• Rub hands together for at least 5 seconds.

• Hold hands with palms facing upwards while rinsing.

Answer explanation

The technician should use enough soap to form a lather, as this is an essential step in proper handwashing technique.

A phlebotomy technician should identify that the order of draw for capillary collections is different from venipuncture for which of the following reasons?

• The risk of hemoconcentration.

• An increased rate of coagulation.

• Smaller size of specimens.

• Additive cross-contamination.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'An increased rate of coagulation' because capillary collections have an increased rate of coagulation compared to venipuncture, requiring a different order of draw.

A phlebotomy technician observes a hematoma developing at the site of a venous blood draw. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

• Observe the site to see if the hematoma worsens.

• Ask the patient to apply pressure to the area.

• Release the tourniquet and stop the draw.

• Call for a nurse to assess the patient's condition.

Answer explanation

The correct action is to release the tourniquet and stop the draw to prevent further hematoma development.

A phlebotomy technician is planning to collect a sputum specimen from a patient. Which of the following instructions should the technician give the patient?

• Rinse your mouth with mouthwash before we collect the specimen.

• Gargle some water before we collect the specimen.

• Leave your dentures in during specimen collection.

• Breathe deeply and then cough up a specimen into the container.

Answer explanation

The correct instruction for collecting a sputum specimen is to breathe deeply and then cough up a specimen into the container.

A phlebotomy technician sees a coworker receive a major electrical shock from an instrument. Which of the following actions should the technician take first?

• Call 911.

• Notify the shift supervisor.

• Remove the coworker from contact with the instrument.

• Shut off the power to the instrument.

Answer explanation

The technician should shut off the power to the instrument first to prevent further harm to the coworker and ensure safety.

A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect a blood specimen from a small vein of an older patient. Which of the following actions should the technician take to keep the vein from collapsing?

• Use a small needle for the draw

• Use a large evacuated tube for the draw.

• Pull the syringe’s plunger back quickly.

• Probe the vein with a needle.

Answer explanation

Using a small needle for the draw is the correct choice as it helps prevent the vein from collapsing in older patients.

A phlebotomy technician should select a tube that has which of the following additives when collecting a blood specimen for a CBC?

• SST.

• EDTA

• Lithium heparin

• Sodium citrate.

Answer explanation

A phlebotomy technician should select a tube with EDTA additive when collecting a blood specimen for a CBC to prevent clotting and preserve cell morphology.

A phlebotomy technician is collecting a urine specimen from a patient for a pre-employment drug test. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

• Ensure the specimen is within a temperature range of 21.1° to 26.6° C (69.9° to 78.9° F)

• Take the temperature of the specimen within 8 min of collection.

• Instruct the patient to flush the toilet after filling the collection container.

• Verify that the specimen contains at least 45 mL of urine.

Answer explanation

The correct action for the phlebotomy technician is to verify that the specimen contains at least 45 mL of urine, as this is a standard requirement for a urine drug test.

A phlebotomy technician is performing a venipuncture using a winged infusion set. The red-topped tube fills, but the light blue-topped tube slows and does not fill completely. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

• Tell the patient that another venipuncture will need to be performed.

• Write “insufficient quality” on the requisition form.

• Submit the partially filled light blue-topped tube to the laboratory.

• Insert a new light blue-topped tube to see if it will fill.

Answer explanation

The technician should insert a new light blue-topped tube to see if it will fill, as the slow filling may be due to issues with the current tube or technique.

A phlebotomy technician has collected a blood specimen from a patient who is in an isolation room. Which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) should the technician remove first?

• Gown

• Gloves

• Mask

• Goggles

Answer explanation

The phlebotomy technician should remove gloves first to prevent contamination while handling other PPE. This helps reduce the risk of spreading pathogens.