NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) practice questions

200 free questions with answers and explanations.

Practice test
  1. 51.A phlebotomy technician needs to draw blood from a patient with a history of syncope during venipuncture. Which position is MOST appropriate for this patient?Patient Preparation
  2. 52.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to ship a frozen plasma specimen to a reference laboratory for specialized testing. Which of the following is the most appropriate packaging method to maintain specimen integrity?Specimen Handling
  3. 53.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect a blood sample for a bilirubin test from a newborn. Which of the following is the MOST important patient preparation consideration for this specific test?Patient Preparation
  4. 54.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to send a specimen for a cold agglutinin test. Which of the following is the correct handling procedure during transport?Specimen Handling
  5. 55.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to aliquot a plasma specimen into multiple smaller tubes for different tests. Which of the following is the most important safety precaution to observe?Specimen Handling
  6. 56.A phlebotomy technician is instructing a patient about a timed blood draw for therapeutic drug monitoring. Which of the following instructions is MOST important for the patient to understand?Patient Preparation
  7. 57.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood from a patient. The patient asks, 'What are you doing with that needle?' Which of the following responses is MOST appropriate?Patient Preparation
  8. 58.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to perform venipuncture on a patient with visible scarring in the antecubital areas of both arms. Which of the following sites should the technician consider next?Patient Preparation
  9. 59.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to process a urine specimen for a culture and sensitivity test. Which of the following is the most important consideration for this specimen?Specimen Handling
  10. 60.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to process a specimen for a blood ammonia level. Which of the following steps is critical to maintain the specimen's integrity?Specimen Handling
  11. 61.A phlebotomy technician is asked to retrieve a specimen for a coagulation study (PT/INR) that was collected 6 hours ago and has been stored at room temperature. What is the most likely impact on the test results?Specimen Handling
  12. 62.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood from a patient who is visibly shivering and reports feeling cold. Which of the following actions should the technician take to ensure a successful venipuncture?Patient Preparation
  13. 63.A phlebotomy technician needs to separate plasma from cells for a routine coagulation test (e.g., PT/INR). What is the maximum recommended time to centrifuge the specimen after collection if it is not spun immediately?Specimen Handling
  14. 64.A phlebotomy technician needs to collect a blood sample from a patient who is unconscious in the emergency department. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate method for patient identification in this scenario?Patient Preparation
  15. 65.A phlebotomy technician is documenting a specimen rejection due to hemolysis. Which of the following details is crucial to include in the documentation?Specimen Handling
  16. 66.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood from an outpatient. The patient provides their first name, but then hesitates and cannot recall their date of birth. What is the MOST appropriate next action?Patient Preparation
  17. 67.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to centrifuge several blood specimens. Which of the following is a critical step to ensure safe and effective operation?Specimen Handling
  18. 68.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to perform a venipuncture on a patient. The patient states their name and date of birth, which match the requisition form. What is the NEXT step the technician should take to ensure proper patient identification?Patient Preparation
  19. 69.A phlebotomy technician is training a new colleague on proper specimen labeling. Which of the following pieces of information is considered absolutely critical for proper specimen identification and should be on every primary specimen container?Specimen Handling
  20. 70.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to process a potassium specimen collected in a lavender-top tube. Which of the following is the most critical step to ensure accurate results?Specimen Handling
  21. 71.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to send a frozen plasma specimen to a reference laboratory. Which of the following conditions is most likely to compromise the specimen's integrity during transport?Specimen Handling
  22. 72.A phlebotomy technician is attempting to palpate a vein in the antecubital area but is having difficulty locating a suitable site. The patient is well-hydrated and has no visible issues. What is the MOST appropriate next step?Patient Preparation
  23. 73.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to transport a blood specimen that requires protection from light. Which of the following methods is most appropriate?Specimen Handling
  24. 74.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to aliquot a serum specimen for multiple tests. Which of the following safety precautions is most important?Specimen Handling
  25. 75.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to process a specimen for a blood ammonia level. Which of the following is the most critical step to maintain specimen integrity?Specimen Handling
  26. 76.A phlebotomy technician is processing a specimen for a routine complete blood count (CBC). Which of the following actions is critical to prevent pre-analytical error?Specimen Handling
  27. 77.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood from a patient who has an intravenous (IV) line in their right arm. The patient's left arm has extensive scarring from previous surgeries. Where should the technician ideally draw blood from?Patient Preparation
  28. 78.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to process a potassium specimen collected in a lavender-top (EDTA) tube. Which of the following actions should the technician take?Specimen Handling
  29. 79.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to aliquot a serum specimen into multiple smaller tubes for different tests. Which of the following is a critical safety precaution during this process?Specimen Handling
  30. 80.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to transport a blood gas (ABG) specimen. Which of the following actions is critical to maintain the integrity of the specimen?Specimen Handling
  31. 81.A phlebotomy technician observes a coworker removing a used needle from its safety device before discarding it into a sharps container. What should the technician do immediately?Safety and Compliance
  32. 82.A phlebotomy technician is collecting blood from an adult patient who is known to have a history of fainting during blood draws. Which of the following is the most appropriate safety measure to implement before starting the procedure?Safety and Compliance
  33. 83.A phlebotomy technician is performing a blood draw on a patient who starts to seize during the procedure. What is the technician's immediate priority?Safety and Compliance
  34. 84.A phlebotomy technician accidentally sticks themselves with a used needle. After washing the exposed area with soap and water, what is the immediate next step according to OSHA guidelines?Safety and Compliance
  35. 85.A phlebotomy technician is responsible for ensuring the quality of blood specimens. Which of the following actions directly contributes to maintaining specimen integrity and preventing pre-analytical errors?Safety and Compliance
  36. 86.A phlebotomy technician needs to collect blood from a patient with a known history of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a wound. Which of the following precautions should the technician primarily implement?Safety and Compliance
  37. 87.Which of the following is the most effective method for a phlebotomy technician to prevent the spread of infection during routine patient care?Safety and Compliance
  38. 88.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to recap a used needle after venipuncture to transport it to the sharps container. Which of the following safety protocols is being violated?Safety and Compliance
  39. 89.A phlebotomy technician is involved in a quality assurance review. Which of the following is an example of a pre-analytical error?Safety and Compliance
  40. 90.A phlebotomy technician is reviewing the laboratory's exposure control plan. Which of the following is a primary purpose of this plan?Safety and Compliance
  41. 91.A phlebotomy technician is reviewing a new policy on personal protective equipment (PPE) for airborne precautions. Which of the following PPE items is specifically required when entering the room of a patient on airborne precautions?Safety and Compliance
  42. 92.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to perform venipuncture on an elderly patient with fragile veins. Which of the following techniques should the technician use to minimize trauma?Safety and Compliance
  43. 93.A phlebotomy technician is reviewing a new policy regarding the disposal of used blood collection needles. Which of the following actions is compliant with OSHA's guidelines for sharps disposal?Safety and Compliance
  44. 94.A phlebotomy technician is about to perform a venipuncture on a patient who has a history of fainting during blood draws. Which of the following is the most appropriate action to prevent injury?Safety and Compliance
  45. 95.A phlebotomy technician is asked to perform a STAT venipuncture on a patient suspected of having a highly contagious airborne disease. The designated isolation room is occupied. What is the most appropriate action for the technician to take?Safety and Compliance
  46. 96.A phlebotomy technician encounters a chemical spill of a reagent on the laboratory bench. The spill is small and localized. After ensuring the area is clear of personnel, what is the immediate next step?Safety and Compliance
  47. 97.A phlebotomy technician is performing a venipuncture. The patient suddenly complains of sharp, radiating pain down their arm and numbness in their fingers. Which of the following is the most appropriate immediate action?Safety and Compliance
  48. 98.A phlebotomy technician is transporting blood specimens to the laboratory. Which of the following actions demonstrates compliance with biohazard safety guidelines?Safety and Compliance
  49. 99.A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood from a patient for routine lab tests. The patient has visible signs of a latex allergy, which is noted in their medical record. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the technician to take regarding personal protective equipment (PPE)?Safety and Compliance
  50. 100.A phlebotomy technician is cleaning up a small blood spill on the laboratory floor. After donning appropriate PPE, which of the following steps should be performed first?Safety and Compliance