NPS Phlebotomy Practice Exam

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• Without fluoride, glucose will decrease in concentration by what percentage within a single hour?
• Compare venipuncture and capillary puncture in terms of sample type, volume, and typical tests.
• Lavender-topped tubes are being replaced by pink stoppers.
• What term describes placing radioactive materials inside the body to treat cancer?
• Which sample is used to evaluate gas exchange and acid-base status?
• Which of the following is a common reason a specimen is rejected due to labeling issues?
• Which blood vessels carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart?
• Any disease-causing pathogen carried through the blood
• If a dialysis patient has a cannula inserted, this should be your primary site for draws.
• What should be documented after venipuncture attempts?
• _________ shields blood from the glass of the collection tube and prevents it from clotting.
• Which color stoppers are replacing lavender-topped tubes?
• Why should EDTA tubes be inverted gently rather than shaken vigorously?
• What term describes groups of tests performed at one time from a single venipuncture?
• What is the normal time to conduct a Simplate Bleeding Time test?
• Where can a skin puncture be performed?
• Which practice helps minimize tissue fluid contamination in capillary blood samples?
• Describe the proper handling of a fluoride/oxalate (gray-top) tube used for glucose testing.
• The study and treatment of cancer is known as Oncology.
• Which color-coded tube is used for coagulation testing?
• How many times should a standard EDTA or anticoagulant tube be inverted to mix properly?
• Which process involves coordinating lab, pharmacy, and nursing to maintain drug levels within a target range?
• Failure to perform a procedure in accordance with an institution's Standard of Care is most accurately described as which concept?
• Capillary blood is composed of which combination?
• Which test may yield erroneous results after the phlebotomist redirects the needle several times before entering the vein?
• A Monovette or Microvette are both _________ in the context of capillary blood collection.
• Direct Transmission is exemplified by which scenario?
• A plan a healthcare institution must create to ensure that they meet OSHA regulations.
• In what year was the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) signed into law?
• What additive do light blue topped tubes hold?
• What test is specially coordinated between the lab, pharmacy, and nursing?
• Which term describes disease-causing pathogens carried through the blood?
• Which term describes testing to keep drug levels within a target range?
• Corticosteroids could constitute a variance if taken prior to a GTT.
• Which laboratory test should be drawn first when multiple tests are ordered?
• What color tube is used for a Glucose Tolerance Test?
• The vacuum tubes used for blood culture contain what to support microbial growth?
• Which statement is true about capillary specimens compared to venous specimens?
• Which test is not part of the blood sugar panel?
• Which site is commonly used for capillary collection in infants, and what is a typical pre-collection step?
• In the order of collection for capillary draws, which sample should be drawn first?
• True or False: A glucose tolerance test can be used to diagnose adrenal insufficiency.
• What is the correct action if you suspect a sample was collected from the wrong patient?
• Which additive do PST tubes contain to aid plasma separation?
• This autoimmune disease causes the body to attack the joints, causing inflammation in the patient's tissues.
• What is the proper practice regarding antiseptic application and drying before venipuncture?
• The distal phalanx refers to which part?
• A lancet size larger than 3 mm is acceptable for patients with calloused fingers.
• Which analyte is sensitive to light and should be protected from light during storage?
• The accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the body is known as
• Which tests require protection from light during transport, and what is a common practice to ensure protection?
• Which field focuses on cancer care?
• Which vein is commonly used for venipuncture in obese patients to obtain best results?
• When collecting blood cultures, what is the correct sequence relative to other tubes, and why?
• Which test is not part of the blood sugar panel?
• Which patient education points should you communicate before a venipuncture?
• Which vessels carry deoxygenated blood to the heart?
• Why is glycolysis inhibition important in gray-top tubes used for glucose testing?
• The incision on a fingerstick should be made ______ to the fingerprints in the distal phalanx.
• The dermal subcutaneous junction is located ____ mm into the tissue.
• When venipuncture attempts are made, what should be documented?
• Describe common signs of a vasovagal reaction during phlebotomy and the recommended initial actions.
• What does QA stand for in the phlebotomy context, and what is its purpose?
• What is the fasting requirement for a lipid panel, and why is fasting important?
• Which anticoagulant tube allows for both whole blood and plasma testing?
• If performing a GTT and a patient's fasting sugar is ______ the physician or nurse should be notified before proceeding.
• The fluid to cellular ratio of blood is what to what, respectively?
• Dermal punctures are appropriate to use in all of the following patient scenarios except
• Which tube type is typically used to obtain serum for testing after the blood has clotted?
• Which additive in lavender-top tubes is commonly used for hematology testing?
• A nosocomial infection resulting from poor technique is an example of which type of harm?
• Which term best describes failure to perform a procedure according to the institution's standard of care?
• Which term describes professional negligence during medical procedure?
• During blood culture collection, which method uses standard vacuum tubes that contain the growth medium?
• Potassium is an additive in which color-topped tube?
• Why is it important to draw blood culture bottles first?
• What is the proper protocol if a specimen is not labeled at the point of collection?
• Direct Transmission occurs when infection passes directly without proper gloving and hand washing.
• The lavender EDTA tube binds calcium; if it's drawn before an SST tube, the calcium values could test lower than accurate. Which of the following statements is true?
• Newborns have a blood volume of which range?
• Which item is routinely used PPE during phlebotomy for every draw?
• If you're conducting a blood culture on a healthy adult male, you will pull __ cc of blood into each bottle
• Which of the following is NOT a sign of a vasovagal reaction during phlebotomy?
• Define hemoconcentration and name tests that can be falsely elevated by it.
• Which color-top tube is typically used for plasma chemistry tests requiring rapid plasma separation, and what additive does it contain?
• Which statement about ketones is true?
• The normal time for a Simplate Bleeding Time test is 2 to 10 minutes.
• Which analyte is most sensitive to prolonged tourniquet application, leading to falsely elevated values?
• What are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the tissues?
• To perform the Allen Test, pressure should be applied to which arteries?
• In obese patients, the cephalic vein normally renders the best results.
• Indirect Transmission occurs through which mechanism?
• The distal phalanx is the bone at the tip of which body part?
• A chemical found in many foods and used in products such as aspirin and various pain relievers.
• If lavender EDTA is drawn before SST tube, calcium values would test lower than accurate. Which option best represents this statement?
• Hitting a nerve during a procedure is malpractice.
• What does the 'cold chain' refer to in specimen handling, and why is it important for some tests?
• What are the risks and considerations of the syringe method for blood collection?
• Which statement about bilirubin handling is correct?
• If you must draw from an arm with an IV line, which approach is recommended?
• Which of the following is NOT typically a pre-analytical error source?
• In phlebotomy, what does chain of custody refer to, and when is it relevant?
• Which test is not part of the blood sugar panel?
• Which landmark is referenced when locating the puncture site for the Simplate Bleeding Time Test?
• A collection tube can lose its vacuum if it stays on the shelf too long.
• For the Simplate Bleeding Time Test, where should the puncture site be located relative to the antecubital bend?
• Capillary collection in infants is commonly used for which purpose, and why?
• A 6-8 pound baby cannot lose more than _____ mL of blood at any given time.
• What is the recommended policy regarding venipuncture attempts and switching sites?
• What is the primary purpose of aseptic technique in phlebotomy?
• How should a persistent hematoma after venipuncture be managed?
• Which test is used to evaluate the coagulation cascade and is listed among the choices?
• Which term describes testing to ensure medications remain within a therapeutic range?
• How many seconds after the draw should tubes be inverted?
• What is the required time window for inverting blood collection tubes after drawing?
• Which statement correctly pairs a puncture location with the bleeding-time cuff setting for the Simplate Bleeding Time Test?
• Why is applying pressure with gauze for several minutes after needle withdrawal important?
• Which of the following is a common pre-analytical error source?
• During the Simplate Bleeding Time Test, the blood pressure cuff is inflated to how many millimeters of mercury?
• Which therapy is described as placing radioactive materials inside the body to treat cancer?
• Finger sticks should never be performed on a child younger than _________.
• Which pancreatic hormone promotes uptake of glucose into cells?
• What is the typical needle angle for venipuncture during entry?
• Why is the pre-analytical phase critical in laboratory testing, and what are common sources of error?
• A phlebotomist who does not follow the institution's Standard of Care is best described as exhibiting which of the following?
• A drop of infected blood transferred via equipment is an example of which transmission?
• The puncture site distance for the Simplate Bleeding Time Test is measured from the antecubital bend. How far below the bend should it be?
• Ketones can evaporate in cooler temperatures.
• Capillary blood is composed of which components?
• Each micro tube (or bullet) holds _____ cc of blood.
• ________ are small bean-shaped structures that filter substances and fight infection in the body.
• When hemolysis occurs, the sample color changes to what?
• Which items are included on a standard specimen label?
• During the bleeding time assessment, the cuff pressure is set to which value?
• Which color does a hemolyzed blood sample typically appear as in the plasma?
• If the following labs are ordered, which should be drawn first?
• Sodium citrate, used in certain coagulation tests, primarily binds which ion?
• Capillary blood is composed of interstitial fluid, intracellular fluids, and arterial and venous blood. Which option expresses this statement as true?
• Which document describes the method to prevent exposure to bloodborne pathogens in a healthcare setting?
• The dermal subcutaneous junction depth is exactly 1.6 millimeters into the tissue. Which option reflects this measurement?
• Rolling veins tend to be present mostly in which patients?
• What is the standard practice for preparing the skin before venipuncture?
• Which statement is true regarding glucose tolerance testing safety before the test?
• What is the correct cuff pressure used during the Simplate Bleeding Time Test?
• The statement 'lavender EDTA tubes binding calcium could cause falsely low calcium values if drawn before an SST tube' is:
• The maximum one-time blood draw for a 6-8 pound newborn is approximately
• Which of the following tests is used to assess coagulation?
• Which top color is used for a glucose-related test such as a glucose tolerance test?
• What is the correct disposal method for used needles and other sharps?
• True or False: A collection tube can lose its vacuum if it stays on the shelf too long.
• Which statement describes the correct approach to mixing a blood collection tube with anticoagulant after collection?
• What does CLIA regulate, and how does it relate to phlebotomy practice?
• When a coronary risk comprehensive profile has been ordered, you should make sure the patient has been fasting for ________.
• Lavender-top tubes with EDTA serve what primary function in hematology testing?
• What is the correct technique for mixing a blood collection tube with anticoagulant, and how many inversions are recommended?
• Inverting plain glass tubes can lead to hemolysis.
• Which PPE is specifically recommended when there is a risk of splashes or potential exposure to blood during phlebotomy?
• The coronary risk comprehensive profile test requires fasting for 10 to 12 hours.
• Monovette or Microvette are described as what in capillary blood collection?
• For platelet testing, which color-topped tube is used?
• When the ratio of the fluid portion of blood to the cellular portion of blood shifts, that is known as
• When is a butterfly needle preferred, and what patient circumstances justify its use?
• How long should pressure be applied to a venipuncture site?
• Which statement best describes a laboratory panel?
• Capillary blood testing often presents which challenge when compared to venous blood?
• Which test is part of both the blood sugar panel and the diabetic panel?
• Exposure time of plasma or serum to cells can affect test results.
• Which phlebotomy practice is most likely to cause erroneous results in coagulation testing?
• The claim that EDTA in a green-top tube can cause a falsely low reading for electrolyte testing is true.
• In a standard phlebotomy draw where multiple tests are ordered, which specimen is typically drawn first to minimize contamination?
• What is the immediate action to take when a specimen is found to be mislabeled before testing can proceed?
• Which term describes swelling due to fluid accumulation in the body's tissues?
• When preparing a site for blood culture using povidone-iodine, the swab should cover a diameter of how many inches?
• When performing a finger stick, never puncture the side or tip of the finger
• What are the small red/purple dots that appear on the skin and are flat?
• Quality Assurance in phlebotomy primarily aims to ensure which of the following?
• What is the proper action if a sample is collected with incorrect labeling?
• What is the recommended policy when multiple venipuncture attempts fail on a patient?
• How long should IV therapy be off before performing a blood draw?
• A fingerstick puncture should be performed on the side or fingertip.
• Using a lancet over 2.5mm to 3mm is acceptable when
• Which color-top tube is used for glucose testing with a glycolysis inhibitor?
• Which steps should you take after a needlestick injury in the lab?
• A stress response that can trigger the constriction of arteries, slowing blood flow through the body is called which?
• Which tests require protection from light during transport and handling?
• Which statement correctly describes the presence of a gel separator in PST tubes?
• How can the use of anticoagulants such as warfarin affect phlebotomy practice or results?
• A hormone made in the pancreas that helps the body use sugar as a source of energy.
• The first drop of blood should be collected from a heel stick.
• Which of the following won't contribute to excessive bleeding?
• When performing a blood culture with povidone-iodine, the area should be swabbed to what diameter?