Duties
As the phlebotomist, what is your primary duty?
Performing venipunctures
How long should a sample sit to clot prior to putting it in a centrifuge?
30 minutes
Name the most commonly used site for IV blood draw.
Antecubital Fossa - area on the inner elbow where several veins are readily accessible.
After inserting the needle into the patient they start complaining of severe pain, what possibly could have happened?
Hitting a nerve
Name the color of test tubes that coagulation studies drawn in? (PT, PTT)
Light Blue - Sodium Citrate
The patients name and DOB
What does CLIA stand for?
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act
Name the preferred vein located in the antecubital fossa for drawing IV blood.
Median cubital Vein
You receive "fasting" lab orders for a patient, what does the term fasting mean?
NPO for 10-12 hours, including gum and tobacco
Name the color of test tube used to draw a HgbA1C
Lavender - EDTA
What should you always do prior to patient contact?
Perform hand hygiene
What is an anticoagulant?
A chemical substance that prevents blood from clotting.
You receive orders for a bilirubin test to be performed on an infant, which site should you use for collection?
Heel Stick
What times of day do Cortisol levels need to be drawn at?
0800 and 1600
You are hired at an outside clinic to strictly perform laboratory duties, they are short staffed and ask if you can assist in other office duties, what should your answer be?
No, this puts you at risk of malpractice and fraud.
What is the amount of time you should centrifuge a sample after clotting time has been achieved?
10-15 minutes
When performing a venipuncture, your duty is to hold the needle steady for what purpose?
To prevent movement under the patients skin
After collecting a blood sample from a patient and removing the tube and needle from the vein what is the immediate next step?
Engage the safety device to prevent accidental needle sticks
What does "SST" stand for? And what is its purpose?
Serum separator tube - separates serum from whole blood during centrifugation
What other types of lab collection might a phlebotomist or laboratory tech be expected to collect?
Urine, Buccal Swabs, Venipuncture, Heel sticks, Capillary puncture
What does "QC" stand for in relation to a laboratory setting and what is the purpose of them?
Quality Controls - ensure high diagnostic accuracy, consistency, and patient safety
Just before inserting a needle into a vein what should, you visually check?
The needle itself to check for imperfections
Do patients have the right to refuse blood draws?
Yes
What is the purpose for a glucose tolerance test?
Monitor blood glucose to aid in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus