What should I do?
A phlebotomy technician is performing a glucometer reading for a young adult patient. The patient’s parent is in the room and asks about the patient’s glucose level. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
A. Write down the results for the parent and the patient
B. Ask the parent to leave the room and tell the patient
C. Show the patient and parent the results in the patient’s electronic health record (EHR)
D. Ask the patient for permission to disclose the results with the parent present
D. Ask the patient for permission to disclose the results with the parent present
A phlebotomy technician is educating a patient about a 24-hour urine collection. Which of the following instructions should the technician give to the patient?
A. “Avoid mixing or inverting the container after collecting the specimen”
B. “Start collecting at the second void of the day”
C. “Reduce fluid intake during the 24-hour time frame”
D. “Store the specimen at room temperature”
B. “Start collecting at the second void of the day”
A phlebotomy technician is preparing to perform the third set of blood draws for a glucose tolerance test (GTT). The patient starts to cry and refuses to extend her arm for the draw. Which of the following statements should the technician make?
A. “May I please perform the draw?”
B. “I will get in trouble if I don’t perform the draw”
C. “I promise the draw won’t hurt”
D. “May I come back in an hour to perform the draw?”
A. “May I please perform the draw?”
A phlebotomy technician receives a needlestick injury while performing a venipuncture. Which of the following information should the technician include in the online sharps injury log?
A. The injured technician’s name
B. The recommended follow-up treatment
C. The department where the injury occurred
D. The patient’s name
C. The department where the injury occurred
Note:
You should also include the type and brand of device and a brief explanation of what happened
A phlebotomy technician is collecting a sample for cholesterol, troponin, and HDL blood results. Which of the following departments is responsible for processing these tests?
A. Hematology
B. Microbiology
C. Chemistry
D. Pathology
C. Chemistry
A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood from a patient who has been admitted for life-threatening cardiac symptoms. Which of the following actions should the phlebotomist take?
A. Proceed with collecting the patient’s blood
B. Ask the patient to sign a consent form
C. Ask for consent for a family member
D. Proceed after verbal consent has been given
A. Proceed with collecting the patient’s blood
Note:
The emergency overrides the need for consent
A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect a blood sample from a patient for a cholesterol test. Which of the following statements should the technician make?
A. “Please take any prescribed medication after the test”
B. “Avoid eating red meat the day before the test”
C. “Please sit for at least 5 minutes before the test
D. “Avoid any caffeine on the day of the test”
C. “Please sit for at least 5 minutes before the test
A phlebotomy technician enters a patient’s room to perform a blood draw and notices that the patient’s identification band is still on the bedside table. The patient states, “I hate wearing it, so I took it off”. Which of the following responses should the technician make?
A. “I will ask the nurse to replace the identification band”
B. “I will ask your roommate to verify your identification”
C. “Please show me your driver’s license”
D. “I will proceed with the blood draw”
A. “I will ask the nurse to replace the identification band”
A phlebotomy technician is performing a dorsal venipuncture with the needle at a 15o angle, resulting in slow blood flow and the development of a hematoma. Which of the following should the technician identify as the cause of the hematoma?
A. Needle beside the vein
B. Needle at too shallow of an angle
C. Needle bevel opening in the vein
D. Needle completely through the vein
D. Needle completely through the vein
A phlebotomist technician is preparing to process a WBC differential test, testosterone test, and a glucose test. Which of the following actions should the technician take to process these tests?
A. Prepare a slide from a lavender-topped tube and centrifuge a red-topped tube and a gray-topped tube
B. Prepare a slide from a gray-topped tube and centrifuge a light-blue-topped tube and a red-topped tube
C. Prepare a slide from a red-topped tube and centrifuge a gray-topped tube and a lavender-topped tube
D. Prepare a slide from a light-blue topped tube and centrifuge a lavender-topped tube and a red-topped tube
A. Prepare a slide from a lavender-topped tube and centrifuge a red-topped tube and a gray-topped tube
A phlebotomy technician is performing a venipuncture on a patient who currently has an IV in both arms. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
A. Ask the nurse to turn off the IVs for 1 min
B. Apply the tourniquet above the IV site
C. Ask the nurse to turn off the IVs for 2 min
D. Ask the nurse to remove one of the IVs
C. Ask the nurse to turn off the IVs for 2 min
A phlebotomy technician is instructing a patient on how to collect a urine specimen for a culture and sensitivity test. Which of the following statements should the technician include?
A. “You will need to collect a midstream clean-catch specimen”
B. “You will need to collect your first morning void of the morning”
C. “You will need to collect the specimen after a 12-hour fast”
D. “You will need to collect the specimen 2 hours after eating”
A. “You will need to collect a midstream clean-catch specimen”
A patient asks a phlebotomy technician why his blood is being drawn. Which of the following responses should the technician make?
A. “The test is critical to determining your diagnosis”
B. “You should ask your provider about the test”
C. “Your provider has ordered cardiac enzymes and digoxin levels”
D. “Your provider has ordered these tests in order to rule out cancer”
B. “You should ask your provider about the test”
A phlebotomy technician is performing a venipuncture on a patient. When the technician inserts the needle, the vein collapses. Which of the following is a possible cause?
A. Applying the tourniquet too tightly
B. Inserting a smaller evacuated tube
C. Applying the blood pressure cuff to 30 mm Hg
D. Using a 25-gauge needle and syringe
A. Applying the tourniquet too tightly
A phlebotomy technician is collecting a peripheral blood smear from a patient. The technician should identify that this collection technique is used for which of the following tests?
A. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
B. WBC differential test
C. Blood culture
D. Arterial blood gas (ABG) test
B. WBC differential test
A phlebotomy technician is performing two sets of blood cultures for a patient. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
A. Collect both sets from the site after waiting about 4 hr
B. Collect one set from the antecubital region and one set from the ventral part of the patient’s hand
C. Collect one set from the patient’s left arm and one set from a different site one the same arm
D. Collect one set from the capillary region and one set from the antecubital region
C. Collect one set from the patient’s left arm and one set from a different site one the same arm
A phlebotomy technician is instructing a patient about how to perform a pregnancy test. Which of the following statements should the technician include?
A. “Collect your urine specimen after a full meal?
B. “Collect your urine specimen after fasting for 8 hours”
C. “Collect your last urine specimen of the day”
D. “Collect your first urine specimen of the morning”
D. “Collect your first urine specimen of the morning”
A patient sits down for a venipuncture in an outpatient setting, rolls up her sleeve, and extends her arm. The patient turns her head away from the phlebotomy technician and says, “I don’t want my blood drawn.” Which of the following responses should the technician make to the patient?
A. “I am going to start the draw now.”
B. “May I draw your blood?”
C. “Do you want me to get the nurse?”
D. “I will get another phlebotomist.”
B. “May I draw your blood?”
A phlebotomy technician accidentally punctures a patient’s artery during a venipuncture procedure. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
A. Instruct the patient to bend the arm at the elbow
B. Apply self-adherent tape with a cotton ball
C. Apply pressure to the site for at least 5 min
D. Instruct the patient to hold the arm below the heart
C. Apply pressure to the site for at least 5 min
A phlebotomy technician is preparing serum for centrifugation. How many minutes should the technician allow the serum to stand before loading them into the centrifuge?
A. 10 min
B. 15 min
C. 25 min
D. 30 min
D. 30 min
A phlebotomy technician has received a urine drug test specimen with a thermometer reading 29.4oC (85oF). Which of the following actions should the technician take?
A. Require the patient to provide a blood sample
B. Have the patient provide another urine specimen under observation
C. Accept the specimen for processing
D. Ask the patient if the specimen was altered
B. Have the patient provide another urine specimen under observation
A phlebotomy technician is instructing a patient about how to collect a fecal specimen at home. Which of the following instructions should the technician include?
A. “Refrigerate the fecal sample after collection”
B. “Do not mix urine with the fecal sample”
C. “Avoid washing the outside of the container following collection”
D. “Scoop the fecal sample from the toilet into the container”
B. “Do not mix urine with the fecal sample”
A phlebotomy technician is explaining a phlebotomy procedure to a patient who wears hearing aids. The patient seems distracted. Which of the following questions should the technician ask to ensure the patient understands the procedure?
A. “Did you hear what I said?”
B. “Do you understand what you need to do?”
C. “Do you need me to talk slower?”
D. “Would you like me to repeat the directions?”
D. “Would you like me to repeat the directions?”
A phlebotomy technician collects a specimen in a microcollection container after two failed venipuncture attempts. For which of the following reasons should the technician write on the medical requisition form that the blood was collected in this manner?
A. To alert the laboratory of the presence of capillary blood
B. To alert the laboratory of a billing change
C. To alert the laboratory that future specimens must be collected in a microcollection container
D. To alert the laboratory of possible tissue fluid
A. To alert the laboratory of the presence of capillary blood
A phlebotomy technician is transporting a cryoglobulin specimen to the laboratory. The technician should keep the specimen at which of the following temperatures?
A. 37o C (98.6o F)
B. 0o C (32O F)
C. 21o C (69.8O F)
D. 4o C (39.2o F)
A. 37o C (98.6o F)