Introduction & Communication
This term refers to the practice of drawing blood from a vein for clinical testing or transfusion.
What is phlebotomy?
This specific site on the heel is the primary location for skin punctures in infants.
What is the medial or lateral plantar surface?
This is the most common and preferred vein for venipuncture located in the antecubital fossa.
What is the median cubital vein?
This color tube, used for blood cultures, must always be drawn first to prevent contamination.
What is the yellow-top (SPS) or blood culture bottle?
This is the medical term for the "bruise" caused by blood leaking into tissues during a draw.
What is a hematoma?
Using these "standard" guidelines ensures that phlebotomists treat all blood as potentially infectious.
What are Standard Precautions?
This test measures the volume percentage of red blood cells in a patient's blood.
What is a microhematocrit?
This device is applied 3 to 4 inches above the draw site to make veins more prominent.
What is a tourniquet?
These tubes containing sodium citrate are drawn second and are used for coagulation studies.
What is the light blue-top tube?
If a patient begins to faint during a procedure, the phlebotomist must immediately do this.
What is stopping the draw and protecting the patient from injury?
This is the most important step in any phlebotomy procedure to ensure patient safety and accuracy.
What is positive patient identification?
When performing a finger stick, the first drop of blood must be wiped away for this reason.
What is to prevent contamination from tissue fluids or alcohol?
This is the standard angle range for needle insertion during a routine venipuncture.
What is 15 to 30 degrees?
Following red or gold tubes, these tubes are drawn next because they contain heparin.
What is the green-top tube?
This error occurs when a phlebotomist shakes a tube too vigorously, rupturing red blood cells.
What is hemolysis?
To maintain professionalism, a phlebotomist should always use these "person-first" labels instead of bed numbers.
What is identifiers (such as name and date of birth)?
This metabolic screening test for newborns is performed via skin puncture and collected on filter paper.
What is the phenylketonuria or PKU test?
The bevel of the needle should always be in this position when entering the skin.
What is facing upward or bevel up?
Lavender or purple tubes containing EDTA are drawn near the end to prevent this from occurring.
What is micro-clot formation?
This "nerve-like" sensation reported by a patient requires the immediate removal of the needle.
What is shooting pain or nerve involvement?
These specific values for hemoglobin indicate a critical health risk that must be reported immediately.
What are critical (or panic) values?
This is the maximum depth a lancet should reach during an infant heel stick to avoid bone injury.
What is 2.0 mm?
This size of needle gauge is inversely proportional to the needle's diameter.
What is the gauge?
This additive is found in gray-top tubes, which are drawn last to preserve glucose levels.
What is sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate?
This is the proper response when a phlebotomist accidentally sticks themselves with a used needle.
What is wash the site, report to a supervisor, and seek medical evaluation?