Phlebotomy: The Ultimate Practice Exam! Quiz

After performing a routine skin puncture, it is important to clean the site with alcohol to disinfect it. Once the alcohol cleaning is done, the site should be allowed to air dry on its own. This is because air drying helps to prevent any potential contamination that could occur if the site is touched or wiped with a towel or tissue. Allowing the site to air dry ensures that it remains sterile and reduces the risk of introducing any pathogens into the puncture site.

Confirming an outpatient's name and date of birth provides two important identifiers for blood collection. These two pieces of information help ensure that the correct patient is receiving the appropriate blood collection procedure. The name helps to identify the individual, while the date of birth serves as an additional verification to confirm their identity. This is crucial in preventing any mix-ups or errors during the blood collection process.

Identifying the patient is the most important step in the performance of venipuncture because it ensures that the right patient is receiving the procedure. This helps prevent any potential errors or complications that may arise from performing the procedure on the wrong individual. It also ensures that the correct patient's medical records and samples are properly labeled and documented for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

The correct answer is "all answers are correct" because in order to maintain proper hygiene and prevent the spread of infection, the hands of the phlebotomist should be washed before and after specimen collection, as well as even though gloves are used. This ensures that any potential contaminants are removed from the hands before handling the specimen, and that the gloves themselves do not become a source of contamination.

A phlebotomist cannot legally draw blood from a fully cognizant patient who refuses consent. Consent is a fundamental principle in medical ethics and requires the patient's voluntary agreement to any medical procedure. If a patient refuses consent, it is not legal or ethical for a phlebotomist to proceed with drawing blood without their permission.

The needle with the smallest bore or diameter is the one with the highest gauge number. In this case, the 23 Gauge needle has the smallest bore compared to the other options provided.

A phlebotomist will tie a tourniquet before performing a venipuncture to help locate the veins in the antecubital area. By applying pressure with the tourniquet, the veins become more visible and easier to access for the blood draw. This technique aids in the accurate placement of the needle, reducing the risk of complications and ensuring a successful venipuncture procedure.

In order to collect blood without an additive, an evacuated tube with a red colored stopper is used. The red stopper indicates that the tube is meant for collecting blood samples for serum or chemistry tests, where no additives are required. Different colored stoppers are used to indicate the type of additive or anticoagulant present in the tube, but in this case, a red stopper is appropriate for collecting blood without any additive.

A complete blood count (CBC) is collected in an evacuated tube with a lavender stopper. This is because the lavender stopper indicates that the tube contains an anticoagulant called ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). EDTA prevents blood from clotting and preserves the blood sample for accurate analysis of various blood components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The lavender stopper is specifically used for CBC tests to ensure reliable and consistent results.

If the information on the patient's ID bracelet is not identical to the information on the phlebotomy test requisition and labels, it is important for the phlebotomist to refrain from drawing the sample until the ID is resolved. This is necessary to ensure that the correct patient is being tested and to avoid any potential mix-ups or errors in the testing process. Drawing the sample without resolving the ID discrepancy could lead to incorrect test results and potential harm to the patient. Therefore, it is crucial for the phlebotomist to prioritize patient safety and wait until the ID is properly resolved before proceeding with the sample collection.

The urinary system is responsible for filtering blood to eliminate waste products, maintaining blood pH levels, and regulating water balance in the body. It consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys filter waste products, excess water, and electrolytes from the blood to form urine, which is then excreted from the body. This system plays a crucial role in maintaining the body's overall homeostasis by regulating the composition and volume of body fluids.

Treating all lab specimens as if they are hazardous and infectious is the basis for universal precautions. Universal precautions are a set of guidelines and practices designed to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases in healthcare settings. By assuming that all specimens are potentially hazardous, healthcare workers take necessary precautions such as wearing gloves, masks, and other protective equipment, and following proper handling and disposal protocols. This approach ensures the safety of both the healthcare workers and the patients, minimizing the risk of infection transmission.

The missing step in this scenario is that the phlebotomist did not wash his hands in between drawing blood from patient Fred Jones and patient Sam Smith. This is a crucial step in maintaining proper hygiene and preventing the spread of infections or contaminants between patients.

The best sequence of actions if a glass tube breaks during centrifugation is to stop the centrifuge to prevent further damage or injury, open the lid to access the broken glass, and then use forceps to safely remove any glass fragments. This approach prioritizes safety by immediately stopping the centrifuge and ensuring that the broken glass is handled with appropriate tools to avoid any potential harm. Evacuating the room or dancing around is not a recommended course of action in this situation.

Chlorhexidine is a common component of disinfectant solutions used for the collection of blood cultures. It is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that effectively kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Chlorhexidine is widely used in healthcare settings due to its strong antimicrobial properties and low toxicity. It is often used as a skin disinfectant before invasive procedures, including blood collection for cultures, to reduce the risk of infection. Methanol, glutaraldehyde, and lidocaine are not typically used as components of disinfectant solutions for blood culture collection.

When making a blood smear using two glass slides, it is recommended to have an angle of contact of approximately 30 degrees. This angle allows for the blood to spread evenly and create a thin and uniform smear on the slide. If the angle is too small, the blood may not spread properly, and if the angle is too large, it may result in a thick and uneven smear. Therefore, a 30-degree angle is considered optimal for creating a well-prepared blood smear.

The correct answer is light blue because the prothrombin time test requires the use of a sodium citrate anticoagulant, which is typically found in light blue stoppered tubes. This anticoagulant prevents blood from clotting and allows for accurate measurement of the prothrombin time, which assesses the blood's ability to clot properly. Other colored stoppers mentioned, such as red, blue, and black, are commonly associated with different types of blood collection tubes, but they do not contain the specific anticoagulant required for the prothrombin time test.

When a 5 millimeter evacuated tube appears to extract blood with too much force from a weak vein, causing the vein to collapse, using a pediatric-sized tube might yield better results. This is because a pediatric-sized tube has a smaller diameter compared to a regular-sized tube. The smaller size of the tube allows for a gentler extraction of blood, reducing the force exerted on the weak vein and minimizing the chances of vein collapse.

OSHA requires training and educational info to be given to phlebotomists on blood borne pathogens, needle and safety handling, and glass and sharps disposal. Preventing identification errors is not required by OSHA. This topic may be important in ensuring patient safety and accurate sample labeling, but it is not specifically mandated by OSHA regulations.

The evacuated tube system for venipuncture consists of a vacuum collection tube with a color-coded stopper, a special plastic holder known as an adapter, and a double-sided multi-sample needle with a slanted bore. The compartmentalized, hard shell collection tray is not a component of the evacuated tube system for venipuncture.

Squeezing the finger too vigorously during capillary blood collection can cause erroneous lab results due to dilution with tissue fluid. When excessive pressure is applied, it can cause the release of interstitial fluid, which can mix with the collected blood sample. This dilution can alter the concentration of blood components, leading to inaccurate test results. It is important to apply gentle pressure during capillary blood collection to minimize tissue fluid contamination and ensure accurate laboratory analysis.

Venules are the smallest veins in the human anatomy. Veins are blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Venules are smaller branches of veins that collect blood from capillaries and merge to form larger veins. They have thinner walls compared to arteries and arterioles, as they do not experience high pressure. This allows them to easily transport blood from capillaries back to the heart. Therefore, venules are the correct answer for the smallest veins in the human anatomy.

EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a commonly used anticoagulant in blood collection tubes. It works by binding to calcium ions in the blood, which are essential for the clotting process. By removing calcium, EDTA prevents the blood from clotting, allowing it to be used for various laboratory tests. Therefore, the correct answer is calcium.

The rubber sleeve on the end of the needle prevents blood from seeping into the adapter. This is important because if blood were to enter the adapter, it could contaminate the sample or interfere with the accuracy of the test results. By preventing blood seepage, the rubber sleeve helps maintain the integrity of the sample and ensures accurate and reliable test results.

When drawing blood from a patient with an open IV line, the selected site should be located above the IV. This is because drawing blood below the IV can cause the blood from the IV to flow into the sample, leading to inaccurate test results. Drawing blood in the IV tubing or in the antecubital fossa (the inner elbow area) would also not be appropriate as it may interfere with the IV line or cause discomfort to the patient. Therefore, the best option is to choose a site that is above the IV to ensure the accuracy of the blood sample.

The partial thromboplastin time (PTT) test is used before surgery to check if a patient has a sufficient number of working platelets. This test measures the time it takes for blood to clot and can help determine if there are any abnormalities in the clotting process. By assessing the PTT, healthcare professionals can ensure that the patient's blood will clot properly during and after surgery, reducing the risk of excessive bleeding. The other options, such as prothrombin time, bleeding time, and complete blood counts, are not specifically designed to assess platelet function in the same way as the PTT test.