Whlch is the best tube for collecting an ethanol specimen?

a) Potassium EDTA

b) Siliceous earth

c) Sodium citrate

d) Sodium fluoride

Which needle gauge has the largest lumen?

a) 18

b) 20

c) 21

d) 22

The tests performed in the following department are typically collected in a tube with a light blue stopper.

a) Chemistry

b) Coagulation

c) Hematology

d) Microbiology

A tube with a green stopper normally contains...

a) EDTA

b) citrate

c) heparin

d) oxalate

The purpose of an antiglycolytic agent is to

a) enhance clotting

b) inhibit microbes

c) preserve glucose

d) prevent clotting

The solution normally used to clean the site before routine venipuncture is...

a) 70% isopropanol

b) Benzalkonium chloride

c) Chlorhexidine gluconate

c) Povidone-iodine

When latex or vinyl strap tourniquets become soiled with blood, it is best to...

a) autoclave and reuse them

b) throw them away

c) wash them in bleach

d) wipe them with alcohol

What is the most important factor in choosing which gauge needle to use for venipuncture?

a) age and weight of the patient

b) number of tubes to be drawn

c) size and condition of the vein

d) type of test being performed

Which additive is usually present in a tube with a lavender stopper?

a) Citrate

b) EDTA

c) Heparin

d) Oxalate

Glass particles present in serum separator tubes...

a) deter coagulation

b) enhance clotting

c) inhibit glycolysis

d) prevent hemolysis

Heparin prevents blood from clotting by...

a) activating calcium

b) binding calcium

c) inhibiting thrombin

d) preserving thrombin

Which of the following is a disinfectant?

a) Benzalkonium chloride

b) Isopropanol

c) Povidone-iodine

d) Sodium hypochlorite

The slanted tip of the needle that enters the vein is called the...

a) bevel

b) gauge

c) hub

d) lumen

According to CLSI standards, which tube is filled last when using a syringe?

a) EDTA

b) heparin

c) sodium citrate

d) sterile SPS

There is a request to draw a specimen from an inpatient by the name of John Doe. Which of the following is an acceptable way to confirm the patient's identity?

a) Ask the patient, ''Are you Mr. John Doe?"and see if he says ''Yes" b) Check the patient's ID band and say "I see that you are John Doe" c) Match the ID band and requisition with his verbal statement of ID d) See if the ID band matches the requisition to be sure of his identity

The following tests have all been ordered at the same time on different inpatients. There is only one phlebotomist on duty. Which test should the phlebotomist collect first?

a) ASAP CBC in the cardiac unit

b) Routine Hgb in long-term care

c) STAT electrolytes in the ER

d) Timed blood culture in ICU

Doing this during the vein selection process is bad for the specimen.

a) allowing the patient to pump his/her fist

b) lowering the patient's arm

c) palpating the antecubital area

d) using a warn towel to increase blood flow

The patient is just finishing a big breakfast as the phlebotomist arrives to draw a fasting specimen. What should the phlebotomist do?

a) check with the patient's nurse to see if the specimen should still be collected

b) draw the specimen since breakfast was just eaten and probably not absorbed

c) draw the specimen, but write "nonfasting" on the lab requisition

d) refuse to collect the specimen and fill out an incident report slip

What happens if you mix a specimen too vigorously?

a) glycolysis

b) hemoconcentration

c) hemolysis

d) microclot formation

Never leave a tourniquet on for more than...

a) 30 seconds

b) 1 minute

c) 2 minutes

d) 3 minutes

How can you tell that you are in a vein when using a needle and a syringe?

a) the blood will pump into the syringe under its own power

b) there is no way to tell this when you use a needle and syringe

c) you cannot tell until you pull back the plunger and see blood

d) you will normally see blood appear in the hub of the needle

What is the most critical error a phlebotomist can make?

a) collecting a timed specimen late

b) failing to collect a specimen

c) giving a patient a hematoma

d) misidentifying a patient specimen

What would be the system of choice to identify laboratory specimens from an unconscious, unidentified woman in the emergency room?

a) assign a name to the patient such as Jane Doe

b) assign a number to the patient until admitted

c) process the specimens after she is identified

d) use a three-part identification band and labels

The priority designation for a test request is based on all of the following except...

a) age and gender

b) diet restrictions

c) patient condition

d) timed collection.

A phlebotomist arrives to draw a specimen from an inpatient. The patient's door is closed. What should the phlebotomist do?

a) knock softly, open it slowly, and ask permission to enter

b) knock softly and wait for someone to come to the door

c) leave to draw another patient and come back later

d) open the door and proceed directly into the room.

The patient asks if the specimen about to drawn is for a diabetes test. How should the question be answered?

a) if the test is for glucose, say, "Yes, it is."

b) say, ''It's best to discuss that with the doctor."

c) say, ''No,"even if the test is for diabetes

d) tell the patient that you do not know

An unconscious patient is not wearing an ID band. There is an ID band taped to the patient's IV pole with information that matches the requisition. What should the phlebotomist do?

a) call the laboratory supervisor and ask how to proceed

b) draw the specimen and fill out an incident report form

c) draw the specimen and then ask the nurse to ID the patient

d) only draw the specimen after an ID band has been applied

What is the purpose of waiting 30 seconds for the alcohol to dry before needle insertion?

a) to let evaporation help destroy microbes

b) to avoid a stinging sensation

c) to prevent hemolysis of the specimen

d) all of the above

A blood smear made from an EDTA specimen should be made...

a) anytime after collection

b) within 1 hour of collection

c) within 4 hours of collection

d) within 12 hours of collection

What is the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommended maximum depth of heel puncture?

a) 1.0 mm

b) 1.4 mm

c) 2.0 mm

d) 2.4 mm

Why are EDTA specimens obtained before other specimens when collected by skin puncture?

a) to minimize effects of platelet clumping

b) to minimize tissue fluid contamination

c) to prevent contamination from carryover

d) to reduce negative effects of hemolysis

Why should a laboratory report form indicate the fact that a specimen has been collected by capillary puncture?

a) because test results can vary depending on the method of collection b) so that subsequent specimens will be collected by skin puncture also

c) so that the patient's nurse can check the site for signs of infection d) to satisfy liability insurance requirements and for billing purposes

Which of the following is the safest area for infant heel puncture?

a) the area of the arch

b) the central area

c) the lateral plantar surface

d) the posterior curvature

A capillary puncture should be done rather than a venipuncture in all of the following situations except when...

a) a child is less than 1 year old

b) a light blue top tube is needed

c) the patient has difficult veins

d) the test uses very little blood

The purpose of wiping away the first drop of blood during skin puncture is to...

a) avoid bacterial contamination

b) eliminate tissue fluid contamination

c) minimize platelet aggregation

d) reduce effects of hemoconcentration

Capillary puncture blood most closely resembles...

a) arterial blood

b) intracellular fluid

c) tissue fluid

d) venous blood

What does the term "calcaneus" mean?

a) bone infection

b) contains calcium

c) heel bone

d) osteomyelitis

Capillary puncture blood reference ranges are higher for this analyte?

a) calcium

b) glucose

c) phosphorus

d) total protein

What is PKU?

a) a contagious condition caused by lack of phenylalanine

b) a hereditary inability to metabolize phenylalanine

c) an acquired condition caused by lack of phenylalanine

d) an inherited condition caused by lack of thyroid hormone

It is necessary to control depth of lancet insertion during capillary puncture to avoid...

a) bacterial contamination

b) excessive bleeding

c) injuring the heel bone

d) puncturing an artery

What is the purpose of warming the site before skin puncture?

a) it is comforting to the patient

b) it increases blood flow up to seven times

c) it makes the veins more visible

d) it minimizes hemolysis of the specimen.

Which microcollection container would be used to collect a specimen for a CBC?

a) gray top

b) green top

c) purple top

d) red top