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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

NHA CPT Exam Questions

Page 2 of 50

21.

What is the size of the blood drop needed for a good blood smear?

  • One to two millimeters

  • Two to three millimeters

  • One-half to one millimeter

  • Two to four millimeters

Correct answer: One to two millimeters

To make a good blood smear, a drop of blood that is one to two millimeters in size should be placed in the center of the slide approximately one-half to one inch away from the edge of the slide. If the drop is larger than this size, the smear may be too thick or too long. If the drop is smaller than this size, it will make a blood smear that is too short or too thin.

22.

Which of these collection procedures does not require a sterile specimen container?

  • Urine human chorionic gonadotropin

  • Cerebrospinal fluid

  • Amniotic fluid

  • Gastric analysis

Correct answer: Urine human chorionic gonadotropin

CSF, amniotic fluid, and gastric analysis specimens must be collected using sterile specimen containers. Urine hCG testing requires a clean specimen cup and pipette to transfer drops of urine to the test kit.

23.

What is the minimum area that should be cleaned around the selected site of needle entry?

  • 2–3 inches

  • 4–5 inches

  • 1 inch

  • 1 centimeter

Correct answer: 2–3 inches

When cleaning the site for venipuncture, you should use back-and-forth friction to clean an area 2–3 inches in diameter around the selected site of needle entry. Use sufficient pressure to remove surface dirt and debris, but be careful that you don't abrade the skin. If the skin is especially dirty, you can clean it again using a new alcohol pad. 

24.

What is the correct order of draw for blood collection tubes?

  • Blood Cultures - Coagulants (light blue) - Serum tubes - Heparin tubes - EDTA tubes

  • Coagulants (light blue) - Serum tubes - Heparin tubes - EDTA tubes - Blood Cultures

  • Heparin tubes - Coagulants (light blue) - Serum tubes - EDTA tubes - Blood Cultures

  • Heparin tubes - Coagulants (light blue) - Blood Cultures - Serum tubes - EDTA tubes 

Correct answer: Blood Cultures - Coagulants (light blue) - Serum tubes - Heparin tubes - EDTA tubes

The reasoning for the order of draw is that blood culture tubes are filled first to prevent bacterial contamination of the blood culture sample. The coagulation tube is collected next to avoid any additive such as clot activators or anticoagulants from other tubes getting into the tube. The heparin tube is collected before the EDTA tube because the EDTA would alter the chemistry tests run on the heparin tube.

25.

The Joint Commission (TJC) establishes standards for hospitals and healthcare facilities. According to TJC, when a patient dies or is seriously injured in a facility, what must the organization do?

  • Investigate the root cause

  • Terminate the employee who was at fault

  • Contact legal counsel

  • Notify the state's department of health

Correct answer: Investigate the root cause

The TJC Sentinel Event (early warning) policy requires healthcare organizations to:

  1. Perform a thorough and credible analysis of the root cause.
  2. Develop an action plan.
  3. Implement improvements to reduce risk. 
  4. Monitor improvements to determine whether they are effective. 

A sentinel event is any unfavorable event that is unexpected and results in death or serious physical or psychological injury. 

A healthcare organization that experiences a sentinel event may terminate at-fault employees, contact legal counsel, or notify the state health department. However, these are not actions required by TJC.

26.

When testing for malaria, what type of blood is preferred?

  • Capillary

  • Venous

  • Arterial

  • Fecal

Correct answer: Capillary

Malaria is a disease that can be seen in the blood. Given the size of malaria, it tends to congregate in the capillaries due to their small diameter. Because of this, phlebotomists should get blood samples from capillary blood for analysis.

27.

What is the first thing a healthcare worker should do if they have been exposed to a biohazard?

  • Immediately wash the exposed area with soap and water

  • Tell their supervisor

  • Call an OSHA representative

  • Clean the exposed area with hand sanitizer

Correct answer: Immediately wash the exposed area with soap and water

Following an accidental exposure to a biohazard, the healthcare worker should immediately wash the affected area with soap and water.

Soap found in healthcare facilities will be far more effective in cleaning the area than hand sanitizer and can possibly reduce the level of infection. 

28.

Which of the following is not information gained by palpation of a vein?

  • Sensitivity

  • Size

  • Direction

  • Depth

Correct answer: Sensitivity

Veins do not have nerves and therefore do not generate pain when punctured. Sometimes, nerves may run alongside veins. However, palpation will not determine the sensitivity of that nerve. A patient who has had blood taken before is a good source to determine sensitivity.

29.

Which of the following statements is true regarding the supplies needed for blood culture tests?

  • Anaerobic and aerobic bottles are required.

  • Aerobic and water bottles are required.

  • One red and one yellow blood collection tube are required.

  • Types of bottles used will depend on the weight of the patient.

Correct answer: Anaerobic and aerobic bottles are required

There are many different types of microorganisms. However, all of them either require air for metabolism, or they do not. Therefore, to get testing started, only anaerobic (without air) and aerobic (with air) bottles are required.

30.

What is required for personnel who package infectious materials for transport by public carriers?

  • A certificate of training from the Department of Transportation 

  • A college degree

  • An HIV/hepatitis test

  • An immunization record

Correct answer: A certificate of training from the Department of Transportation

Specimen processors and other personnel who package infectious materials to be transported by public carriers must show proof of training and be certified. Both the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) offer certification. The DOT may conduct site inspections to ensure that laboratories comply with all current shipping regulations. 

A college degree, HIV/hepatitis test, and immunization record are not current requirements for personnel who package transport materials. 

31.

How is bleeding controlled in the typical patient following venipuncture?

  • With gauze or cotton balls

  • With a tourniquet

  • By putting the arm below the heart

  • By laying the patient down

Correct answer: With gauze or cotton balls

Most often, bleeding following venipuncture can be controlled with gauze or cotton balls and should stop after about two minutes. Applying pressure is another valuable tool and can prevent a hematoma from forming.

32.

Specimens must be correctly labeled, including:

  • Date of the draw, time of drawing, identification of the person collecting the sample

  • Date of the draw, identification of the person collecting the sample, time it took to draw the sample

  • Date of the draw, the time it took to draw the sample, identification of the person who helped collect the sample

  • Date of the draw, the time it took to draw the sample, and what time the last tube was filled

Correct answer: Date of the draw, time of drawing, identification of the person collecting the sample

The correct label must be placed on the correct specimen, and the date, time of drawing, and identification of the person collecting the sample should be noted.

33.

When attempting to palpate a vein, a phlebotomist feels a pulse. What structure is the phlebotomist feeling?

  • An artery

  • A tendon

  • A large vein

  • A valve

Correct answer: An artery

Arteries are surrounded by smooth muscle that assist the heart in pushing oxygenated blood to the tissues. If the phlebotomist thinks a vein has been found but can detect a pulse, this vessel is an artery, rather than a vein.

Ligaments and tendons do not have pulses and are easily differentiated in most patients.

34.

Which of the following tests has special handling requirements, including specimen collection in a rewarded tube and warming after collection?

  • Cryoglobulin test

  • Blood gases

  • RAST test

  • Free fatty acids

Correct answer: Cryoglobulin test

The normal body temperature is around 37 degrees Celsius, and that is the temperature that samples must be warmed to ensure correct test results. Correct methods for warming samples include using a heel warmer or holding the sample in hand. Warmed samples are very rare and will have instructions from the lab on how to handle them. Tests that must be warmed are:

  • Cold agglutinin tests
  • Cryoglobulin tests

35.

More experienced phlebotomists can perform advanced procedures, including arterial punctures. What is usually required for these advanced phlebotomy procedures?

  • Observed competency check-off

  • One year of phlebotomy experience

  • Two years of hospital experience

  • One year of Infection control training

Correct answer: Observed competency check-off

A phlebotomist can perform advanced procedures when they have received thorough training to perform the tasks and have been observed with a competency check-off evaluation.

Phlebotomists who collect arterial specimens must have extensive training before they can perform the procedure, including:

  • Demonstration of technique
  • Observation of others conducting the procedure
  • Training involving theory
  • Supervised check-off

36.

Phlebotomist Yessica has just collected blood samples from Mr. Rockefeller. After withdrawing and discarding the needle, Yessica applies gauze to the puncture site and instructs Mr. Rockefeller to hold the pad in place with his other hand. 

What should Yessica do next to ensure proper post-procedural care?

  • Observe the puncture site for 10 seconds to make sure the bleeding has stopped.

  • Apply a bandage over the gauze and thank Mr. Rockefeller.

  • Give Mr. Rockefeller a band-aid and tell him to apply it after 1–2 minutes.

  • Instruct Mr. Rockefeller to apply a bandage when he gets home if he starts bleeding again.

Correct answer: Observe the puncture site for 10 seconds to make sure the bleeding has stopped

Proper post-procedure care includes observing the site for at least 5–10 seconds to ensure that both the surface bleeding and the bleeding from the vein wall have stopped before applying a bandage. 

37.

For the protection of healthcare workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) prohibits which of the following?

  • Nail-biting in the workplace

  • Wearing a gown and gloves in the lab

  • Use of alcohol-based hand cleansers

  • Incineration of infectious waste

Correct answer: Nail-biting in the workplace

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations prohibit putting pens, pencils, or fingers in the mouth. This prevents potentially infectious material from being introduced into the mouth. 

Protective clothing, gloves, alcohol-based cleansers, and waste incineration are all approved safety measures.

38.

Phlebotomist Todd is preparing to draw blood from a 67-year-old man. After introducing himself and obtaining consent, Todd begins to assess the man's veins. He finds that the patient has a large bulging vein on the inside of his forearm near his wrist. When Todd touches it, he feels a faint buzzing sensation. 

What is the most likely explanation for this enlarged vein?

  • The patient has an arteriovenous shunt.

  • The patient has an arterial aneurysm.

  • The patient has a ganglion cyst. 

  • The patient has a cancerous tumor.

Correct answer: The patient has an arteriovenous shunt.

An arteriovenous (AV) shunt is the permanent surgical connection of an artery and vein used for dialysis. When palpated, a shunt has a distinctive buzzing sensation called a "thrill" that is the result of the pressure of the arterial flow meeting the passive flow of the vein. 

A shunt is a dialysis patient's lifeline. Never perform venipuncture or apply a tourniquet or pressure to an arm with any type of shunt. 

39.

A phlebotomist has just found out she is pregnant. Which of the following specimens should she avoid collecting?

  •  Blood specimen from a patient injected with radioactive dye

  • Urine samples for gonorrhea/chlamydia testing

  • Nasal sample for COVID-19 testing

  • Stool specimen from a patient with GI bleed

Correct answer: Blood specimen from a patient injected with radioactive dye

Because radiation is particularly hazardous to a fetus, pregnant employees should avoid areas displaying the radiation symbol, patients who have recently been injected with radioactive dyes, and specimens collected from patients with radioactive dye still in their systems.

40.

What additive(s) does the light blue-top blood collection tube contain?

  • Sodium citrate

  • Heparin

  • EDTA

  • Sodium fluoride

Correct answer: Sodium citrate

The light blue-top tubes contain the anticoagulant sodium citrate which binds calcium from the blood, effectively stopping the clotting process. This tube is used for coagulation tests.

A discerning student will notice that both the lavender- and light blue-top tubes bind calcium from the blood which stops the clotting process. It is the mechanism by which both EDTA (lavender) and sodium citrate (light blue) complete the separation of calcium that makes them different.

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