NCCT Phlebotomy Certification Exam
Questions and Answers Complete Study
Guide All Topics Covered A+
Question 1
small red spots appear near the tourniquet on a patient's arm. This is MOST likely an
indication of
a. a collapsed vein
b. a hematoma
c. petechiae
d. edema
Correct Answer
c. petechiae
Question 2
A centrifuge functions in which of the following ways?
a. magnifies cellular blood components
b. measures the amount of glucose in a patient's blood
c. rotates to separate components of a patient's blood
d. slowly warms a refrigerated blood specimen to room temp
Correct Answer
c. rotates to separate components of a patient's blood
Question 3
Keeping contaminated equipment and supplies away from the phlebotomist's
clothing to prevent pathogen transmission to the next patient is an example of which
of the following?
a. medical asepsis
b. surgical asepsis
c. disinfection
d. sanitization
Correct Answer
a. medical asepsis
Page 1 of 248
,Question 4
Which of the following tube and additive combinations should be used for a PT/INR
test?
a. light blue, sodium citrate
b. light blue, sodium heparin
c. gray, sodium citrate
d. gray, sodium heparin
Correct Answer
a. light blue, sodium citrate
Question 5
When performing a venipuncture, the phlebotomist is stuck with a bloody needle
upon withdrawal from the patient. What is the FIRST thing the phlebotomist should
do?
a. wash the exposed area with soap and water
b. report to a supervisor
c. document the incident
d. seek immediate medical attention
Correct Answer
a. wash the exposed area with soap and water
Question 6
The phlebotomist is educating the patient on fasting diet requirements prior to a
glucose tolerance test. Which of the following is the minimum time frame the patient
must remain fasting before the start of the test?
a. 1-2 hours
b. 13-14 hours
c. 8-12 hours
d. 3-4 hours
Correct Answer
c. 8-12 hours
Page 2 of 248
,Question 7
A patient notices this symbol on a container in the room and asks what it means. The
phlebotomist should tell the patient the symbol means
a. radiation in use
b. biohazard material present
c. isolation precautions required
d. emergency eye wash station
Correct Answer
b. biohazard material present
Question 8
An older adult patient arrives to have blood drawn. While assessing the arms for
venipuncture, the phlebotomist notices scar tissue in the antecubital areas and is
unable to palpate a vein. Which of the following is an appropriate alternative course
of action?
a. use a larger gauge needle to penetrate through the scar tissue
b. draw blood from the hand using an evacuated tube system
c. draw blood from the hand using a winged infusion set
d. perform a capillary puncture on the lateral thumb.
Correct Answer
c. draw blood from the hand using a winged infusion set
Question 9
Which of the following is an appropriate draw site for an adult patient with a central
line?
a. palmar side of the wrist
b. dorsal side of the hand
c. plantar surface of the heel
d. distal phalanx of the fifth finger
Correct Answer
b. dorsal side of the hand
Page 3 of 248
, Question 10
A phlebotomist working in a hospital is collecting blood from a patient with very
small difficult veins. three tubes of blood need to be collected. the blue and green
tubes fill easily and completely, but the lavender tube fills incompletely. changing the
lavender tube using the same draw also results in an incomplete specimen. Which of
the following should the phlebotomist do next?
a. re-draw the patient using a different site and obtain all three tubes
b. resubmit the draw order for the next round of draws
c. re-position the needle and recollect the lavender tube
d. submit the samples as drawn
Correct Answer
c. re-position the needle and recollect the lavender tube
Question 11
Which of the following standards are being violated when a phlebotomist fails to use
proper handwashing technique?
a. HIPAA
b. OSHA
c. NAACLS
d. CMS
Correct Answer
b. OSHA
Question 12
The physician has ordered a PTT and CBC for an adult patient with a diagnosis of
thrombophlebitis. The phlebotomist should collect the evacuated tubes in which of
the following orders?
a. light blue, red
b. light blue, lavender
c. red, light blue
d. lavender, light blue
Correct Answer
b. light blue, lavender
Page 4 of 248
Questions and Answers Complete Study
Guide All Topics Covered A+
Question 1
small red spots appear near the tourniquet on a patient's arm. This is MOST likely an
indication of
a. a collapsed vein
b. a hematoma
c. petechiae
d. edema
Correct Answer
c. petechiae
Question 2
A centrifuge functions in which of the following ways?
a. magnifies cellular blood components
b. measures the amount of glucose in a patient's blood
c. rotates to separate components of a patient's blood
d. slowly warms a refrigerated blood specimen to room temp
Correct Answer
c. rotates to separate components of a patient's blood
Question 3
Keeping contaminated equipment and supplies away from the phlebotomist's
clothing to prevent pathogen transmission to the next patient is an example of which
of the following?
a. medical asepsis
b. surgical asepsis
c. disinfection
d. sanitization
Correct Answer
a. medical asepsis
Page 1 of 248
,Question 4
Which of the following tube and additive combinations should be used for a PT/INR
test?
a. light blue, sodium citrate
b. light blue, sodium heparin
c. gray, sodium citrate
d. gray, sodium heparin
Correct Answer
a. light blue, sodium citrate
Question 5
When performing a venipuncture, the phlebotomist is stuck with a bloody needle
upon withdrawal from the patient. What is the FIRST thing the phlebotomist should
do?
a. wash the exposed area with soap and water
b. report to a supervisor
c. document the incident
d. seek immediate medical attention
Correct Answer
a. wash the exposed area with soap and water
Question 6
The phlebotomist is educating the patient on fasting diet requirements prior to a
glucose tolerance test. Which of the following is the minimum time frame the patient
must remain fasting before the start of the test?
a. 1-2 hours
b. 13-14 hours
c. 8-12 hours
d. 3-4 hours
Correct Answer
c. 8-12 hours
Page 2 of 248
,Question 7
A patient notices this symbol on a container in the room and asks what it means. The
phlebotomist should tell the patient the symbol means
a. radiation in use
b. biohazard material present
c. isolation precautions required
d. emergency eye wash station
Correct Answer
b. biohazard material present
Question 8
An older adult patient arrives to have blood drawn. While assessing the arms for
venipuncture, the phlebotomist notices scar tissue in the antecubital areas and is
unable to palpate a vein. Which of the following is an appropriate alternative course
of action?
a. use a larger gauge needle to penetrate through the scar tissue
b. draw blood from the hand using an evacuated tube system
c. draw blood from the hand using a winged infusion set
d. perform a capillary puncture on the lateral thumb.
Correct Answer
c. draw blood from the hand using a winged infusion set
Question 9
Which of the following is an appropriate draw site for an adult patient with a central
line?
a. palmar side of the wrist
b. dorsal side of the hand
c. plantar surface of the heel
d. distal phalanx of the fifth finger
Correct Answer
b. dorsal side of the hand
Page 3 of 248
, Question 10
A phlebotomist working in a hospital is collecting blood from a patient with very
small difficult veins. three tubes of blood need to be collected. the blue and green
tubes fill easily and completely, but the lavender tube fills incompletely. changing the
lavender tube using the same draw also results in an incomplete specimen. Which of
the following should the phlebotomist do next?
a. re-draw the patient using a different site and obtain all three tubes
b. resubmit the draw order for the next round of draws
c. re-position the needle and recollect the lavender tube
d. submit the samples as drawn
Correct Answer
c. re-position the needle and recollect the lavender tube
Question 11
Which of the following standards are being violated when a phlebotomist fails to use
proper handwashing technique?
a. HIPAA
b. OSHA
c. NAACLS
d. CMS
Correct Answer
b. OSHA
Question 12
The physician has ordered a PTT and CBC for an adult patient with a diagnosis of
thrombophlebitis. The phlebotomist should collect the evacuated tubes in which of
the following orders?
a. light blue, red
b. light blue, lavender
c. red, light blue
d. lavender, light blue
Correct Answer
b. light blue, lavender
Page 4 of 248
