PHLEBOTOMY AND EKG EXAM REVIEW
WITH 100% DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025/2026 STUDY SET
SECTION I: PHLEBOTOMY – SAFETY & INFECTION CONTROL (Questions 1–15)
1. After exiting a patient's room, which of the following is the last piece of PPE a phlebotomy tech
should remove?
A) Gloves
B) Gown
C) Mask
D) Face shield
Correct Answer: C – Mask
Rationale: The mask is removed last after leaving the patient's room to protect the technician from
airborne pathogens. Gloves are removed first, then gown, then mask.
2. A phlebotomy tech has collected a blood specimen from a patient in an isolation room. Which piece
of PPE should the tech remove first?
A) Mask
B) Gown
C) Gloves
D) Eye protection
Correct Answer: C – Gloves
Rationale: Gloves are considered the most contaminated and should be removed first to prevent
spreading contaminants. Removal order: gloves → gown → eye protection → mask.
3. Which color in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) diamond signifies a health hazard?
A) Blue
B) Red
C) Yellow
D) White
Correct Answer: A – Blue
Rationale: NFPA diamond: Blue = Health hazard, Red = Flammability, Yellow = Instability/Reactivity,
White = Special hazards.
,4. A phlebotomy tech is preparing to enter a patient's room to collect a blood specimen. Which action
should the tech plan to take?
A) Enter without knocking to surprise the patient
B) Communicate name and department affiliation to the patient
C) Turn off all lights in the room
D) Avoid speaking to the patient to maintain focus
Correct Answer: B – Communicate name and department affiliation to the patient
Rationale: Proper patient identification and introduction are essential for safety and building rapport.
5. A phlebotomy tech is introducing herself to a patient and explaining the venipuncture procedure. In
which comfort zone is the tech working?
A) Intimate zone
B) Personal zone
C) Social zone
D) Public zone
Correct Answer: B – Personal zone
Rationale: The personal zone (1.5–4 feet) is appropriate for professional interactions like explaining
procedures.
6. Which antiseptic should a phlebotomy tech use to clean the venipuncture site for a blood alcohol
level test?
A) Isopropyl alcohol
B) Povidone-iodine
C) Soap and water
D) Chlorhexidine
Correct Answer: C – Soap and water
Rationale: Alcohol-based antiseptics can interfere with blood alcohol test results. Soap and water is
recommended for this specific test.
7. A phlebotomy tech uses alcohol to cleanse a venipuncture site. Before performing the
venipuncture, the tech should allow the site to dry for which reason?
A) Alcohol requires time for antiseptic action to take effect
B) Alcohol is painful to the patient if not dry
C) Wet alcohol prevents blood flow
D) The tourniquet won't stick to wet skin
, Correct Answer: A – Alcohol requires time for antiseptic action to take effect
Rationale: Allowing alcohol to dry completely (about 30 seconds) ensures proper antisepsis and prevents
hemolysis.
8. After completing a standard ECG on a patient, which action should an EKG tech take next?
A) Immediately leave the room
B) Check that the tracing is free from artifacts, then disconnect the patient
C) Remove electrodes before checking the tracing
D) Turn off the machine while patient is still connected
Correct Answer: B – Check that the tracing is free from artifacts, then disconnect the patient
Rationale: The tracing should be verified for quality before disconnecting the patient to avoid needing to
repeat the procedure.
9. For which of the following types of heart block should an EKG tech observe the patient for signs of
decreased cardiac output that could lead to cardiac arrest?
A) First-degree AV block
B) Mobitz Type I (Wenckebach)
C) Mobitz Type II
D) Third-degree AV block
Correct Answer: D – Third-degree AV block
Rationale: Third-degree (complete) heart block has no atrial impulses conducting to the ventricles,
resulting in very low cardiac output.
10. The presence of which finding on an EKG can indicate a previous myocardial infarction?
A) Prolonged PR interval
B) Pathologic Q waves
C) Tall T waves
D) Shortened QT interval
Correct Answer: B – Pathologic Q waves
*Rationale: Pathologic Q waves (≥ 1/3 the height of the R wave or ≥ 0.04 seconds wide) indicate necrotic
cardiac tissue from a previous MI.*
11. A phlebotomy tech is preparing to collect a patient's troponin T level. Which troponin T level
should the tech immediately report to the provider?
A) 0.1 ng/mL
B) 0.2 ng/mL
C) 0.3 ng/mL
D) 0.05 ng/mL
WITH 100% DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025/2026 STUDY SET
SECTION I: PHLEBOTOMY – SAFETY & INFECTION CONTROL (Questions 1–15)
1. After exiting a patient's room, which of the following is the last piece of PPE a phlebotomy tech
should remove?
A) Gloves
B) Gown
C) Mask
D) Face shield
Correct Answer: C – Mask
Rationale: The mask is removed last after leaving the patient's room to protect the technician from
airborne pathogens. Gloves are removed first, then gown, then mask.
2. A phlebotomy tech has collected a blood specimen from a patient in an isolation room. Which piece
of PPE should the tech remove first?
A) Mask
B) Gown
C) Gloves
D) Eye protection
Correct Answer: C – Gloves
Rationale: Gloves are considered the most contaminated and should be removed first to prevent
spreading contaminants. Removal order: gloves → gown → eye protection → mask.
3. Which color in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) diamond signifies a health hazard?
A) Blue
B) Red
C) Yellow
D) White
Correct Answer: A – Blue
Rationale: NFPA diamond: Blue = Health hazard, Red = Flammability, Yellow = Instability/Reactivity,
White = Special hazards.
,4. A phlebotomy tech is preparing to enter a patient's room to collect a blood specimen. Which action
should the tech plan to take?
A) Enter without knocking to surprise the patient
B) Communicate name and department affiliation to the patient
C) Turn off all lights in the room
D) Avoid speaking to the patient to maintain focus
Correct Answer: B – Communicate name and department affiliation to the patient
Rationale: Proper patient identification and introduction are essential for safety and building rapport.
5. A phlebotomy tech is introducing herself to a patient and explaining the venipuncture procedure. In
which comfort zone is the tech working?
A) Intimate zone
B) Personal zone
C) Social zone
D) Public zone
Correct Answer: B – Personal zone
Rationale: The personal zone (1.5–4 feet) is appropriate for professional interactions like explaining
procedures.
6. Which antiseptic should a phlebotomy tech use to clean the venipuncture site for a blood alcohol
level test?
A) Isopropyl alcohol
B) Povidone-iodine
C) Soap and water
D) Chlorhexidine
Correct Answer: C – Soap and water
Rationale: Alcohol-based antiseptics can interfere with blood alcohol test results. Soap and water is
recommended for this specific test.
7. A phlebotomy tech uses alcohol to cleanse a venipuncture site. Before performing the
venipuncture, the tech should allow the site to dry for which reason?
A) Alcohol requires time for antiseptic action to take effect
B) Alcohol is painful to the patient if not dry
C) Wet alcohol prevents blood flow
D) The tourniquet won't stick to wet skin
, Correct Answer: A – Alcohol requires time for antiseptic action to take effect
Rationale: Allowing alcohol to dry completely (about 30 seconds) ensures proper antisepsis and prevents
hemolysis.
8. After completing a standard ECG on a patient, which action should an EKG tech take next?
A) Immediately leave the room
B) Check that the tracing is free from artifacts, then disconnect the patient
C) Remove electrodes before checking the tracing
D) Turn off the machine while patient is still connected
Correct Answer: B – Check that the tracing is free from artifacts, then disconnect the patient
Rationale: The tracing should be verified for quality before disconnecting the patient to avoid needing to
repeat the procedure.
9. For which of the following types of heart block should an EKG tech observe the patient for signs of
decreased cardiac output that could lead to cardiac arrest?
A) First-degree AV block
B) Mobitz Type I (Wenckebach)
C) Mobitz Type II
D) Third-degree AV block
Correct Answer: D – Third-degree AV block
Rationale: Third-degree (complete) heart block has no atrial impulses conducting to the ventricles,
resulting in very low cardiac output.
10. The presence of which finding on an EKG can indicate a previous myocardial infarction?
A) Prolonged PR interval
B) Pathologic Q waves
C) Tall T waves
D) Shortened QT interval
Correct Answer: B – Pathologic Q waves
*Rationale: Pathologic Q waves (≥ 1/3 the height of the R wave or ≥ 0.04 seconds wide) indicate necrotic
cardiac tissue from a previous MI.*
11. A phlebotomy tech is preparing to collect a patient's troponin T level. Which troponin T level
should the tech immediately report to the provider?
A) 0.1 ng/mL
B) 0.2 ng/mL
C) 0.3 ng/mL
D) 0.05 ng/mL
