NHA Phlebotomy Exam 2026 Questions & Answers

NHA Phlebotomy Exam 2026 Questions & Answers Blood Culture Bottles First in the order of draw. Used to check for infection in the bloodstream. Do not invert or spin. Light blue top tube Second in the order of draw. Sodium Citrate tube, invert 3-4 times. The tube must be filled fully. When using a butterfly needle, a discard tube must be used before fully filling a light blue-topped tube. (used for coagulation tests. Gold topped tube Third in the order of draw. Is a Gel, or a Serum tube. Do not invert, or spin. Do not use gel tubes for toxicology or drug testing. Red or Black topped tube Fourth in the order of draw. Serum tube with no Gel, or SST with gel. Invert 5 times, allow to clot for 30 minutes, then spin for 10-15 minutes. Then pour into a transport vial labeled with specimen type and patient ID. Green or Tan topped tube Fifth in the order of draw. Heparin tube. Needs to be inverted 8-10 times. Do not spin. Lavender or Tan topped tube Sixth in the order of draw. EDTA tube. Invert 8-10 times. Do not Spin. Royal Blue tube Seventh in the order of draw. EDTA tube. Do not invert, do not spin. It can occasionally be used the same as a red-topped tube. Grey tube Eighth in the order of draw. Sodium Fluoride (Glucose) or Glycolic inhibitor. Invert 8-10 times. Do not spin. Yellow topped tubes Ninth in the order of draw, this tube is to be drawn last. Citrate ACD. Do not invert. Serum Iron test Used to measure iron in serum to check iron levels. Red topped or tiger topped SST tubes TBIC (total iron binding capacity) test Measures bloods ability to bind iron with transferrin. Tested in red top or tiger topped SST tubes Ferritin test Measures iron storage in the body. Red topped or tiger topped SST tubed Reticulocyte count Evaluates red blood cell production. Tested in a lavender top EDTA tube. CBC test Complete Blood Count- assesses overall blood health. Lavender top EDTA. Hemoglobin A1C Monitors long-term glucose control. Lavender top EDTA Fasting Glucose Measures Blood Sugar Levels. Grey top Sodium Fluoride tube. PT/INR Evaluates blood clotting time. Light blue top Sodium Citrate Lipid panel Assesses cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Tiger top SST. Thyroid panel Measures thyroid function (TSH, T3, T4) Tiger top or red topped tubes. Vitamin D Measures Vitamin D levels in blood. Tiger top or red topped tubes. Hepatitis panel Detects hepatitis A, B , and/or C antibodies. Red top or tiger topped tubes. HIV screen Screens for HIV infection. Red topped or tiger topped tubes Blood type & RH Determines for blood group and Rh factor. Pink or lavender topped tubes. Needle depth is important because A needle inserted too shallow can cause bleeding, hematoma, and a missed vein. A needle inserted too deep can result in a hematoma or a missed vein. Correct way to insert a needle Bevel up at a 30 degree angle Cephalic vein Near the outer corner of the elbow. Skin may be a little tougher to penetrate. Median cubital vein The vein that connects the other two veins like an H. Most common vein selected. Basilic vein the vein in the inner side of the elbow. More known to move or roll, can be more painful as it is near nerves. Capillary finger draws Should be preformed on middle and ring fingers. Should be 3mm deep and midway between the edge and midpoint of the finger Capillary heel sticks To be used on infants, Should be done on cushioned sides of heels How not to do capillary draws Do not use earlobe for capillary draws. Do not stick muddle of heel or finger. Do not squeeze the site (to avoid misreadings). To prevent hospital acquired infections, a phlebotomy technician should clean items that have been contaminated by blood with a 1:10 dilution of what solution and water. Sodium Hydrochloride Phlebotomy technicians should identify what color is used to signify a health hazard according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 704 marking system Blue A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect a blood specimen from a patient who is allergic to alcohol. What antiseptic solution should the technician use to prepare the insertion site Chlorhexidine Prior to transport, what specimen should be placed in an ice bath within 30 minutes after collection Arterial blood gas A phlebotomy technician is performing a venipuncture for a patient. The patient reports "feeling faint" after removing the tourniquet and the needle what action should the technician take next? Have the patient put her head between her legs. While performing a venipuncture, a phlebotomy technician is stuck with a used needle. What action should the technician perform first Flush the area with running water A phlebotomy technician is collecting a patients blood specimen in a lavender topped tube. How many times should the technician gently invert the tubes before setting them in the specimen collection tray. 8-10 times. A phlebotomy technician should identify that what additive is used to prevent breakdown of glucose Sodium Fluoride What is a potential consequence of a phlebotomy technician mislabeling a blood bank specimen A transfusion reaction A phlebotomy technician should identify which of the following tube selections indicates the correct order of draw for a venipuncture Green, lavender, grey Which of the following actions by a phlebotomy technician can result in a grossly hemolyzed specimen using the incorrect needle gauge A technician should identify that what is one of thhe Joint Commissions 2016 National Patient Safety Goals Identify each patient correctly A phlebotomy technician is following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) clinical workflow pathway as part of the post examination phase of this process, which action should the technician take? Enter Critical Laboratory Data A phlebotomy technician is instructing a patient how to collect a clean catch urine specimen. What cleansers should the technician instruct the patient to use when cleaning around her urinary meatus? Mild antiseptic soap A phlebotomy technician is collecting blood from a patient for donation. The collection bag only fills halfway, and the vein collapses. What action should the technician take? Used a new collection bag, and a a new vein to draw a new unit of blood. antecubital fossa The area inside of the elbow Median cubital vein One of the veins present in the antecubital area A phlebotomist's job is to collect and process blood and urine specimens Phlebotomists job growth is expected to be much higher than other job markets A high quality phlebotomy certification requires Proof of performance of a required number of capillary and venipunctures An example of inpatient care is A hospital Clinical Laboratories Collect and analyze specimens from patients Professional behavior is to ask for help when you don't know the answer A phlebotomist planning for time management looks like having the proper supplies for each patient Always ask patients which arm they prefer