Comprehensive breakdown of the NHA phlebotomy
certification exam for 2025 with accurate responses
Use enough soap to form a lather.
Rationale: The technician should form a lather by rubbing her hands together for at least 15 seconds,
covering all surfaces of her hands and fingers with soap. - correct answers ✔️✔T️ he phlebotomist is
watching her hands at the beginning of the shift. What action should she take?
Potassium
Rationale: Providone-iodine is contradicted for potassium tests b/c it can cause a false elevation of
potassium in a specimen. - correct answers ✔️✔️Which of the following test results are affected when a
phlebotomy technician uses providone-iodine to cleanse a site for dermal puncture?
Remove the first glove so that it turns inside out during removal.
Rationale: When removing gloves, the tech should turn the first glove inside out during removal to
decrease chances of contact with blood. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ phlebotomy tech is removing his
gloves after a venipuncture procedure. Which of the following actions should the tech take?
Replace the sharps container when it is 2/3 full
,Rationale:
-According to OSHA standards, the technician should replace the sharps container when it is two-thirds
full.
-The technician should discard covered lancets into rigid, leak-proof, plastic containers.
-To prevent needlestick injuries, the technician should not break, bend, recap, or manipulate
contaminated needles
-The technician should discard the entire evacuated tube system intact and should not disassemble it
prior to disposal. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ phlebotomy tech is preparing to dispose contaminated
sharps. According to OSHA standards which of the following actions should the tech take?
Confirm the identity of the patient.
Rationale: The technician should identify the patient prior to performing any other steps of the
procedure. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ phlebotomy tech is preparing to perform a fingerstick for a patient.
Which of the following actions should the tech take first?
Blood culture testing.
Rationale: Chain of custody guidelines apply to drug screenings, forensic studies, blood alcohol tests,
and paternity testing. - correct answers ✔️✔️For which of the following procedures should a
phlebotomy tech follow chain of custody guidelines?
Mask.
Rationale: When removing PPE, the technician should first remove the GLOVES, then the GOGGLES, and
then the GOWN. The mask is the last piece of PPE the technician should remove before or after exiting
the patient's room, depending on the isolation reason. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ fter exiting a patient's
room, which of the following is the last piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) a phlebotomy
technician should remove?
Inform the patient to contact the ordering provider to obtain the results.
,Rationale:
-Only the ordering provider can discuss laboratory results with the patient. The technician should
instruct the patient to contact the provider to obtain the laboratory results.
-outside of the nurse's, lab manager's & phlebotomist's scope of practice (don't discuss results with pt.) -
correct answers ✔️✔️After verifying a patient's identity, a phlebotomy technician sees that the
patient's laboratory results are ready. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
Patients' information.
Rationale: HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, protects patients' personal
health information. - correct answers ✔️✔️A phlebotomy technician should comply with HIPAA to
protect which of the following?
Sodium citrate.
Rationale: The technician should use a collection tube that has the anticoagulant sodium citrate to
collect a sample for a PT/PTT test. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ phlebotomy technician should select a tube
that has which of the following anticoagulants to collect a sample for a PT/PTT test?
Push the first collection tube gently into the holder.
Rationale:
-The technician should gently push the first collection tube into the holder to secure the placement of
the tube.
-The technician should palpate above the puncture site if blood flow is not established.
-The technician should insert the needle with the bevel side facing upward.
-The technician should insert the needle at a 30° angle or less to avoid hitting an artery, tendon, or
nerve. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ phlebotomy technician is using an evacuated needle holder and blood
collection tubes to collect blood form a patient. Which of the following actions should the tech take?
Wash the puncture site with soap and water.
, Rationale:
-The first step the technician should take after a receiving a needlestick injury is to decontaminate the
puncture site by washing it with soap and water for 30 seconds.
-Reporting the incident to a supervisor is not the first step the technician should take after receiving a
needlestick injury. After the puncture site is decontaminated, the technician should report the injury to
the supervisor, who will complete an incident report. The supervisor will then direct the technician to a
medical facility for evaluation and treatment.
-After the puncture site is decontaminated, the technician should report the injury to the supervisor,
who will complete an incident report. The supervisor will then direct the technician to a medical facility
for evaluation and treatment.
-the technician has the option to receive counseling after an initial evaluation by occupational h - correct
answers ✔️✔️A phlebotomy technician is disposing of used supplies when he accidentally receives a
needlestick injury. According to OSHA guidelines, which of the following actions should the tech take
first?
Implied consent.
Rationale: By extending his arm to the technician, the patient is giving implied consent. - correct answers
✔️✔️A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood from a pt. in an inpatient setting. The pt.
extends his arm and turns his head away. This action by the pt. is an example of which of the following
types of consent?
When a new lot number or kit is opened.
Rationale:
-The technician should perform external liquid controls when a new lot number or kit is opened.
-External liquid controls should be performed as specified by the manufacturer's instructions, such as
upon receipt of a new lot number, when a lot number is stored incorrectly, and when results are
questionable. - correct answers ✔️✔️When should a phlebotomy technician perform external liquid
controls for quality control on a CLIA-waived glucose point-of-care test?
Discontinue the draw.
Rationale:
certification exam for 2025 with accurate responses
Use enough soap to form a lather.
Rationale: The technician should form a lather by rubbing her hands together for at least 15 seconds,
covering all surfaces of her hands and fingers with soap. - correct answers ✔️✔T️ he phlebotomist is
watching her hands at the beginning of the shift. What action should she take?
Potassium
Rationale: Providone-iodine is contradicted for potassium tests b/c it can cause a false elevation of
potassium in a specimen. - correct answers ✔️✔️Which of the following test results are affected when a
phlebotomy technician uses providone-iodine to cleanse a site for dermal puncture?
Remove the first glove so that it turns inside out during removal.
Rationale: When removing gloves, the tech should turn the first glove inside out during removal to
decrease chances of contact with blood. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ phlebotomy tech is removing his
gloves after a venipuncture procedure. Which of the following actions should the tech take?
Replace the sharps container when it is 2/3 full
,Rationale:
-According to OSHA standards, the technician should replace the sharps container when it is two-thirds
full.
-The technician should discard covered lancets into rigid, leak-proof, plastic containers.
-To prevent needlestick injuries, the technician should not break, bend, recap, or manipulate
contaminated needles
-The technician should discard the entire evacuated tube system intact and should not disassemble it
prior to disposal. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ phlebotomy tech is preparing to dispose contaminated
sharps. According to OSHA standards which of the following actions should the tech take?
Confirm the identity of the patient.
Rationale: The technician should identify the patient prior to performing any other steps of the
procedure. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ phlebotomy tech is preparing to perform a fingerstick for a patient.
Which of the following actions should the tech take first?
Blood culture testing.
Rationale: Chain of custody guidelines apply to drug screenings, forensic studies, blood alcohol tests,
and paternity testing. - correct answers ✔️✔️For which of the following procedures should a
phlebotomy tech follow chain of custody guidelines?
Mask.
Rationale: When removing PPE, the technician should first remove the GLOVES, then the GOGGLES, and
then the GOWN. The mask is the last piece of PPE the technician should remove before or after exiting
the patient's room, depending on the isolation reason. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ fter exiting a patient's
room, which of the following is the last piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) a phlebotomy
technician should remove?
Inform the patient to contact the ordering provider to obtain the results.
,Rationale:
-Only the ordering provider can discuss laboratory results with the patient. The technician should
instruct the patient to contact the provider to obtain the laboratory results.
-outside of the nurse's, lab manager's & phlebotomist's scope of practice (don't discuss results with pt.) -
correct answers ✔️✔️After verifying a patient's identity, a phlebotomy technician sees that the
patient's laboratory results are ready. Which of the following actions should the technician take?
Patients' information.
Rationale: HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, protects patients' personal
health information. - correct answers ✔️✔️A phlebotomy technician should comply with HIPAA to
protect which of the following?
Sodium citrate.
Rationale: The technician should use a collection tube that has the anticoagulant sodium citrate to
collect a sample for a PT/PTT test. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ phlebotomy technician should select a tube
that has which of the following anticoagulants to collect a sample for a PT/PTT test?
Push the first collection tube gently into the holder.
Rationale:
-The technician should gently push the first collection tube into the holder to secure the placement of
the tube.
-The technician should palpate above the puncture site if blood flow is not established.
-The technician should insert the needle with the bevel side facing upward.
-The technician should insert the needle at a 30° angle or less to avoid hitting an artery, tendon, or
nerve. - correct answers ✔️✔A ️ phlebotomy technician is using an evacuated needle holder and blood
collection tubes to collect blood form a patient. Which of the following actions should the tech take?
Wash the puncture site with soap and water.
, Rationale:
-The first step the technician should take after a receiving a needlestick injury is to decontaminate the
puncture site by washing it with soap and water for 30 seconds.
-Reporting the incident to a supervisor is not the first step the technician should take after receiving a
needlestick injury. After the puncture site is decontaminated, the technician should report the injury to
the supervisor, who will complete an incident report. The supervisor will then direct the technician to a
medical facility for evaluation and treatment.
-After the puncture site is decontaminated, the technician should report the injury to the supervisor,
who will complete an incident report. The supervisor will then direct the technician to a medical facility
for evaluation and treatment.
-the technician has the option to receive counseling after an initial evaluation by occupational h - correct
answers ✔️✔️A phlebotomy technician is disposing of used supplies when he accidentally receives a
needlestick injury. According to OSHA guidelines, which of the following actions should the tech take
first?
Implied consent.
Rationale: By extending his arm to the technician, the patient is giving implied consent. - correct answers
✔️✔️A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood from a pt. in an inpatient setting. The pt.
extends his arm and turns his head away. This action by the pt. is an example of which of the following
types of consent?
When a new lot number or kit is opened.
Rationale:
-The technician should perform external liquid controls when a new lot number or kit is opened.
-External liquid controls should be performed as specified by the manufacturer's instructions, such as
upon receipt of a new lot number, when a lot number is stored incorrectly, and when results are
questionable. - correct answers ✔️✔️When should a phlebotomy technician perform external liquid
controls for quality control on a CLIA-waived glucose point-of-care test?
Discontinue the draw.
Rationale:
