NCCT NATIONAL CERTIFICATION ACTUAL
EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
● What is the proper way to identify a patient prior to performing a
venipuncture? Answer: Ask the patient to state his/her full name and
DOB and compare to the chart.
Before a venipuncture, the medical assistant should ask the patient to
state his/her full name and DOB (comparing what is stated to what is
written in the chart or on a wrist band patient identifier). This minimizes
the risk for mis-identification errors because it cross-checks what the
patient says against written documentation. This provides a verified
identity so that all tubes collected will be associated with the correct
patient (provided the medical assistant labels them properly).
● Using the guidelines for any method of venipuncture, what action
should the medical assistant perform directly after confirming patient
identity? Answer: Review the requirements for collecting and handling
the blood specimen as ordered by the physician
To ensure accuracy and quality, it is important to anticipate your needs
before beginning the actual venipuncture (i.e. tube color/size, minimum
acceptable blood volume, whether or not the specimen needs to be
,placed on ice). Therefore, the medical assistant would identify the
patient, then review the requirements for collecting and handling the
blood specimen as ordered by the physician. Next, assemble the
appropriate equipment and select the proper evacuated tubes for test to
be performed. Then, apply the tourniquet and thoroughly palpate the
selected vein. Finally, position the patient's arm and cleanse the site with
an antiseptic wipe, then proceed with the venipuncture protocol.
● What should be avoided as a form of patient identification? Answer:
insurance number
An insurance number is not a common means of positive patient
identification (entire families can share the same insurance policy
number). Patients must be positively identified for medical services,
whether they have insurance or not. Insurance information is necessary
for billing purposes. The only true unique identifier listed among these
choices is the social security number. Patient name and date of birth are
also commonly used to confirm identification.
● Name the two most used patient identifiers. Answer: Patient's
name/date of birth
Name and DOB are most often used as positive patient identifiers as
they are easily documented and work for inpatients or outpatients. Bed
numbers should never be used as identifiers for inpatients or outpatients,
nor should physician name associations. Medical record numbers are
valuable for inpatients, with name and DOB being used most often.
,● Prior to any type of inpatient specimen collection, a phlebotomist must
correctly verify their patient's identity by using which two-step
procedure? Answer: Check ID bracelet, and ask patient to verbally
confirm their identity.
The correct answer is to check the ID bracelet and ask the patient to
verbally confirm his/her identity. Patients may not have foot bed charts
or IV bags, and the goal is to select the BEST answer of all choices. If a
patient has both an ID bracelet and can verify his/her own identity, it is
ideal.
● The phlebotomist is drawing blood from a patient that is taking blood
thinners. What is a necessary piece of additional equipment to have at
the drawing station? Answer: non-adhering bandage
Non-adhering bandage material would be helpful for patients on
anticoagulant therapy who may bleed more extensively than typical
patients after venipuncture. It is necessary to contain the bleed with a
bandage, but adhesive might bruise once removed from a patient who
has anticoagulated blood.
● In which of the following time frames should a tourniquet be routinely
released on a patient while performing a blood draw? Answer: within
one minute
, The standard time limit for having a tourniquet on a patient is one
minute. Inaccurate laboratory test results may occur if a tourniquet is not
removed within one minute. When a tourniquet is applied, the local
blood flow is stopped. This leads to concentration of the blood and blood
entering the surrounding tissue. This may result in falsely high values
for all protein-based analytes, increased packed cell volume, and
changes in other cellular elements. The most current edition of the CLSI
Procedures for the Collection of Diagnostic Blood Specimens by
Venipuncture, H3-A6, states that the tourniquet application for
preliminary vein selection should not exceed one minute. For most
patients, it is easy to release the tourniquet within the one-minute period.
Most veins are easily located and the venipuncture procedure can be
completed quickly.
● A medical assistant has active symptoms of the common cold. Under
which of the following conditions may he perform venipuncture?
Answer: The medical assistant may perform venipuncture provided he is
wearing a mask and afebrile.
It is not uncommon for people to be able to work with the common cold.
However, it is important for medical personnel to use good judgment
and not transmit diseases to their patients. Medical personnel should take
precautions and handle patient contact in a responsible manner. They
should not have patient contact if they are febrile, since that is when
colds are highly contagious. In this instance, the medical assistant may
perform venipuncture provided he/she is wearing a mask and afebrile.
The medical assistant should wear the mask to keep from transmitting
the cold via coughing or sneezing on a patient.
EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
● What is the proper way to identify a patient prior to performing a
venipuncture? Answer: Ask the patient to state his/her full name and
DOB and compare to the chart.
Before a venipuncture, the medical assistant should ask the patient to
state his/her full name and DOB (comparing what is stated to what is
written in the chart or on a wrist band patient identifier). This minimizes
the risk for mis-identification errors because it cross-checks what the
patient says against written documentation. This provides a verified
identity so that all tubes collected will be associated with the correct
patient (provided the medical assistant labels them properly).
● Using the guidelines for any method of venipuncture, what action
should the medical assistant perform directly after confirming patient
identity? Answer: Review the requirements for collecting and handling
the blood specimen as ordered by the physician
To ensure accuracy and quality, it is important to anticipate your needs
before beginning the actual venipuncture (i.e. tube color/size, minimum
acceptable blood volume, whether or not the specimen needs to be
,placed on ice). Therefore, the medical assistant would identify the
patient, then review the requirements for collecting and handling the
blood specimen as ordered by the physician. Next, assemble the
appropriate equipment and select the proper evacuated tubes for test to
be performed. Then, apply the tourniquet and thoroughly palpate the
selected vein. Finally, position the patient's arm and cleanse the site with
an antiseptic wipe, then proceed with the venipuncture protocol.
● What should be avoided as a form of patient identification? Answer:
insurance number
An insurance number is not a common means of positive patient
identification (entire families can share the same insurance policy
number). Patients must be positively identified for medical services,
whether they have insurance or not. Insurance information is necessary
for billing purposes. The only true unique identifier listed among these
choices is the social security number. Patient name and date of birth are
also commonly used to confirm identification.
● Name the two most used patient identifiers. Answer: Patient's
name/date of birth
Name and DOB are most often used as positive patient identifiers as
they are easily documented and work for inpatients or outpatients. Bed
numbers should never be used as identifiers for inpatients or outpatients,
nor should physician name associations. Medical record numbers are
valuable for inpatients, with name and DOB being used most often.
,● Prior to any type of inpatient specimen collection, a phlebotomist must
correctly verify their patient's identity by using which two-step
procedure? Answer: Check ID bracelet, and ask patient to verbally
confirm their identity.
The correct answer is to check the ID bracelet and ask the patient to
verbally confirm his/her identity. Patients may not have foot bed charts
or IV bags, and the goal is to select the BEST answer of all choices. If a
patient has both an ID bracelet and can verify his/her own identity, it is
ideal.
● The phlebotomist is drawing blood from a patient that is taking blood
thinners. What is a necessary piece of additional equipment to have at
the drawing station? Answer: non-adhering bandage
Non-adhering bandage material would be helpful for patients on
anticoagulant therapy who may bleed more extensively than typical
patients after venipuncture. It is necessary to contain the bleed with a
bandage, but adhesive might bruise once removed from a patient who
has anticoagulated blood.
● In which of the following time frames should a tourniquet be routinely
released on a patient while performing a blood draw? Answer: within
one minute
, The standard time limit for having a tourniquet on a patient is one
minute. Inaccurate laboratory test results may occur if a tourniquet is not
removed within one minute. When a tourniquet is applied, the local
blood flow is stopped. This leads to concentration of the blood and blood
entering the surrounding tissue. This may result in falsely high values
for all protein-based analytes, increased packed cell volume, and
changes in other cellular elements. The most current edition of the CLSI
Procedures for the Collection of Diagnostic Blood Specimens by
Venipuncture, H3-A6, states that the tourniquet application for
preliminary vein selection should not exceed one minute. For most
patients, it is easy to release the tourniquet within the one-minute period.
Most veins are easily located and the venipuncture procedure can be
completed quickly.
● A medical assistant has active symptoms of the common cold. Under
which of the following conditions may he perform venipuncture?
Answer: The medical assistant may perform venipuncture provided he is
wearing a mask and afebrile.
It is not uncommon for people to be able to work with the common cold.
However, it is important for medical personnel to use good judgment
and not transmit diseases to their patients. Medical personnel should take
precautions and handle patient contact in a responsible manner. They
should not have patient contact if they are febrile, since that is when
colds are highly contagious. In this instance, the medical assistant may
perform venipuncture provided he/she is wearing a mask and afebrile.
The medical assistant should wear the mask to keep from transmitting
the cold via coughing or sneezing on a patient.
