NHA PHLEBOTOMY
CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
1. What temperature should a semen sample be transported? - ANS-36-38 degrees C
2. Which of the following would result in a grossly hemolyzed specimen?
a. Incorrect order of draw
b. Incorrect needle gauge
c. Applying tourniquet too close to the draw site
d. Failure to invert tube - ANS-b. Incorrect needle gauge
3. Which of the following is proper procedure after collecting ammonia specimen?
a. Protect from light
b. Keep specimen warm
c. Keep specimen at body temp
d. Place specimen in icewater slurry (or a cup of ice) - ANS-d. Place specimen in
icewater slurry (or a cup of ice)
4. The phlebotomist has a request to collect a CBC from a healthy 10 month old. Which
is appropriate? - ANS-a. Either heel
,5. A phlebotomist is preparing to draw blood from a patient in hospital/ The patient
extends his arm and turns head away. Which consent does this indicate? - ANS-a.
Implied consent
6. Why should phlebotomist document volume of blood drawn from a patient? - ANS-a.
Iatrogenic anemia could be a result fo too much taken
7. A phlebotomist has a requisition to draw blood on a patient with severe Down's
syndrome. What steps would you take? - ANS-a. Speak with the patient guardian before
performing venipuncture to enmsure the patient understands
8. A 69 year old unconscious patient is brought ot the ER. Several blood tests are
ordered. The phlebotomist collects blood under - ANS-a. Implied consent
9. Which of the following actions is appropriate when labeling specimens? - ANS-a.
Label specimens at the time of collection in front of the patient
10. Before collecting blood on an inpatient, the phlebotomist notices there's no
wristband on wrist. There is one on the IV pole. What do you do? - ANS-a. Don't draw
until nurse puts an armband on patient
11. Which is appropriate form of identification in inpatient setting? - ANS-a. Verbal and
wrist band
12. WBC, RBC, Electrolytes are ordered. Which tubes are used for capillary? - ANS-a.
Lavender and red
13. A blood specimen is rejected by lab with QNS as the reason? Why? - ANS-a. The
specimen was insufficient-not enough blood
14. Which of the following is best method to prevent internal or external bleeding from
venipuncture site after needle is removed? - ANS-a. Apply pressure to prevent leakage
of blood into the tissues
,15. A physician orders a STAT but phlebotomist forgets to fill out patient ID number.
What is appropriate procedure for an improperly labeled specimen when received in
lab? - ANS-a. Lab rejects the mislabeled specimen
16. Phlebotomist is performing venipuncture and patient begins to seize. What is
correct action? - ANS-a. Discontinue the draw
17. Phlebotomist receives orders to draw an infant screening card, O2 levels, bilirubin,
and DNA. Which is to be drawn first? - ANS-a. O2 levels
18. When performing a venipuncture on a patient of average weight, which is the
correct technique for needle insertion? - ANS-a. Insert until a change in resistance
19. Which is the best method to collect a blood specimen from an older adult patient
who has fragile, easy to collapse veins? - ANS-a. Choose a syringe and butterfly
assembly
20. Which of the following is the term for donation of a patient's own blood for an
upcoming surgery? - ANS-a. Autologous donation
21. The order of draw for capillary collections is different than venipuncture because -
ANS-a. Increased risk of coagulation (remember platelets start to form)
22. Upon entering a patient's room for routine blood draw, phlebotomist notices clergy
member is with the patient. What should you do? - ANS-a. Return later after drawing
other patients
23. A phlebotomist notices a hematoma developing at the site of venipuncture. The
phlebotomist should - ANS-a. Release the tourniquet and stop the draw
24. Know ORDER of DRAW!! - ANS-
25. A phlebotomist working in an infertility clinic and the patient is to submit a semen
specimen. The phlebotomist would tell the patient: - ANS-a. As soon as you collect the
, specimen, keep it next to your body and bring it in right away. (the reason is it needs
to stay at body temp and delivered in lab within 2 hours)
26. After placing tourniquet on a patients arm, the phlebotomist notices small red
spots below the tourniquet. - ANS-a. Petechiae
27. The phlebotomist should examine the antecubital veins of both arms because: -
ANS-a. The median cubital might be more accessible on one side than the other
28. What is the appropriate cleanser to clean the meatus for a clean catch urine
specimen? - ANS-a. Benzalkonium chloride
29. When should the code on glucose cuvettes or strips be compared to the code on
the glucose meter? - ANS-a. When the patient is tested
30. Which of the following is appropriate to use when collecting for a chemistry test
that requires serum? - ANS-a. SST (this is the red gel tube)
31. A patient state she is a difficult draw and requests a skin puncture. The test is a
PTT. Which should you do? - ANS-a. Use a syringe and transfer to a light blue tube
32. Industry standard states needle insertion in the antecubital area should be: - ANS-a.
15-30 degree angle
33. Tubes with which additive should be used for CBC? - ANS-a. EDTA (purple tube)
34. When preparing for transport, which specimen must be placed on ice within 30
minutes after collection? - ANS-a. Arterial Blood Gases
35. Which provides the phlebotomist the best protection when drawing blood from a
patient with active TB? - ANS-a. N-95 respirator mask
CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
1. What temperature should a semen sample be transported? - ANS-36-38 degrees C
2. Which of the following would result in a grossly hemolyzed specimen?
a. Incorrect order of draw
b. Incorrect needle gauge
c. Applying tourniquet too close to the draw site
d. Failure to invert tube - ANS-b. Incorrect needle gauge
3. Which of the following is proper procedure after collecting ammonia specimen?
a. Protect from light
b. Keep specimen warm
c. Keep specimen at body temp
d. Place specimen in icewater slurry (or a cup of ice) - ANS-d. Place specimen in
icewater slurry (or a cup of ice)
4. The phlebotomist has a request to collect a CBC from a healthy 10 month old. Which
is appropriate? - ANS-a. Either heel
,5. A phlebotomist is preparing to draw blood from a patient in hospital/ The patient
extends his arm and turns head away. Which consent does this indicate? - ANS-a.
Implied consent
6. Why should phlebotomist document volume of blood drawn from a patient? - ANS-a.
Iatrogenic anemia could be a result fo too much taken
7. A phlebotomist has a requisition to draw blood on a patient with severe Down's
syndrome. What steps would you take? - ANS-a. Speak with the patient guardian before
performing venipuncture to enmsure the patient understands
8. A 69 year old unconscious patient is brought ot the ER. Several blood tests are
ordered. The phlebotomist collects blood under - ANS-a. Implied consent
9. Which of the following actions is appropriate when labeling specimens? - ANS-a.
Label specimens at the time of collection in front of the patient
10. Before collecting blood on an inpatient, the phlebotomist notices there's no
wristband on wrist. There is one on the IV pole. What do you do? - ANS-a. Don't draw
until nurse puts an armband on patient
11. Which is appropriate form of identification in inpatient setting? - ANS-a. Verbal and
wrist band
12. WBC, RBC, Electrolytes are ordered. Which tubes are used for capillary? - ANS-a.
Lavender and red
13. A blood specimen is rejected by lab with QNS as the reason? Why? - ANS-a. The
specimen was insufficient-not enough blood
14. Which of the following is best method to prevent internal or external bleeding from
venipuncture site after needle is removed? - ANS-a. Apply pressure to prevent leakage
of blood into the tissues
,15. A physician orders a STAT but phlebotomist forgets to fill out patient ID number.
What is appropriate procedure for an improperly labeled specimen when received in
lab? - ANS-a. Lab rejects the mislabeled specimen
16. Phlebotomist is performing venipuncture and patient begins to seize. What is
correct action? - ANS-a. Discontinue the draw
17. Phlebotomist receives orders to draw an infant screening card, O2 levels, bilirubin,
and DNA. Which is to be drawn first? - ANS-a. O2 levels
18. When performing a venipuncture on a patient of average weight, which is the
correct technique for needle insertion? - ANS-a. Insert until a change in resistance
19. Which is the best method to collect a blood specimen from an older adult patient
who has fragile, easy to collapse veins? - ANS-a. Choose a syringe and butterfly
assembly
20. Which of the following is the term for donation of a patient's own blood for an
upcoming surgery? - ANS-a. Autologous donation
21. The order of draw for capillary collections is different than venipuncture because -
ANS-a. Increased risk of coagulation (remember platelets start to form)
22. Upon entering a patient's room for routine blood draw, phlebotomist notices clergy
member is with the patient. What should you do? - ANS-a. Return later after drawing
other patients
23. A phlebotomist notices a hematoma developing at the site of venipuncture. The
phlebotomist should - ANS-a. Release the tourniquet and stop the draw
24. Know ORDER of DRAW!! - ANS-
25. A phlebotomist working in an infertility clinic and the patient is to submit a semen
specimen. The phlebotomist would tell the patient: - ANS-a. As soon as you collect the
, specimen, keep it next to your body and bring it in right away. (the reason is it needs
to stay at body temp and delivered in lab within 2 hours)
26. After placing tourniquet on a patients arm, the phlebotomist notices small red
spots below the tourniquet. - ANS-a. Petechiae
27. The phlebotomist should examine the antecubital veins of both arms because: -
ANS-a. The median cubital might be more accessible on one side than the other
28. What is the appropriate cleanser to clean the meatus for a clean catch urine
specimen? - ANS-a. Benzalkonium chloride
29. When should the code on glucose cuvettes or strips be compared to the code on
the glucose meter? - ANS-a. When the patient is tested
30. Which of the following is appropriate to use when collecting for a chemistry test
that requires serum? - ANS-a. SST (this is the red gel tube)
31. A patient state she is a difficult draw and requests a skin puncture. The test is a
PTT. Which should you do? - ANS-a. Use a syringe and transfer to a light blue tube
32. Industry standard states needle insertion in the antecubital area should be: - ANS-a.
15-30 degree angle
33. Tubes with which additive should be used for CBC? - ANS-a. EDTA (purple tube)
34. When preparing for transport, which specimen must be placed on ice within 30
minutes after collection? - ANS-a. Arterial Blood Gases
35. Which provides the phlebotomist the best protection when drawing blood from a
patient with active TB? - ANS-a. N-95 respirator mask
