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NHA CERTIFIED PHLEBOTOMY TECHNICIAN
EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Exam — 250 Practice Questions
250 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
SECTION 1: SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE (Questions 1-50)
1. A phlebotomy technician is preparing to perform a venipuncture on a patient.
Which action represents the correct application of Standard Precautions according
to OSHA guidelines?
A. Wearing gloves only when the patient is known to have an infectious disease
B. Wearing gloves for all blood draws and changing them between each patient
C. Wearing gloves only for arterial punctures and other high-risk procedures
D. Wearing gloves and washing hands only after completing all patient collections
Answer: B
Rationale: Standard Precautions require that gloves be worn for all blood collections
and changed between each patient. Option A is incorrect because gloves must be worn
for all patients regardless of known infection status. Option C is incorrect because
gloves are required for all blood collections, not just high-risk procedures. Option D is
incorrect because hand hygiene must be performed before and after each patient
contact, not just after all collections.
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2. A phlebotomy technician accidentally sticks themselves with a needle after
drawing blood from a patient. What is the FIRST action the technician should take?
A. Report the incident to the supervisor immediately after completing the shift
B. Wash the needlestick site with soap and water and report the exposure immediately
C. Squeeze the wound to force blood out and then apply a bandage
D. Ignore the incident if the patient appears healthy and has no known infections
Answer: B
Rationale: The first action following a needlestick injury is to wash the site with soap
and water and report the exposure immediately to the supervisor. Option A is incorrect
because immediate reporting is required to initiate post-exposure prophylaxis if
indicated. Option C is incorrect because squeezing the wound is not recommended and
may increase tissue damage. Option D is incorrect because all needlesticks must be
reported regardless of the patient's apparent health status.
3. A phlebotomy technician is disposing of used needles. Which of the following
actions complies with OSHA regulations for sharps disposal?
A. Recapping the needle using the two-handed technique before disposal
B. Placing the needle in a puncture-resistant sharps container located at the point of
use
C. Bending the needle before placing it in the regular trash container
D. Disposing of the needle in a red biohazard bag with other contaminated materials
Answer: B
Rationale: Used needles must be disposed of immediately in a puncture-resistant
sharps container located at the point of use. Option A is incorrect because needles
should never be recapped; if recapping is necessary, a one-handed technique or safety
device must be used. Option C is incorrect because needles should never be bent,
broken, or recapped. Option D is incorrect because sharps must go in a sharps
container, not a biohazard bag.
4. A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect a blood specimen. What is the
correct sequence for applying personal protective equipment (PPE)?
A. Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
B. Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves
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C. Mask, eye protection, gown, gloves
D. Eye protection, mask, gloves, gown
Answer: C
Rationale: The correct sequence for donning PPE is mask, eye protection, gown, and
then gloves. Option A is incorrect because gloves should be applied last. Option B is
incorrect because mask and eye protection should be applied before the gown. Option
D is incorrect because the gown should be applied before gloves.
5. A phlebotomy technician notices blood splashed on the floor after an arterial
puncture. What is the appropriate method for cleaning up the blood spill?
A. Wipe the spill with paper towels and dispose of them in the regular trash
B. Cover the spill with absorbent material, apply an EPA-approved disinfectant, and
allow proper contact time
C. Spray the spill with alcohol and wipe it up with a cloth towel
D. Leave the spill for the environmental services staff to clean at the end of the day
Answer: B
Rationale: Blood spills must be covered with absorbent material, cleaned using an
EPA-approved disinfectant (such as 1:10 bleach solution), and allowed the appropriate
contact time. Option A is incorrect because paper towels cannot contain the spill and
regular trash is inappropriate. Option C is incorrect because alcohol is not a sufficient
disinfectant for blood spills. Option D is incorrect because spills must be cleaned
immediately to prevent exposure.
6. A phlebotomy technician is performing hand hygiene before a venipuncture.
Which statement about hand hygiene is correct according to infection control
guidelines?
A. Hand sanitizer is always sufficient and hand washing is never necessary
B. Hand washing with soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled
C. Gloves can be worn without hand hygiene if the patient is known to be healthy
D. Hand hygiene is only required after patient contact, not before
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand washing with soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled.
Option A is incorrect because hand sanitizer is not sufficient when hands are visibly
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dirty. Option C is incorrect because hand hygiene must be performed before and after
every patient contact regardless of the patient's health status. Option D is incorrect
because hand hygiene is required both before and after patient contact.
7. A phlebotomy technician is transporting a blood specimen to the laboratory.
Which of the following practices is correct for safe transport?
A. Place the specimen tube in a biohazard bag with the requisition form inside the bag
B. Place the specimen tube in a leak-proof biohazard bag and place the requisition form
in a separate outer pocket
C. Carry the specimen tube in a pocket to prevent breakage during transport
D. Transport the specimen tube without a biohazard bag if it has a secure cap
Answer: B
Rationale: Specimens must be placed in a leak-proof biohazard bag, and the
requisition form must be placed in a separate outer pocket to prevent contamination.
Option A is incorrect because the requisition form should not be inside the bag where it
could become contaminated. Option C is incorrect because carrying tubes in pockets is
unsafe and violates transport protocols. Option D is incorrect because all specimens
must be transported in appropriate biohazard packaging.
8. A phlebotomy technician is preparing to dispose of a full sharps container.
Which action is correct according to OSHA regulations?
A. Overfill the container to maximize space utilization before disposal
B. Close and seal the container when it is two-thirds full
C. Empty the contents of the sharps container into a larger container for disposal
D. Dispose of the sharps container in the regular trash once it is sealed
Answer: B
Rationale: Sharps containers must be closed and sealed when they are two-thirds full.
Option A is incorrect because overfilling increases the risk of needlestick injury. Option
C is incorrect because sharps containers should never be emptied into another
container. Option D is incorrect because sharps containers must be disposed of
through a regulated medical waste disposal service, not regular trash.
NHA CERTIFIED PHLEBOTOMY TECHNICIAN
EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Exam — 250 Practice Questions
250 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
SECTION 1: SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE (Questions 1-50)
1. A phlebotomy technician is preparing to perform a venipuncture on a patient.
Which action represents the correct application of Standard Precautions according
to OSHA guidelines?
A. Wearing gloves only when the patient is known to have an infectious disease
B. Wearing gloves for all blood draws and changing them between each patient
C. Wearing gloves only for arterial punctures and other high-risk procedures
D. Wearing gloves and washing hands only after completing all patient collections
Answer: B
Rationale: Standard Precautions require that gloves be worn for all blood collections
and changed between each patient. Option A is incorrect because gloves must be worn
for all patients regardless of known infection status. Option C is incorrect because
gloves are required for all blood collections, not just high-risk procedures. Option D is
incorrect because hand hygiene must be performed before and after each patient
contact, not just after all collections.
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2. A phlebotomy technician accidentally sticks themselves with a needle after
drawing blood from a patient. What is the FIRST action the technician should take?
A. Report the incident to the supervisor immediately after completing the shift
B. Wash the needlestick site with soap and water and report the exposure immediately
C. Squeeze the wound to force blood out and then apply a bandage
D. Ignore the incident if the patient appears healthy and has no known infections
Answer: B
Rationale: The first action following a needlestick injury is to wash the site with soap
and water and report the exposure immediately to the supervisor. Option A is incorrect
because immediate reporting is required to initiate post-exposure prophylaxis if
indicated. Option C is incorrect because squeezing the wound is not recommended and
may increase tissue damage. Option D is incorrect because all needlesticks must be
reported regardless of the patient's apparent health status.
3. A phlebotomy technician is disposing of used needles. Which of the following
actions complies with OSHA regulations for sharps disposal?
A. Recapping the needle using the two-handed technique before disposal
B. Placing the needle in a puncture-resistant sharps container located at the point of
use
C. Bending the needle before placing it in the regular trash container
D. Disposing of the needle in a red biohazard bag with other contaminated materials
Answer: B
Rationale: Used needles must be disposed of immediately in a puncture-resistant
sharps container located at the point of use. Option A is incorrect because needles
should never be recapped; if recapping is necessary, a one-handed technique or safety
device must be used. Option C is incorrect because needles should never be bent,
broken, or recapped. Option D is incorrect because sharps must go in a sharps
container, not a biohazard bag.
4. A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect a blood specimen. What is the
correct sequence for applying personal protective equipment (PPE)?
A. Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
B. Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves
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C. Mask, eye protection, gown, gloves
D. Eye protection, mask, gloves, gown
Answer: C
Rationale: The correct sequence for donning PPE is mask, eye protection, gown, and
then gloves. Option A is incorrect because gloves should be applied last. Option B is
incorrect because mask and eye protection should be applied before the gown. Option
D is incorrect because the gown should be applied before gloves.
5. A phlebotomy technician notices blood splashed on the floor after an arterial
puncture. What is the appropriate method for cleaning up the blood spill?
A. Wipe the spill with paper towels and dispose of them in the regular trash
B. Cover the spill with absorbent material, apply an EPA-approved disinfectant, and
allow proper contact time
C. Spray the spill with alcohol and wipe it up with a cloth towel
D. Leave the spill for the environmental services staff to clean at the end of the day
Answer: B
Rationale: Blood spills must be covered with absorbent material, cleaned using an
EPA-approved disinfectant (such as 1:10 bleach solution), and allowed the appropriate
contact time. Option A is incorrect because paper towels cannot contain the spill and
regular trash is inappropriate. Option C is incorrect because alcohol is not a sufficient
disinfectant for blood spills. Option D is incorrect because spills must be cleaned
immediately to prevent exposure.
6. A phlebotomy technician is performing hand hygiene before a venipuncture.
Which statement about hand hygiene is correct according to infection control
guidelines?
A. Hand sanitizer is always sufficient and hand washing is never necessary
B. Hand washing with soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled
C. Gloves can be worn without hand hygiene if the patient is known to be healthy
D. Hand hygiene is only required after patient contact, not before
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand washing with soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled.
Option A is incorrect because hand sanitizer is not sufficient when hands are visibly
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dirty. Option C is incorrect because hand hygiene must be performed before and after
every patient contact regardless of the patient's health status. Option D is incorrect
because hand hygiene is required both before and after patient contact.
7. A phlebotomy technician is transporting a blood specimen to the laboratory.
Which of the following practices is correct for safe transport?
A. Place the specimen tube in a biohazard bag with the requisition form inside the bag
B. Place the specimen tube in a leak-proof biohazard bag and place the requisition form
in a separate outer pocket
C. Carry the specimen tube in a pocket to prevent breakage during transport
D. Transport the specimen tube without a biohazard bag if it has a secure cap
Answer: B
Rationale: Specimens must be placed in a leak-proof biohazard bag, and the
requisition form must be placed in a separate outer pocket to prevent contamination.
Option A is incorrect because the requisition form should not be inside the bag where it
could become contaminated. Option C is incorrect because carrying tubes in pockets is
unsafe and violates transport protocols. Option D is incorrect because all specimens
must be transported in appropriate biohazard packaging.
8. A phlebotomy technician is preparing to dispose of a full sharps container.
Which action is correct according to OSHA regulations?
A. Overfill the container to maximize space utilization before disposal
B. Close and seal the container when it is two-thirds full
C. Empty the contents of the sharps container into a larger container for disposal
D. Dispose of the sharps container in the regular trash once it is sealed
Answer: B
Rationale: Sharps containers must be closed and sealed when they are two-thirds full.
Option A is incorrect because overfilling increases the risk of needlestick injury. Option
C is incorrect because sharps containers should never be emptied into another
container. Option D is incorrect because sharps containers must be disposed of
through a regulated medical waste disposal service, not regular trash.
