NHA PHLEBOTOMY EXAM QUESTIONS
NHA PHLEBOTOMY EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A 2026-2027., Exams of Clinical
Medicine
A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect a blood specimen.
Which action should be completed before beginning the collection
procedure?
A. Apply the tourniquet
B. Verify the patient's identity using approved identifiers
C. Insert the needle
D. Label the collection tubes
Correct Answer: B. Verify the patient's identity using approved
identifiers
Rationale:
Correct patient identification is one of the most important safety steps
in phlebotomy. The phlebotomy technician must verify the patient's
identity according to facility policy and compare the approved
identifiers with the test requisition or collection information before
obtaining the specimen. Failure to correctly identify the patient can
result in a specimen being assigned to the wrong person, potentially
leading to incorrect laboratory results, delayed treatment, misdiagnosis,
or serious patient harm. Identity verification must occur before the
blood collection process begins.
Page 1 of 69
, NHA PHLEBOTOMY EXAM QUESTIONS
A phlebotomy technician sustains a needlestick injury immediately
after collecting a specimen. What should the technician do first?
A. Finish all scheduled collections
B. Wash the affected area immediately
C. Apply a tourniquet above the injury
D. Recap the needle
Correct Answer: B. Wash the affected area immediately
Rationale:
After a needlestick exposure, the affected area should be washed
promptly with soap and water. Immediate cleansing is an important first
step in reducing exposure to potentially infectious material. The
incident should then be reported immediately according to the facility's
exposure-control plan so that appropriate medical evaluation,
documentation, and follow-up can occur.
A phlebotomy technician is collecting blood from a patient in
isolation. Which action is essential before beginning the procedure?
A. Review the required infection-control precautions
B. Remove all protective equipment
C. Leave the collection tray outside the room permanently
D. Ask another patient for assistance
Correct Answer: A. Review the required infection-control precautions
Rationale:
The technician must follow the infection-control precautions
Page 2 of 69
, NHA PHLEBOTOMY EXAM QUESTIONS
appropriate for the patient's condition and the facility's policy.
Understanding whether standard, contact, droplet, airborne, or other
precautions are required helps protect the patient, healthcare workers,
and others from exposure. Appropriate PPE and safe collection
procedures should be selected before entering the collection area and
beginning the procedure.
A patient asks why the phlebotomy technician needs to confirm their
full name and date of birth before collecting blood. What is the best
explanation?
A. To determine the patient's age for billing
B. To ensure the correct specimen is collected from the correct patient
C. To determine which vein is largest
D. To decide how much blood to collect
Correct Answer: B. To ensure the correct specimen is collected from
the correct patient
Rationale:
Using approved patient identifiers ensures that the specimen is linked
to the correct individual. Accurate identification is essential throughout
the testing process because laboratory results may influence diagnosis
and treatment decisions. Confirming identity before collection helps
prevent wrong-patient errors and protects the integrity of the entire
laboratory testing process.
Page 3 of 69
, NHA PHLEBOTOMY EXAM QUESTIONS
A phlebotomy technician notices that a patient has become pale and
reports feeling dizzy during a blood draw. What should the technician
do first?
A. Continue collecting until all tubes are filled
B. Remove the tourniquet and needle and protect the patient from
injury
C. Ask the patient to stand
D. Leave the patient alone to recover
Correct Answer: B. Remove the tourniquet and needle and protect the
patient from injury
Rationale:
Pallor and dizziness may indicate that the patient is experiencing
syncope or is about to faint. The immediate priority is patient safety.
The collection should be stopped, the needle removed safely, and the
patient protected from falling or injury. The technician should then
follow the facility's procedure for assisting and monitoring a patient
who experiences syncope.
A phlebotomy technician should dispose of a used needle in which
location?
A. A regular waste container
B. A biohazard specimen bag
C. An approved sharps container
D. A linen hamper
Correct Answer: C. An approved sharps container
Page 4 of 69
NHA PHLEBOTOMY EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A 2026-2027., Exams of Clinical
Medicine
A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect a blood specimen.
Which action should be completed before beginning the collection
procedure?
A. Apply the tourniquet
B. Verify the patient's identity using approved identifiers
C. Insert the needle
D. Label the collection tubes
Correct Answer: B. Verify the patient's identity using approved
identifiers
Rationale:
Correct patient identification is one of the most important safety steps
in phlebotomy. The phlebotomy technician must verify the patient's
identity according to facility policy and compare the approved
identifiers with the test requisition or collection information before
obtaining the specimen. Failure to correctly identify the patient can
result in a specimen being assigned to the wrong person, potentially
leading to incorrect laboratory results, delayed treatment, misdiagnosis,
or serious patient harm. Identity verification must occur before the
blood collection process begins.
Page 1 of 69
, NHA PHLEBOTOMY EXAM QUESTIONS
A phlebotomy technician sustains a needlestick injury immediately
after collecting a specimen. What should the technician do first?
A. Finish all scheduled collections
B. Wash the affected area immediately
C. Apply a tourniquet above the injury
D. Recap the needle
Correct Answer: B. Wash the affected area immediately
Rationale:
After a needlestick exposure, the affected area should be washed
promptly with soap and water. Immediate cleansing is an important first
step in reducing exposure to potentially infectious material. The
incident should then be reported immediately according to the facility's
exposure-control plan so that appropriate medical evaluation,
documentation, and follow-up can occur.
A phlebotomy technician is collecting blood from a patient in
isolation. Which action is essential before beginning the procedure?
A. Review the required infection-control precautions
B. Remove all protective equipment
C. Leave the collection tray outside the room permanently
D. Ask another patient for assistance
Correct Answer: A. Review the required infection-control precautions
Rationale:
The technician must follow the infection-control precautions
Page 2 of 69
, NHA PHLEBOTOMY EXAM QUESTIONS
appropriate for the patient's condition and the facility's policy.
Understanding whether standard, contact, droplet, airborne, or other
precautions are required helps protect the patient, healthcare workers,
and others from exposure. Appropriate PPE and safe collection
procedures should be selected before entering the collection area and
beginning the procedure.
A patient asks why the phlebotomy technician needs to confirm their
full name and date of birth before collecting blood. What is the best
explanation?
A. To determine the patient's age for billing
B. To ensure the correct specimen is collected from the correct patient
C. To determine which vein is largest
D. To decide how much blood to collect
Correct Answer: B. To ensure the correct specimen is collected from
the correct patient
Rationale:
Using approved patient identifiers ensures that the specimen is linked
to the correct individual. Accurate identification is essential throughout
the testing process because laboratory results may influence diagnosis
and treatment decisions. Confirming identity before collection helps
prevent wrong-patient errors and protects the integrity of the entire
laboratory testing process.
Page 3 of 69
, NHA PHLEBOTOMY EXAM QUESTIONS
A phlebotomy technician notices that a patient has become pale and
reports feeling dizzy during a blood draw. What should the technician
do first?
A. Continue collecting until all tubes are filled
B. Remove the tourniquet and needle and protect the patient from
injury
C. Ask the patient to stand
D. Leave the patient alone to recover
Correct Answer: B. Remove the tourniquet and needle and protect the
patient from injury
Rationale:
Pallor and dizziness may indicate that the patient is experiencing
syncope or is about to faint. The immediate priority is patient safety.
The collection should be stopped, the needle removed safely, and the
patient protected from falling or injury. The technician should then
follow the facility's procedure for assisting and monitoring a patient
who experiences syncope.
A phlebotomy technician should dispose of a used needle in which
location?
A. A regular waste container
B. A biohazard specimen bag
C. An approved sharps container
D. A linen hamper
Correct Answer: C. An approved sharps container
Page 4 of 69
