Ohio School of Phlebotomy Final Exam
80 Questions Covering Venipuncture, Anatomy, Lab Protocols, Infection Control, and
Patient Safety
Instructions
This exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions. Each question has four answer
choices, only one of which is correct. Read each question carefully and select the best
answer. The correct answers and rationales are provided after the questions.
Questions
1. What is the most critical step in the phlebotomy procedure to ensure patient
safety?
A. Cleansing the venipuncture site
B. Patient identification
C. Selecting the appropriate needle gauge
D. Applying the tourniquet correctly
2. Which vein is the preferred choice for venipuncture in the antecubital fossa?
A. Basilic vein
B. Cephalic vein
C. Median cubital vein
D. Brachial vein
3. What is the recommended antiseptic for cleansing the venipuncture site during
routine phlebotomy?
A. 70% isopropyl alcohol
B. Povidone-iodine
C. Chlorhexidine gluconate
D. 90% ethanol
4. What is the primary purpose of inverting blood collection tubes after venipunc-
ture?
A. To mix the blood with the anticoagulant
B. To prevent hemolysis
C. To cool the sample
D. To label the tubes accurately
5. Which of the following is a common complication of improper venipuncture tech-
nique?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Hematoma
C. Hypokalemia
D. Thrombocytosis
6. What is the maximum depth recommended for a heel puncture in an infant?
1
, A. 1.0 mm
B. 2.0 mm
C. 3.0 mm
D. 4.0 mm
7. Which tube color is typically used for coagulation studies?
A. Red
B. Lavender
C. Light blue
D. Green
8. What is the most important infection control practice during phlebotomy?
A. Wearing a mask
B. Hand hygiene
C. Using a sterile needle
D. Disposing of sharps in a regular trash can
9. When should a phlebotomist perform hand hygiene?
A. Only after the procedure
B. Only before the procedure
C. Before and after the procedure
D. Only if gloves are not worn
10. What is the correct order of draw for a complete blood count (CBC), prothrombin
time (PT), and basic metabolic panel (BMP)?
A. Lavender, light blue, red
B. Light blue, red, lavender
C. Red, lavender, light blue
D. Light blue, lavender, red
11. Which anticoagulant is commonly used in lavender-top tubes?
A. Sodium citrate
B. Heparin
C. EDTA
D. Sodium fluoride
12. What is the purpose of a tourniquet during venipuncture?
A. To sterilize the venipuncture site
B. To make veins more prominent
C. To prevent hemolysis
D. To reduce patient discomfort
13. Which of the following should a phlebotomist avoid when selecting a vein for
venipuncture?
A. A vein that feels soft and elastic
B. A vein in an area of edema
C. A large, straight vein
D. A vein in the antecubital fossa
14. What should a phlebotomist do if a patient refuses a blood draw?
A. Force the patient to comply
B. Try to convince the patient gently
2
, C. Contact the patients nurse or physician
D. Both B and C
15. Which needle gauge is most appropriate for venipuncture in patients with small,
fragile veins?
A. 18-gauge
B. 20-gauge
C. 21-gauage
D. 23-gauge
16. What is the primary function of the median cubital vein?
A. Supplies blood to the hand
B. Drains blood from the forearm and hand
C. Connects the cephalic and basilic veins
D. Supplies oxygen to the arm muscles
17. When performing a capillary puncture, which site is safest for an infant?
A. The medial plantar surface
B. The lateral plantar surface
C. The fingertip
D. The earlobe
18. What should a phlebotomist do if a hematoma forms during venipuncture?
A. Continue the procedure
B. Remove the needle and apply pressure
C. Apply a tourniquet above the site
D. Massage the area to disperse the blood
19. Which of the following is a nosocomial infection?
A. An infection present upon admission
B. An infection acquired 48 hours after hospitalization
C. An infection caused by a virus only
D. An infection treated with antibiotics
20. What is the purpose of using a winged blood collection set?
A. To collect large volumes of blood
B. To perform arterial punctures
C. To access small or fragile veins
D. To reduce the need for a tourniquet
21. Which of the following is NOT a component of the chain of infection?
A. Infectious agent
B. Reservoir
C. Mode of transmission
D. Patient consent
22. What should a phlebotomist do immediately after a needlestick injury?
A. Ignore the injury and continue working
B. Wash the area with soap and water
C. Apply a tourniquet to the area
D. Dispose of the needle in a regular trash can
3
80 Questions Covering Venipuncture, Anatomy, Lab Protocols, Infection Control, and
Patient Safety
Instructions
This exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions. Each question has four answer
choices, only one of which is correct. Read each question carefully and select the best
answer. The correct answers and rationales are provided after the questions.
Questions
1. What is the most critical step in the phlebotomy procedure to ensure patient
safety?
A. Cleansing the venipuncture site
B. Patient identification
C. Selecting the appropriate needle gauge
D. Applying the tourniquet correctly
2. Which vein is the preferred choice for venipuncture in the antecubital fossa?
A. Basilic vein
B. Cephalic vein
C. Median cubital vein
D. Brachial vein
3. What is the recommended antiseptic for cleansing the venipuncture site during
routine phlebotomy?
A. 70% isopropyl alcohol
B. Povidone-iodine
C. Chlorhexidine gluconate
D. 90% ethanol
4. What is the primary purpose of inverting blood collection tubes after venipunc-
ture?
A. To mix the blood with the anticoagulant
B. To prevent hemolysis
C. To cool the sample
D. To label the tubes accurately
5. Which of the following is a common complication of improper venipuncture tech-
nique?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Hematoma
C. Hypokalemia
D. Thrombocytosis
6. What is the maximum depth recommended for a heel puncture in an infant?
1
, A. 1.0 mm
B. 2.0 mm
C. 3.0 mm
D. 4.0 mm
7. Which tube color is typically used for coagulation studies?
A. Red
B. Lavender
C. Light blue
D. Green
8. What is the most important infection control practice during phlebotomy?
A. Wearing a mask
B. Hand hygiene
C. Using a sterile needle
D. Disposing of sharps in a regular trash can
9. When should a phlebotomist perform hand hygiene?
A. Only after the procedure
B. Only before the procedure
C. Before and after the procedure
D. Only if gloves are not worn
10. What is the correct order of draw for a complete blood count (CBC), prothrombin
time (PT), and basic metabolic panel (BMP)?
A. Lavender, light blue, red
B. Light blue, red, lavender
C. Red, lavender, light blue
D. Light blue, lavender, red
11. Which anticoagulant is commonly used in lavender-top tubes?
A. Sodium citrate
B. Heparin
C. EDTA
D. Sodium fluoride
12. What is the purpose of a tourniquet during venipuncture?
A. To sterilize the venipuncture site
B. To make veins more prominent
C. To prevent hemolysis
D. To reduce patient discomfort
13. Which of the following should a phlebotomist avoid when selecting a vein for
venipuncture?
A. A vein that feels soft and elastic
B. A vein in an area of edema
C. A large, straight vein
D. A vein in the antecubital fossa
14. What should a phlebotomist do if a patient refuses a blood draw?
A. Force the patient to comply
B. Try to convince the patient gently
2
, C. Contact the patients nurse or physician
D. Both B and C
15. Which needle gauge is most appropriate for venipuncture in patients with small,
fragile veins?
A. 18-gauge
B. 20-gauge
C. 21-gauage
D. 23-gauge
16. What is the primary function of the median cubital vein?
A. Supplies blood to the hand
B. Drains blood from the forearm and hand
C. Connects the cephalic and basilic veins
D. Supplies oxygen to the arm muscles
17. When performing a capillary puncture, which site is safest for an infant?
A. The medial plantar surface
B. The lateral plantar surface
C. The fingertip
D. The earlobe
18. What should a phlebotomist do if a hematoma forms during venipuncture?
A. Continue the procedure
B. Remove the needle and apply pressure
C. Apply a tourniquet above the site
D. Massage the area to disperse the blood
19. Which of the following is a nosocomial infection?
A. An infection present upon admission
B. An infection acquired 48 hours after hospitalization
C. An infection caused by a virus only
D. An infection treated with antibiotics
20. What is the purpose of using a winged blood collection set?
A. To collect large volumes of blood
B. To perform arterial punctures
C. To access small or fragile veins
D. To reduce the need for a tourniquet
21. Which of the following is NOT a component of the chain of infection?
A. Infectious agent
B. Reservoir
C. Mode of transmission
D. Patient consent
22. What should a phlebotomist do immediately after a needlestick injury?
A. Ignore the injury and continue working
B. Wash the area with soap and water
C. Apply a tourniquet to the area
D. Dispose of the needle in a regular trash can
3
