Phlebotomy Book Study Guides
Questions and Answers
Define phlebotomy - ANSWER-The practice of drawing blood samples for analysis
List the six steps of routine blood collection - ANSWER-1. Correctly and positively
identify the patient
2. Choose the appropriate equipment for obtaining the sample
3. Select and prepare the site for collection
4. Collect the sample ensuring patient comfort and safety
5. Correctly label the sample
6. Transport the sample to the laboratory in a timely manner using appropriate handling
procedures
Besides drawing blood samples what other skills might a phlebotomist be trained to
perform? - ANSWER-Safety regulations, interact with patients, keep accurate records,
and operate computers
Define certification - ANSWER-Evidence that an individual has demonstrated
proficiency in a particular area of practice.
Explain the purpose of CEUs - ANSWER-To remain certified and provide updates on
new regulations and techniques to help refresh skills
List three organizations that provide accreditation for phlebotomy programs - ANSWER-
The American Medical Technologists (AMT), the National Accrediting Agency for
Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA),
and the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT)
List three organizations that provide certification for phlebotomists. - ANSWER-
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the NPA, the American Certification
Agency for Healthcare Professionals, the AMT, and the ASPT.
Why would a phlebotomist wish to become a member of a professional organization? -
ANSWER-To follow changes in the field and learn new techniques.
What is informed consent? - ANSWER-Patient must be informed of intended treatments
and their risks and must give consent before these treatments are performed
Describe two actions that would violate HIPPA's regulation of protected health
information - ANSWER-Providing protected health information with anyone not
,authorized to receive it allowing PHI in your control to be viewed by non-authorized
people and discussing PHII in a public place where it might be unintentionally overheard
Describe some of the ancient phlebotomy practices and their uses - ANSWER-
Bloodletting in the use of leeches. These practices were used to bleed a person and
thus rid that person of his or her ailment.
Describe modern-day phlebotomy practices, their use in modern healthcare, and their
similarities to ancient phlebotomy practices - ANSWER-Both anxious and modern
phlebotomy involve blood in the veins, but unlike ancient phlebotomy, modern
phlebotomy has set protocols, procedures, and guidelines. Phlebotomy is used in the
diagnosis and treatment of disease and as a therapeutic procedure.
List and explain at least four responsibilities in the phlebotomist's job-related duties. -
ANSWER-Correctly and positively identifying the patient, choosing the appropriate
equipment for obtaining the sample, selecting and preparing the site for collection,
collecting the sample, ensuring patient comfort and safety, and correctly labeling the
sample.
List at least four of the required personal characteristics of the phlebotomist. -
ANSWER-Dependability, honesty, integrity, positive attitude, professional detachment,
professional appearance, interpersonal skills, telephone skills, and communication
skills.
List the two most important legal aspects of the phlebotomist's profession. - ANSWER-
Obtaining informed consent and maintaining patient confidentiality.
Phlebotomy skills would not include - ANSWER-Handling patient correspondence.
The monitoring system for institutions that train phlebotomist is known as - ANSWER-
Accreditation.
Once certified, what must a phlebotomist learn to ensure continued certification? -
ANSWER-CEUs.
Informed consent means - ANSWER-Patients must be informed of intended treatments
and their risks before they are performed.
Which characteristic is not a required personal characteristic of a professional
phlebotomist? - ANSWER-Sense of humor.
When a patient in the hospital refuses to have blood drawn, the phlebotomist should -
ANSWER-Notify the patient's nurse to incher that the physician or other ordering
practitioner is notified promptly.
,Name the branches of support personnel in the hospital organizational system -
ANSWER-Fiscal, support, nursing, and professional services.
Name the two main areas of the laboratory, and identify which area the phlebotomist
works in. - ANSWER-The anatomic and clinical areas; the phlebotomist works in the
clinical area.
Name the specialty of the physician who oversees the laboratory - ANSWER-Pathology.
Name two common laboratory test performed in the coagulation department, and
explain which therapy each test monitors. - ANSWER-PT-Coumadin
INR-Coumadin
APTT-Heparin
Describe the tests the immunology department performs - ANSWER-They perform tests
to monitor the immune response to the detection of antibodies.
Define molecular diagnostics. - ANSWER-They characterize genetic and biochemical
techniques used to diagnose genetic disorders, analyze forensic evidence, and track
diseases.
Name five liver function tests. - ANSWER-ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, enzymes, and bilirubin.
C&S testing is performed in which department? - ANSWER-The microbiology
department.
Describe the significance of CLIA '88 - ANSWER-It mandates that facilities that perform
patient tasting meet performance standards to ensure the quality of procedures.
Name two organizations that accredit clinical laboratories - ANSWER-The Joint
Commission and College of American Pathologists.
What organization sets laboratory standards and guidelines? - ANSWER-The Clinical
Laboratory Standards Institute
Name four healthcare settings, besides the hospital, in which a phlebotomist may be
employed - ANSWER-HMOs, PPOs, POLs, nursing homes, urgent care centers, or
reference laboratories.
Name the laboratory department that has a special specimen or patient identification
system. What might be the outcome of mislabeling or miss handling specimens within
this laboratory? - ANSWER-The blood bank or immunohematology department.
Mislabeling or mishandling these specimens might result in a patient's death.
Describe the details the blood bank technologist looks for in compatibility testing to
determine test results. - ANSWER-The technologist looks for agglutination of
, specimens; if the specimen agglutinates, the blood type is not compatible and cannot be
transfused to the patient. If the blood does not agglutinate, the blood type is compatible
with that of the patient and can be transfused.
Define professional services, and give at least two examples of them. - ANSWER-
Professional services or services that are provided at the request of the physician to aid
in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. Examples of professional services or
physical therapy, occupational therapy, and respiratory therapy.
Fiscal services is responsible for - ANSWER-Admitting, medical records, and billing.
In addition to the laboratory, the following department may draw arterial blood gases: -
ANSWER-Respiratory therapy.
The following department uses radioisotopes to perform tests: - ANSWER-Nuclear
medicine.
The clinical laboratory is typically under the direction of a - ANSWER-Pathologist.
The analytic tools used to identify cell markers in HIV patients is - ANSWER-A flow
cytometer.
A CBC is performed in the _____ department - ANSWER-Hematology.
aPTT testing monitors - ANSWER-Heparin therapy.
The type of chemistry test associated with drug analysis is known as - ANSWER-
Toxicology.
The ___ department identifies pathogenic microorganisms in patient samples. -
ANSWER-Microbiology.
A C&S test is analyzed in the ____ department - ANSWER-Microbiology.
Occult blood testing is performed on - ANSWER-Feces.
When patients donate blood for use during their own surgery, this is known as -
ANSWER-Autologous donation
Independent laboratories to analyze samples from other healthcare facilities are known
as - ANSWER-Reference laboratories.
Name six types of safety hazards in the workplace and give an example of each. -
ANSWER-Biological- bacteria, viruses
Sharps- needles, lancets, broken glass
Electrical- high-voltage equipment
Questions and Answers
Define phlebotomy - ANSWER-The practice of drawing blood samples for analysis
List the six steps of routine blood collection - ANSWER-1. Correctly and positively
identify the patient
2. Choose the appropriate equipment for obtaining the sample
3. Select and prepare the site for collection
4. Collect the sample ensuring patient comfort and safety
5. Correctly label the sample
6. Transport the sample to the laboratory in a timely manner using appropriate handling
procedures
Besides drawing blood samples what other skills might a phlebotomist be trained to
perform? - ANSWER-Safety regulations, interact with patients, keep accurate records,
and operate computers
Define certification - ANSWER-Evidence that an individual has demonstrated
proficiency in a particular area of practice.
Explain the purpose of CEUs - ANSWER-To remain certified and provide updates on
new regulations and techniques to help refresh skills
List three organizations that provide accreditation for phlebotomy programs - ANSWER-
The American Medical Technologists (AMT), the National Accrediting Agency for
Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA),
and the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT)
List three organizations that provide certification for phlebotomists. - ANSWER-
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the NPA, the American Certification
Agency for Healthcare Professionals, the AMT, and the ASPT.
Why would a phlebotomist wish to become a member of a professional organization? -
ANSWER-To follow changes in the field and learn new techniques.
What is informed consent? - ANSWER-Patient must be informed of intended treatments
and their risks and must give consent before these treatments are performed
Describe two actions that would violate HIPPA's regulation of protected health
information - ANSWER-Providing protected health information with anyone not
,authorized to receive it allowing PHI in your control to be viewed by non-authorized
people and discussing PHII in a public place where it might be unintentionally overheard
Describe some of the ancient phlebotomy practices and their uses - ANSWER-
Bloodletting in the use of leeches. These practices were used to bleed a person and
thus rid that person of his or her ailment.
Describe modern-day phlebotomy practices, their use in modern healthcare, and their
similarities to ancient phlebotomy practices - ANSWER-Both anxious and modern
phlebotomy involve blood in the veins, but unlike ancient phlebotomy, modern
phlebotomy has set protocols, procedures, and guidelines. Phlebotomy is used in the
diagnosis and treatment of disease and as a therapeutic procedure.
List and explain at least four responsibilities in the phlebotomist's job-related duties. -
ANSWER-Correctly and positively identifying the patient, choosing the appropriate
equipment for obtaining the sample, selecting and preparing the site for collection,
collecting the sample, ensuring patient comfort and safety, and correctly labeling the
sample.
List at least four of the required personal characteristics of the phlebotomist. -
ANSWER-Dependability, honesty, integrity, positive attitude, professional detachment,
professional appearance, interpersonal skills, telephone skills, and communication
skills.
List the two most important legal aspects of the phlebotomist's profession. - ANSWER-
Obtaining informed consent and maintaining patient confidentiality.
Phlebotomy skills would not include - ANSWER-Handling patient correspondence.
The monitoring system for institutions that train phlebotomist is known as - ANSWER-
Accreditation.
Once certified, what must a phlebotomist learn to ensure continued certification? -
ANSWER-CEUs.
Informed consent means - ANSWER-Patients must be informed of intended treatments
and their risks before they are performed.
Which characteristic is not a required personal characteristic of a professional
phlebotomist? - ANSWER-Sense of humor.
When a patient in the hospital refuses to have blood drawn, the phlebotomist should -
ANSWER-Notify the patient's nurse to incher that the physician or other ordering
practitioner is notified promptly.
,Name the branches of support personnel in the hospital organizational system -
ANSWER-Fiscal, support, nursing, and professional services.
Name the two main areas of the laboratory, and identify which area the phlebotomist
works in. - ANSWER-The anatomic and clinical areas; the phlebotomist works in the
clinical area.
Name the specialty of the physician who oversees the laboratory - ANSWER-Pathology.
Name two common laboratory test performed in the coagulation department, and
explain which therapy each test monitors. - ANSWER-PT-Coumadin
INR-Coumadin
APTT-Heparin
Describe the tests the immunology department performs - ANSWER-They perform tests
to monitor the immune response to the detection of antibodies.
Define molecular diagnostics. - ANSWER-They characterize genetic and biochemical
techniques used to diagnose genetic disorders, analyze forensic evidence, and track
diseases.
Name five liver function tests. - ANSWER-ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, enzymes, and bilirubin.
C&S testing is performed in which department? - ANSWER-The microbiology
department.
Describe the significance of CLIA '88 - ANSWER-It mandates that facilities that perform
patient tasting meet performance standards to ensure the quality of procedures.
Name two organizations that accredit clinical laboratories - ANSWER-The Joint
Commission and College of American Pathologists.
What organization sets laboratory standards and guidelines? - ANSWER-The Clinical
Laboratory Standards Institute
Name four healthcare settings, besides the hospital, in which a phlebotomist may be
employed - ANSWER-HMOs, PPOs, POLs, nursing homes, urgent care centers, or
reference laboratories.
Name the laboratory department that has a special specimen or patient identification
system. What might be the outcome of mislabeling or miss handling specimens within
this laboratory? - ANSWER-The blood bank or immunohematology department.
Mislabeling or mishandling these specimens might result in a patient's death.
Describe the details the blood bank technologist looks for in compatibility testing to
determine test results. - ANSWER-The technologist looks for agglutination of
, specimens; if the specimen agglutinates, the blood type is not compatible and cannot be
transfused to the patient. If the blood does not agglutinate, the blood type is compatible
with that of the patient and can be transfused.
Define professional services, and give at least two examples of them. - ANSWER-
Professional services or services that are provided at the request of the physician to aid
in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. Examples of professional services or
physical therapy, occupational therapy, and respiratory therapy.
Fiscal services is responsible for - ANSWER-Admitting, medical records, and billing.
In addition to the laboratory, the following department may draw arterial blood gases: -
ANSWER-Respiratory therapy.
The following department uses radioisotopes to perform tests: - ANSWER-Nuclear
medicine.
The clinical laboratory is typically under the direction of a - ANSWER-Pathologist.
The analytic tools used to identify cell markers in HIV patients is - ANSWER-A flow
cytometer.
A CBC is performed in the _____ department - ANSWER-Hematology.
aPTT testing monitors - ANSWER-Heparin therapy.
The type of chemistry test associated with drug analysis is known as - ANSWER-
Toxicology.
The ___ department identifies pathogenic microorganisms in patient samples. -
ANSWER-Microbiology.
A C&S test is analyzed in the ____ department - ANSWER-Microbiology.
Occult blood testing is performed on - ANSWER-Feces.
When patients donate blood for use during their own surgery, this is known as -
ANSWER-Autologous donation
Independent laboratories to analyze samples from other healthcare facilities are known
as - ANSWER-Reference laboratories.
Name six types of safety hazards in the workplace and give an example of each. -
ANSWER-Biological- bacteria, viruses
Sharps- needles, lancets, broken glass
Electrical- high-voltage equipment
