1 | Page
NPS Exam Questions and Correct Answers
A heel stick should be performed at a ______ degree angle to the
bone. Ans: — 90
Which of the following is NOT a cause of hemolysis? Ans: — Usi
my a needle that is too small
Which is the primary purpose of the Exposure Control Plan? Ans:
— To minimize risk by providing proper training, removing
exposure risk, and providing PPE
Why should a phlebotomist avoid wearing jewelry during
procedures? Ans: — It might impede the quality of work
Which equipment is essential for venipuncture? Ans: — Needle
Which of the following is NOT a Blood Borne Pathogen? Ans: —
Common cold virus
How often should an institutions Exposure Control Plan be
Reviewed? Ans: — Annually
What is the consequence of centrifuging blood before it has
clotted? Ans: — Erroneous test results
Which of the following is not a recommended practice to prevent
cross-contamination in phlebotomy? Ans: — Drawing blood
without gloves
What is the maximum time limit you can keep a tourniquet on the
patient? Ans: — 1 minute
A vector is: Ans: — The methods by which a pathogen escapes the
host and spreads disease
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Which of the following is NOT a way to avoid needle sticks? Ans:
— Recap the needle after use
What is hemolysis and what can it cause when it occurs? Ans: —
The rupturing of red blood cells that can cause an increase in
potassium
How should the tops of the culture bottles be prepared before
blood collection? Ans: — Clean with alcohol or
chlorhexidine/alcohol and allow to dry
What is the primary cause of specimen rejection related to
labeling? Ans: — Identification errors
What is the primary additive in light blue and black tubes? Ans: —
sodium citrate
What can cause a specimen to be rejected due to temperature
issues? Ans: — Room temperature causing potassium levels to
spike
This is a pump that increases the amount of blood flow through
the body. Ans: — Ventricular assist device (VAD)
In which department would a phlebotomist typically work? Ans: —
Phlebotomy Laboratory
Which of the following is not a part of an institutions exposure
control plan? Ans: — List of all patients
What is hemolysis and how can it affect test results? Ans: —
Rupturing of red blood cells causing erroneous test results
Which of the following is a common reservoir of infection in a
healthcare setting? Ans: — Contaminated equipment
In blood culture collecting, what is the aseptic technique crucial
for? Ans: — Preventing contamination of the specimen
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
What should he done if a blood spill occurs on a countertop? Ans:
— Clean it immediately using appropriate disinfectant
What does a clearing tube refer to? Ans: — A discard tube you use
to clear the bloodstream of any possible cross-contamination
additive
What is the primary reason for mixing the blood tubes
immediately after collection? Ans: — To ensure proper mixing of
additives
If the blood begins to froth or bubble during the procedure, that
means _________. Ans: — the stick was too shallow
A patient must be fasting for how long before conducting a blood
sugar panel Ans: — 8-10 hiurs
What is the most common injury for a phlebotomist? Ans: —
Needle sticks
What is the recommended action if a specimen is uncovered for an
extended period? Ans: — Reject the specimen due to potential
evaporation and concentration changes
Which of the following is NOT a method of breaking the chain
infection? Ans: — Using expired disinfectants
For which procedure is it essential to ensure no air bubbles are
present in the sample? Ans: — arterial blood gas
When using chlorhexidine/alcohol to cleanse the site for a blood
culture, you should Ans: — swab back and forth for thirty seconds
Heparin is a Ans: — Anticoagulant
Why is it essential to change gloves between patients? Ans: — To
prevent cross contamination
© 2025 All rights reserved
NPS Exam Questions and Correct Answers
A heel stick should be performed at a ______ degree angle to the
bone. Ans: — 90
Which of the following is NOT a cause of hemolysis? Ans: — Usi
my a needle that is too small
Which is the primary purpose of the Exposure Control Plan? Ans:
— To minimize risk by providing proper training, removing
exposure risk, and providing PPE
Why should a phlebotomist avoid wearing jewelry during
procedures? Ans: — It might impede the quality of work
Which equipment is essential for venipuncture? Ans: — Needle
Which of the following is NOT a Blood Borne Pathogen? Ans: —
Common cold virus
How often should an institutions Exposure Control Plan be
Reviewed? Ans: — Annually
What is the consequence of centrifuging blood before it has
clotted? Ans: — Erroneous test results
Which of the following is not a recommended practice to prevent
cross-contamination in phlebotomy? Ans: — Drawing blood
without gloves
What is the maximum time limit you can keep a tourniquet on the
patient? Ans: — 1 minute
A vector is: Ans: — The methods by which a pathogen escapes the
host and spreads disease
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Which of the following is NOT a way to avoid needle sticks? Ans:
— Recap the needle after use
What is hemolysis and what can it cause when it occurs? Ans: —
The rupturing of red blood cells that can cause an increase in
potassium
How should the tops of the culture bottles be prepared before
blood collection? Ans: — Clean with alcohol or
chlorhexidine/alcohol and allow to dry
What is the primary cause of specimen rejection related to
labeling? Ans: — Identification errors
What is the primary additive in light blue and black tubes? Ans: —
sodium citrate
What can cause a specimen to be rejected due to temperature
issues? Ans: — Room temperature causing potassium levels to
spike
This is a pump that increases the amount of blood flow through
the body. Ans: — Ventricular assist device (VAD)
In which department would a phlebotomist typically work? Ans: —
Phlebotomy Laboratory
Which of the following is not a part of an institutions exposure
control plan? Ans: — List of all patients
What is hemolysis and how can it affect test results? Ans: —
Rupturing of red blood cells causing erroneous test results
Which of the following is a common reservoir of infection in a
healthcare setting? Ans: — Contaminated equipment
In blood culture collecting, what is the aseptic technique crucial
for? Ans: — Preventing contamination of the specimen
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
What should he done if a blood spill occurs on a countertop? Ans:
— Clean it immediately using appropriate disinfectant
What does a clearing tube refer to? Ans: — A discard tube you use
to clear the bloodstream of any possible cross-contamination
additive
What is the primary reason for mixing the blood tubes
immediately after collection? Ans: — To ensure proper mixing of
additives
If the blood begins to froth or bubble during the procedure, that
means _________. Ans: — the stick was too shallow
A patient must be fasting for how long before conducting a blood
sugar panel Ans: — 8-10 hiurs
What is the most common injury for a phlebotomist? Ans: —
Needle sticks
What is the recommended action if a specimen is uncovered for an
extended period? Ans: — Reject the specimen due to potential
evaporation and concentration changes
Which of the following is NOT a method of breaking the chain
infection? Ans: — Using expired disinfectants
For which procedure is it essential to ensure no air bubbles are
present in the sample? Ans: — arterial blood gas
When using chlorhexidine/alcohol to cleanse the site for a blood
culture, you should Ans: — swab back and forth for thirty seconds
Heparin is a Ans: — Anticoagulant
Why is it essential to change gloves between patients? Ans: — To
prevent cross contamination
© 2025 All rights reserved
