MEDCA PHLEBOTOMY EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
SOLUTIONS
Work duties of a phlebotomist technician can be categorized into 4 categories -
Equipment
Procedure
Patient Care
Patient Information
Equipment - - phlebotomists must ensure that all equipment and areas used are
sterile
- equipment includes needles, bandages, gauzes, tubes, other
collection devices, as well as labels for tubes
- tracking supplies to ensure that proper amounts are always present - disposal of
needles and other used supplies
Procedure - - correct puncture or incision of patient's skin
- collecting the correct amount of blood or other fluids - correct labeling of
collection tubes/devices
- completing and submitting documents needed to lab
Patient Care - - reassuring patients, as some may have fear of needles
- being able to answer questions that patients may have
,- verifying patient information to ensure accuracy of tests or procedure -
monitoring patient during procedure to prevent movement or fainting
Patient Information - - patients' rights must be respected
- keeping patients' medical records confidential
- accurate documentation of collection, ordered tests, and test results - providing
accurate documentation to the laboratory to ensure
performance of tests ordered by physician
Quality Improvement Methods - Include the use of data-based methods in order
to reach improvement
Include flow charts and pareto charts
Flowchart - - used to break out components into diagrams in order to understand
a process
Pareto Chart - - bar charts are made that show the frequency of problems
What does quality improvement for specimen collection involve? - Technique of
Phlebotomist
Frequency of hematoma
Recollection Rates
What is included in quality control records - Expiration Date
Stability Information
,Storage Information
Proper Use
Precision of testing supplies/reagents
Accuracy of testing supplies/reagents
Where can phlebotomists work? - Hospital
Clinic
Doctor's office
Laboratories
Blood Banks
Research Firms
Pharmaceutical Firms
Hospital - institution which provides medical and surgical treatment
Clinic - institution or hospital department focusing on diagnosis and care of
outpatients
Doctor's Office - suite/office where doctors receive and treat patients
Laboratory - building or room where tests are performed to evaluate specimens
in order to diagnose medical conditions
Blood Bank - institution where blood is collected from donors, and then stored
and prepared for transfusion
, Research Firm - institution equipped for scientific/medical research that may
specialize in basic research or on specific areas
Pharmaceutical Firm - institution that develops and markets drugs for use as
medications
How must all needles be discarded? - intact
What does it mean if an infection is classified as nosocomical - A patient
developed the infection while they were in the hospital that was not present
before entering the hospital
What is included in the chain of infection - source
susceptible host
poor isolation technique
Hygiene - wash hands with soap and water if they are visibly dirty
good hand-hygiene techniques reduce number of outbreaks of infections
hand washing is the single most important way to prevent spread of infection
Equipment used to control infections - gloves, masks, goggles, gowns, or coats
autoclaves (instruments for sterilizing under pressure)
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
SOLUTIONS
Work duties of a phlebotomist technician can be categorized into 4 categories -
Equipment
Procedure
Patient Care
Patient Information
Equipment - - phlebotomists must ensure that all equipment and areas used are
sterile
- equipment includes needles, bandages, gauzes, tubes, other
collection devices, as well as labels for tubes
- tracking supplies to ensure that proper amounts are always present - disposal of
needles and other used supplies
Procedure - - correct puncture or incision of patient's skin
- collecting the correct amount of blood or other fluids - correct labeling of
collection tubes/devices
- completing and submitting documents needed to lab
Patient Care - - reassuring patients, as some may have fear of needles
- being able to answer questions that patients may have
,- verifying patient information to ensure accuracy of tests or procedure -
monitoring patient during procedure to prevent movement or fainting
Patient Information - - patients' rights must be respected
- keeping patients' medical records confidential
- accurate documentation of collection, ordered tests, and test results - providing
accurate documentation to the laboratory to ensure
performance of tests ordered by physician
Quality Improvement Methods - Include the use of data-based methods in order
to reach improvement
Include flow charts and pareto charts
Flowchart - - used to break out components into diagrams in order to understand
a process
Pareto Chart - - bar charts are made that show the frequency of problems
What does quality improvement for specimen collection involve? - Technique of
Phlebotomist
Frequency of hematoma
Recollection Rates
What is included in quality control records - Expiration Date
Stability Information
,Storage Information
Proper Use
Precision of testing supplies/reagents
Accuracy of testing supplies/reagents
Where can phlebotomists work? - Hospital
Clinic
Doctor's office
Laboratories
Blood Banks
Research Firms
Pharmaceutical Firms
Hospital - institution which provides medical and surgical treatment
Clinic - institution or hospital department focusing on diagnosis and care of
outpatients
Doctor's Office - suite/office where doctors receive and treat patients
Laboratory - building or room where tests are performed to evaluate specimens
in order to diagnose medical conditions
Blood Bank - institution where blood is collected from donors, and then stored
and prepared for transfusion
, Research Firm - institution equipped for scientific/medical research that may
specialize in basic research or on specific areas
Pharmaceutical Firm - institution that develops and markets drugs for use as
medications
How must all needles be discarded? - intact
What does it mean if an infection is classified as nosocomical - A patient
developed the infection while they were in the hospital that was not present
before entering the hospital
What is included in the chain of infection - source
susceptible host
poor isolation technique
Hygiene - wash hands with soap and water if they are visibly dirty
good hand-hygiene techniques reduce number of outbreaks of infections
hand washing is the single most important way to prevent spread of infection
Equipment used to control infections - gloves, masks, goggles, gowns, or coats
autoclaves (instruments for sterilizing under pressure)
