Hartman Phlebotomy Practice Exam 150 Questions WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
76. Which of these tasks is typically considered
within a phlebotomy technician's scope of
practice? (Choose three.)
(A) Creating peripheral blood smear slides
(B) Drawing blood from an indwelling port
(C) Performing a throat culture
(D) Drawing blood from the dorsal aspect
of the hand using a syringe and transfer
device
(E) Using a microscope to examine blood
smears Correct Answer: (A) Creating peripheral blood smear slides
(C) Performing a throat culture
(D) Drawing blood from the dorsal aspect
of the hand using a syringe and transfer
device
77. Blood pulsing into collection tubes is an indication
that
(A) The needle is placed in the exact center
of the vein
(B) The needle has struck a nerve
(C) The needle has passed entirely through
the vein
(D) The needle has struck an artery Correct Answer: (D) The needle has struck an artery
78. A phlebotomist needs to collect gold, pink,
and green-topped tubes by venipuncture.
Which order is correct?
(A) Gold, green, pink
(B) Green, gold, pink
(C) Pink, green, gold
(D) Gold, pink, green Correct Answer: (A) Gold, green, pink
79. Collection tubes with ___________________
_____________ should not be used for therapeutic
drug testing.
(A) Separator gel
(B) Clot activator
(C) Red tops
(D) Internal vacuum Correct Answer: (A) Separator gel
80. Which of the following will help a phlebotomy technician avoid having a patient's vein roll
away when the needle is inserted?
(A) Selecting a vein in the hand
(B) Forming an anchoring "window" around
the puncture site with the thumb below
and the index finger above
(C) Anchoring the site from below, using the
thumb to pull toward the wrist
(D) Warming the site for 3-5 minutes prior
to venipuncture Correct Answer: (C) Anchoring the site from below, using the
thumb to pull toward the wrist
81. Facility policy states that no more than 5%
of a patient's blood may be drawn in 30 days.
What is the maximum amount of blood than
can be drawn from an 9-pound infant in a
month?
(A) 12 mL
(B) 16 mL
(C) 20 mL
(D) 24 mL Correct Answer: (B) 16 mL
82. A patient's chart indicates that her veins are
thin, fragile, and frequently collapse. A total
of 5 mL of blood needs to be drawn for various
tests. Which of the following techniques
would be best for drawing blood from this
patient?
(A) Capillary puncture of the third or fourth
finger
(B) Venipuncture using a 23-gauge butterfly
needle and syringe/transfer device
(C) Venipuncture using a 21-gauge straight
multisample needle
(D) Venipuncture using a 23-gauge butterfly
needle and a 5 mL evacuated tube Correct Answer: (B) Venipuncture using a 23-gauge butterfly
needle and syringe/transfer device
83. Which of the following is a significant difference
between midstream and routine urine
specimens?
(A) The area around the urethra is cleaned
before collecting a midstream specimen
(B) A routine urine specimen is collected
first thing in the morning
(C) A midstream urine specimen is collected at a patient's home
(D) A routine urine specimen is collected in
a sterile container Correct Answer: (A) The area around the urethra is cleaned
before collecting a midstream specimen
84. Hemoconcentration may be caused by
(A) Leaving a tourniquet in place for too long
(B) A patient eating a breakfast rich in fatty
foods
(C) Using too narrow a needle
(D) Probing with the venipuncture needle Correct Answer: (A) Leaving a tourniquet in place for
too long
85. A patient begins to experience a seizure during
a blood draw. What should be the phlebotomist's
first response?
(A) To ask the patient if he is OK
(B) To remove and sheathe the needle
(C) To steady the patient's arm so the
tube currently inserted can be filled
completely
(D) To lower the patient to the ground Correct Answer: (B) To remove and sheathe the needle
86. Which of these tests is an entry-level phlebotomy
technician most likely to be trained to
perform in its entirety?
(A) Testing urine with a dipstick
(B) Arterial blood gas
(C) Urine culture and sensitivity
(D) Complete blood count with differential Correct Answer: (A) Testing urine with a dipstick
87. Which of these items may be reused between
patients with proper cleaning?
(A) A tube holder if there is no blood visible
(B) A specimen tube that was inserted but
never received blood flow
(C) A phlebotomy wedge
(D) A retractable lancet Correct Answer: (C) A phlebotomy wedge
88. One effective method to help control healthcare
associated infections is
(A) Wiping down surfaces in a drawing station
between patients using a damp,
soapy cloth
(B) Performing hand hygiene after every
other patient (C) Washing hands for at least 15 seconds
(D) Using facility-approved disinfectants to
clean reusable items like point-of-care
testing devices Correct Answer: (D) Using facility-approved disinfectants to
clean reusable items like point-of-care
testing devices
89. Just as a needle is removed from a patient's
arm, the patient has a coughing fit and the
phlebotomy technician is accidentally stuck
with the needle. What should the phlebotomy
technician do after placing the needle in the
sharps container?
(A) Call her supervisor
(B) Ask the patient if he has any known
bloodborne illnesses
(C) Complete an incident report
(D) Wash the injury with soap under running
water for 15 minutes Correct Answer: (D) Wash the injury with soap under running
water for 15 minutes
90. Which of the following is one acceptable way
of confirming a patient's identity?
(A) Asking the patient to confirm his name
and date of birth
(B) Checking the name and date of birth on a
wristband sitting on the patient's bedside
table against his stated name and date of
birth
(C) Matching a patient's hospital room
number to the room number on the
requisition
(D) Checking the name and date of birth on
a wristband on the patient's wrist against
his stated name and date of birth Correct Answer: (D) Checking the name and date of birth on
a wristband on the patient's wrist against
his stated name and date of birth
91. During centrifugation of a specimen the centrifuge
becomes very hot and then bursts into
flames. The power cord is plugged in behind
the centrifuge. How should the phlebotomy
technician operating the centrifuge respond?
(A) He should reach around carefully and
unplug the centrifuge, then activate the
fire alarm.
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
76. Which of these tasks is typically considered
within a phlebotomy technician's scope of
practice? (Choose three.)
(A) Creating peripheral blood smear slides
(B) Drawing blood from an indwelling port
(C) Performing a throat culture
(D) Drawing blood from the dorsal aspect
of the hand using a syringe and transfer
device
(E) Using a microscope to examine blood
smears Correct Answer: (A) Creating peripheral blood smear slides
(C) Performing a throat culture
(D) Drawing blood from the dorsal aspect
of the hand using a syringe and transfer
device
77. Blood pulsing into collection tubes is an indication
that
(A) The needle is placed in the exact center
of the vein
(B) The needle has struck a nerve
(C) The needle has passed entirely through
the vein
(D) The needle has struck an artery Correct Answer: (D) The needle has struck an artery
78. A phlebotomist needs to collect gold, pink,
and green-topped tubes by venipuncture.
Which order is correct?
(A) Gold, green, pink
(B) Green, gold, pink
(C) Pink, green, gold
(D) Gold, pink, green Correct Answer: (A) Gold, green, pink
79. Collection tubes with ___________________
_____________ should not be used for therapeutic
drug testing.
(A) Separator gel
(B) Clot activator
(C) Red tops
(D) Internal vacuum Correct Answer: (A) Separator gel
80. Which of the following will help a phlebotomy technician avoid having a patient's vein roll
away when the needle is inserted?
(A) Selecting a vein in the hand
(B) Forming an anchoring "window" around
the puncture site with the thumb below
and the index finger above
(C) Anchoring the site from below, using the
thumb to pull toward the wrist
(D) Warming the site for 3-5 minutes prior
to venipuncture Correct Answer: (C) Anchoring the site from below, using the
thumb to pull toward the wrist
81. Facility policy states that no more than 5%
of a patient's blood may be drawn in 30 days.
What is the maximum amount of blood than
can be drawn from an 9-pound infant in a
month?
(A) 12 mL
(B) 16 mL
(C) 20 mL
(D) 24 mL Correct Answer: (B) 16 mL
82. A patient's chart indicates that her veins are
thin, fragile, and frequently collapse. A total
of 5 mL of blood needs to be drawn for various
tests. Which of the following techniques
would be best for drawing blood from this
patient?
(A) Capillary puncture of the third or fourth
finger
(B) Venipuncture using a 23-gauge butterfly
needle and syringe/transfer device
(C) Venipuncture using a 21-gauge straight
multisample needle
(D) Venipuncture using a 23-gauge butterfly
needle and a 5 mL evacuated tube Correct Answer: (B) Venipuncture using a 23-gauge butterfly
needle and syringe/transfer device
83. Which of the following is a significant difference
between midstream and routine urine
specimens?
(A) The area around the urethra is cleaned
before collecting a midstream specimen
(B) A routine urine specimen is collected
first thing in the morning
(C) A midstream urine specimen is collected at a patient's home
(D) A routine urine specimen is collected in
a sterile container Correct Answer: (A) The area around the urethra is cleaned
before collecting a midstream specimen
84. Hemoconcentration may be caused by
(A) Leaving a tourniquet in place for too long
(B) A patient eating a breakfast rich in fatty
foods
(C) Using too narrow a needle
(D) Probing with the venipuncture needle Correct Answer: (A) Leaving a tourniquet in place for
too long
85. A patient begins to experience a seizure during
a blood draw. What should be the phlebotomist's
first response?
(A) To ask the patient if he is OK
(B) To remove and sheathe the needle
(C) To steady the patient's arm so the
tube currently inserted can be filled
completely
(D) To lower the patient to the ground Correct Answer: (B) To remove and sheathe the needle
86. Which of these tests is an entry-level phlebotomy
technician most likely to be trained to
perform in its entirety?
(A) Testing urine with a dipstick
(B) Arterial blood gas
(C) Urine culture and sensitivity
(D) Complete blood count with differential Correct Answer: (A) Testing urine with a dipstick
87. Which of these items may be reused between
patients with proper cleaning?
(A) A tube holder if there is no blood visible
(B) A specimen tube that was inserted but
never received blood flow
(C) A phlebotomy wedge
(D) A retractable lancet Correct Answer: (C) A phlebotomy wedge
88. One effective method to help control healthcare
associated infections is
(A) Wiping down surfaces in a drawing station
between patients using a damp,
soapy cloth
(B) Performing hand hygiene after every
other patient (C) Washing hands for at least 15 seconds
(D) Using facility-approved disinfectants to
clean reusable items like point-of-care
testing devices Correct Answer: (D) Using facility-approved disinfectants to
clean reusable items like point-of-care
testing devices
89. Just as a needle is removed from a patient's
arm, the patient has a coughing fit and the
phlebotomy technician is accidentally stuck
with the needle. What should the phlebotomy
technician do after placing the needle in the
sharps container?
(A) Call her supervisor
(B) Ask the patient if he has any known
bloodborne illnesses
(C) Complete an incident report
(D) Wash the injury with soap under running
water for 15 minutes Correct Answer: (D) Wash the injury with soap under running
water for 15 minutes
90. Which of the following is one acceptable way
of confirming a patient's identity?
(A) Asking the patient to confirm his name
and date of birth
(B) Checking the name and date of birth on a
wristband sitting on the patient's bedside
table against his stated name and date of
birth
(C) Matching a patient's hospital room
number to the room number on the
requisition
(D) Checking the name and date of birth on
a wristband on the patient's wrist against
his stated name and date of birth Correct Answer: (D) Checking the name and date of birth on
a wristband on the patient's wrist against
his stated name and date of birth
91. During centrifugation of a specimen the centrifuge
becomes very hot and then bursts into
flames. The power cord is plugged in behind
the centrifuge. How should the phlebotomy
technician operating the centrifuge respond?
(A) He should reach around carefully and
unplug the centrifuge, then activate the
fire alarm.
