Phlebotomy 2026 NHA practice exam Questions and Answers

Phlebotomy 2026 NHA practice exam Questions and Answers Which of the following is a potential consequence f a phlebotomy technician mislabeling a blood bank specimen? A. HIPAA violation B. A transfusion reaction C. A medical transcription error D. A pharmaceutical reaction B. A transfusion reaction A phlebotomy technician is preparing to perform a venipuncture for a patient who has pneumonia. Besides gloves, which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) should the technician wear? A. Gown B. N95 respirator C. Face Mask D. Goggles C. Face Mask (Droplet Precautions) A lactic acid specimen is collected in a gray tube and must be kept at: A. room temperature b. refrigerated temperture c. body temperature d. frozen temperture B. Refrigerated Temperature ( Lactic acid on ice) A phlebotomy technician is preparing to perform the third set of blood draws for a glucose tolerance test (GTT). The patient starts to cry and refuses to extend her arm of the draw. Which of the following statements should the technician make? A. "I will get in trouble if I dont perform the draw" B. "I promise the draw won't hurt" C. "may I come back in a hour to perform the draw" D. " may I please perform the draw" D. "may I please perform the draw" A hematoma may be caused by all the following EXCEPT: A) Probing ('fishing') for a vein B) going all the way through a vein C) Holding pressure on the venipuncture site with the arm straight D) Bending the elbow with cotton ball on the venipuncture site to apply pressure. C) Holding pressure on the venipuncture site with the arm straight. After blood is spun and separated in a centrifuge the serum/plasma portion is milky in appearance. This is known as: A) Lipemia B) Hemoconcentration C) Fibrinolysis D) Coagulation A) Lipemia A phlebotomy technician is assembling the equipment he will need for collecting donor units of blood. Which of the following needle sizes should the technician select? A) 23 gauge B) 22 gauge C) 21 gauge D) 18 Gauge D) 18 Gauge A phlebotomists is performing a glucometer reading for a young adult parent. The patients's parent is in the room and asks about patient's glucose level. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A. Write down the results for the parent and patient. B. Ask the parent to leave the room and tell the patient. C. Show the patient and parent the results in the patient's electronic health record (EHR) D. Ask the patient for permission to disclose the results with the parent present. D. Ask the patient for permission to disclose the results with the parent present. If an electrical accident occurs involving electrical shock to an employee or a patient, the first thing that the healthcare worker should do is: A. Move the victim B. Shut off electrical power C. start CPR D. Place a blanket over the vicinity B. Shut off electrical power A phlebotomy technician observes a glucometer reading of 250mg/dL. A second test is performed and returns a reading within the expected reference range. Which of the following circumstances could have caused the first result to be inaccurate? A) Too much blood was used. B) The first drop of blood was used C) Too little blood was used D) the test strips were left open A) Too much blood was used. (remember too much of a blood glucose = high glucometer number / too little of a blood glucose = low glucometer number) An NP culture swab is collected to help diagnose? A) genetic defects B) Encephalitis C) whooping Cough D) Strep throat C) whooping Cough A phlebotomy technician is collecting a sampler cholesterol, troponin, and HDL blood results. Which of the following departments is responsible for processing these tests? A) Hematology B) Microbiology C) Chemistry D) Pathology C) Chemistry (Hematology- White BC, Red BC, Hct,Hgb) A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect blood from a patient who has experienced syncope (fainting) during previous draws. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Draw from the patient's hand B) Place the patient in a supine position C) Place the patient in a prone position D) Perform capillary draws B) Place the patient in a supine position (laying on their back) A phlebotomy technician is drawing blood through a hematoma. Which of the following errors should the technician expect to see in the specimen? A) Hemolysis B) Increased potassium C) Decreased electrolytes D) Increased epithelial tissue A) Hemolysis A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect a variety of blood specimens. Which of the following specimens should the technician collect FIRST? A) Blood Culture B) Cholesterol C) Complete blood count (CBC) D) Basic metabolic panel (BMP) A) Blood Culture A phlebotomy technician is performing a venipuncture for a bilirubin test, a cold agglutinin titer, a CBC, and a PTT test. Which of the following tubes should be technician use? A) One light blue, two serum tops, and one lavender tube B) One serum top, two purple, and one light blue tube C) Two gray, one light yellow SPS, and one dark blue tube D) One gray, two light yellow SPS, and one dark blue tube A) One light blue, two serum tops, and one lavender tube A phlebotomy technician is performing venipuncture on a patient. When the technician inserts the needle, the vein collapses. Which of the following is a possible cause? A) Apply the tourniquet too tightly B) Inserting a smaller evacuated tube C) Applying the blood pressure cuff to 30mm Hg D) Using a 25-gauge needle and syringe A) Apply the tourniquet too tightly A phlebotomy technician is instructing a patient about how to perform a pregnancy test. Which of the following statements should the technician include? A) "Collect your first urine specimen of the morning" B) "Collect your urine specimen after fasting for 8 hours" C) "Collect your last urine specimen of the day" D "Collect your urine specimen after a full meal" A) "Collect your first urine specimen of the morning" A phlebotomy technician should recognize that which of the following blood types is compatible with type blood O? A) Type O B) Type A C) Type AB D) Type B A)Type O A semen specimen must be transported to the lab: A)within 24 hours B) in a cup of ice and water C) Within 6 hours of collection D) Protected from light D) Protected from light a phlebotomy technician callas a medical assistant to inquire a laboratory requisition. Which of the following information is required on the laboratory requisition? A) Patients blood type B) Patients identification number C) Physicians phone number D) Method of collection B) Patients identification number (PIN) Which test may require a chain of custody? A) Blood Culture B) Crossmatch C) Drug Screen D) TDM C) Drug Screen A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood alcohol (ETOH) Level on a patient. It is acceptable to clean the arm with: A) Chlorhexidine Gluconate B) Isopropyl Alcohol C) Methanol Prep D) Tincture of Iodine A) Chlorhexidine Gluconate When testing for chromosomes analysis, which color test is a phlebotomist using? A) Light Blue B) Dark Green C) Light Red D) Dark Yellow B) Dark Green A phlebotomy technician is performing a point-of-care hemoglobin test for a patient. Which of the following values should the technician report to the provider? A) 9.2 g/dL B) 12.5 g/dL C) 16.8 g/dL D) 18.0 g/dL A) 9.2 g/dL (Remember the range for hemoglobin test is 12.5 - 18 g/dL) A phlebotomy technician is preparing to process a WBC differential test, testosterone test, and a glucose test. Which of the following actions should the technician take no process these tests? A) prepare a slide from a lavender-topped tube and centrifuge a red-topped tube and a gray-topped tube B) Prepare a slide from a gray-topped tube and centrifuge a light blue-topped tube and a red topped-tube. C) Prepare a slide from a red-topped tube and centrifuge a gray-topped tube and a lavender-topped tube. D) Prepare a slide from a light blue- topped tube and centrifuge a lavender-topped tube and a red-topped tube. A) prepare a slide from a lavender-topped tube and centrifuge a red-topped tube and a gray-topped tube (Remember Lavender- WBC (blood smear) , Red- Testosterone, Gray- Glucose are centrifuge ) Which department is available when testing for HIV? A) Hematology B)Chemistry C)Serology D)Microbiology C)Serology Blood Culture collection sites are prepared by swabbing the bentipuncture site with Chlorohexidine, which is left on for at least: A) 10 seconds B) 20 Seconds C) 30 seconds D) 5 minutes C) 30 seconds A patient has a cast on the left arm and an IV in the right forearm. A venipuncture in the patients's right are must be done: A) above the IV in the same vein B)Above the IV in a different vein C) Through the port on the IV tubing D) below the IV in a different vein D) below the IV in a different vein A phlebotomy technician should identify that which of the following additives is used to prevent the breakdown of glucose? A) Sodium Citrate B) Sodium Flouride C) EDTA D) Heparin B) Sodium Flouride A phlebotomy technician is preparing to do a newborn screen on a 25 week old infant. What side of the filter paper does the phlebotomy technician place the blood on? A) Place multiple blood drops in each circle on the back side of the filter paper B) Place one blood drop in each circle on the printed side of the filter paper. C) Place multiple blood drops in each circle on the back side of the filter paper D) Place one blood drop in each circle on both sides of the filter paper. B) Place one blood drop in each circle on the printed side of the filter paper. Which of the following additives should a phlebotomy technician use when performing a peripheral blood smear for a WBC count? A) EDTA B) Sodium FLouride C) Sodium Citrate D) Heparin A) EDTA A phlebotomy technician is preparing to obtain a forensic specimen to determine a patients blood alcohol level. Which of the following information should the technician include on the chain of custody form? A) Date and time of specimen collection B) Method and date of specimen collection C) Witness name and signature D) Attorney's name and signature A) Date and time of specimen collection A phlebotomy technician is performing a point-of-care glucose test for a patient and receives a glucometer reading of 46 mg/dL. Which of the following findings should the phlebotomist expect the patient to exhibit? A) Slow heartbeat B) Rapid heratbeat C) Rapid breathing D) Slow breathing B) Rapid heratbeat (Remember normal glucometer is 70-140mg/dL) Unconscious patient, you can draw their blood because this is known as: A) Informed consent B) Implied constent C) HIV constent D) Refusal constent B) Implied constent What additive is used for red glass tube? A) EDTA B) Clot Activator with gel C) No additive D) Sodium Heparin C) No additive (Clot activator w/ gel - SST/Gold) (sodium heparin - Dark Green) (EDTA - Purple) A phlebotomy technician is preparing a peripheral blood slide from a capillary puncture. This of the following actions should the technician take? A) pipette the blood 2.5 cm (1 in) from the end of the slide B) touch the slide to the 2nd drop of blood C) pipette the blood onto the center of the slide D) touch the slide to the first drop of blood B) touch the slide to the 2nd drop of blood (remember we wiped the first one, because of high blood coagulation) A phlebotomy technician should identify that a patient who has which of the following blood types is a universal recipient. A) Type O B) type B C) type A D) type AB D) type AB (Remember universal donor is type O) A phlebotomy technician is using a syringe method to collect the blood culture set, a CBC and a PTT test. Which of the following is the proper order of draw? A) EDTA, Light blue-topped tube, aerobic bottler, anaerobic bottle B) Anaerobic bottle, aerobic bottle, light blue topped tube, EDTA C) Light blue topped tube, EDTA, anaerobic bottle, aerobic bottle D)Aerobic bottle, anaerobic bottle, EDTA, light blue topped tube D)Aerobic bottle, anaerobic bottle, EDTA, light blue topped tube Collecting urine by aspiration directly through the bladder wall with a syringe. A) Nasopharynx B) Suprapubic C) Urine Culture D) Spinal Tap B) Suprapubic Peak and trough specimens are collected for therapeutic drug monitoring. The through specimen is typically collected: A) 15 minutes before the next dose B) 30 minutes after a dose C) 1 hour after a dose D) 2 hours after a dose A) 15 minutes before the next dose A phlebotomy technician is processing the blood sample of a patient who ate a meal of meat and cheese prior to the draw. Following centrifugation of the sample, which of the following findings should the technician expect? A) The specimen is lipemic B) The specimen is hemolyses C) The specimen has a Buffy coat D) The specimen does not coagulate A) The specimen is lipemic A phebotomy technician has been asked to draw a serum tube from an outpatient. Which additive should the techincian choose? A) Sodium Citrate B) Thrombin C) EDTA D) Heparin B) Thrombin ( Sodium Citrate, EDTA, and Heparin are Plasma) Give an example of testing when using Red Plastic tube. Hepatitis C What additive is found in Dark Green tube? Sodium (Na+) Heparin A urine C&S test is collected in which type of container? A) Clean Cup B) Sterile Cup C) Urine Tube D) EDTA Tube B) Sterile Cup A phlebotomy technician is assembling the equipment he will need for collecting donor units of blood. Which of the following needle sizes should the technician select? A) 23-gauge B) 22-gauge C) 21-gauge D) 18-gauge D) 18-gauge Remember: higher the gauge = smaller needle (used when drawing small or preventing small veins) lower the gauge = bigger needle (blood bank) What additive is found in the Gray tube? Sodium Fluoride and Potassium Oxalate (San Francisco Police Officer) The additive Clot Activator and Gel is found in which color topped tube? SST/Gold top Whats is the name of the department when dealing with Blood Cultures? Microbiology Department Which color tube(s) top have Serum? Red Glass, Red Plastic, and SST/Gold A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect specimens to determine a patients peak and tough levels. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Ask the patient when he received the medication. B) Perform the draw at the time assigned on the requisition form. C) Ask the nurse when the medication was administered. D) Perform the draw as soon as possible after breakfast. C) Ask the nurse when the medication was administered. Which of the following must be kept at 37C after collection? A) Cold agglutinins and cryofibrinogen B) Warmed agglutinins and cry-fibrinogen C) Warmed agglutinins D) no Sampl is to be kept at 37C A) Cold agglutinins and cryofibrinogen Which of the following types of urine specimen should a phlebotomy technician instruct a patient to collect for a pregnancy test? A) First-morning B) Timed C) Random D) Suprapublic A) First-morning A phlebotomy technician is seeking consent to perform venipuncture on an older adult patient who has been accompanied to the facility by a younger adult. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Speak to the patient in a loud voice. B) Give the constent form to the adult accompanying the patient C) Speak to the patient in a normal tone D) Stand close to the patient while speaking C) Speak to the patient in a normal tone A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood from a patient who has been admitted for life-threatening cardiac symptoms. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Ask the patient to sign a consent form B) Ask for consent from a family member C) Proceed with collecting the patients blood D) Proceed after verbal consent has been given C) Proceed with collecting the patients blood A phlebotomy technician is performing a hand venipuncture on a 25 year old patient who has small veins that are difficult to access. Which of the following equipment should the technician use to perform the procedure? A 21- gauge ETS eclipse needle B) 25- gauge ETS eclipse needle C) 23- gauge winged collection set D) 23- gauge syringe collection set C) 23- gauge winged collection set Remember high gauge = small needle low gauge = large needle A phlebotomy technician is performing a venipuncture on a patient who currently has an IV in both arms. Which following actions should the technician take? A) Ask the nurse to turn the IVs off for 1 min. B) Apply the tourniquet above the IV site C) Ask the nurse to turn the IVs off for 2 min D) Ask the nurse to remove one of the IVs. C) Ask the nurse to turn the IVs off for 2 min A phlebotomy technician is collecting a blood specimen from a patient who has pneumonia. Besides gloves, which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) should the technician wear? A) Goggles B) Gown C) Mask D) N95 Respirator C) Mask A phlebotomy technician is preparing to collect a blood specimen from the antecubital site of a patient. Which of the following devices can be used to help stabilize the arm for the collection? A) Steady Clamp B) Hand immobilizer C) Phlebotomy wedge D) Hand brace C) Phlebotomy wedge Which of the following is the best method for a phlebotomy technician to collect a blood specimen from an older adult patient who has fragile, easy-to-collapse views? A) Choose a butterfly assembly using a regular ETS B) Choose a butterfly assembly and use pediatric tube C) Choose a syringe and butterfly assembly and transfer to an ETS tube D) Choose a pediatric tube assembly and a regular ET tube C) Choose a syringe and butterfly assembly and transfer to an ETS tube A phlebotomy technician is using the syringe method to obtain a blood culture specimen from an adult patient. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Scurb the insertion site with isopropyl alcohol for 30 seconds B) Withdraw the blood into a sterile syringe C) Collect a total of 10 mL of blood from the patient. B) Withdraw the blood into a sterile syringe A phlebotomy technician is preparing to perform a blood draw on a patient who had a left-sided mastectomy and has an IV on her right side. In which of the following locations should the technician perform the draw? A) Left median curtail vein B) Above the IV C) Left dorsal vein D) Below the IV D) Below the IV A phlebotomy technician is removing his gloves after a venipuncture procedure. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Grasp the tips of the fingers of one glove with the other gloved hand B) Remove the first glove so that it turns inside out during removal C)Discard the first glove before removing the second glove B) Remove the first glove so that it turns inside out during removal A phlebotomy technician is interviewing a patient before performing a venipuncture. During the interview, the patient states that he lives nearby and ran to the facility to "get in some running time today." Which of the following precautionary actions should the technician take? A) Offer the patient a high-carbohydrate snack before the venipuncture B) Place the patient in a reclining position for the venipuncture C)Have the patient rest comfortable or at least 15 minutes before the venipuncture D) tell the patient to "shut up and give me your arm" C)Have the patient rest comfortable or at least 15 minutes before the venipuncture Prior to transport, which of the following specimens should a phlebotomy technician place in an ice bath within 30 min after collection? A) Arterial blood gas B) Cold agglutin C) Cyrofibrogen D) Blood Culture A) Arterial blood gas To prevent hospital-acquired infections, a phlebotomy technician should clean items that have been contaminated by blood with a 1:10 dilution of which of the following substance and water? A) Hydrogen peroxide B) Isopropyl alcohol C) Sodium Hypochlorite D) Fabuloso C) Sodium Hypochlorite Also known as Bleach or Chlorine A phlebotomy technician has a request to collect a routine CBC from a healthy 10- month old infant. Which of the following collection site should the technician select? A) Third finger of either hand B) Median antecubtial vein C) Cephalic vein D) Either heel D) Either heel A phlebotomy technician is preparing to perform a finger stick for a patient. Which of the following actions should the technician take first? A) Cleanse the site with an antiseptic wipe B) Select the appropriate wipe C) Position of the blade of the planet across the lines of the fingertip D) Confirm the identity of the patient D) Confirm the identity of the patient A phlebotomy technician is following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute's (CLSI) clinical laboratory workflow pathway. As part of the post examination phase of this process, which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Process specimen B) Review and verify results C) Provide post-puncture care D) Enter critical laboratory data D) Enter critical laboratory data A phlebotomy technician has a mild sensitivity to latex. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Scrub hands with detergent after wearing latex gloves B) Use gloves with powder inside of them C) Apply oil-based hand creams before before putting on latex gloves D) Wear nitrile gloves instead of latex gloves D) Wear nitrile gloves instead of latex gloves Fun Fact: Ms Erika is allergic to latex A phlebotomy technician is disposing of used supplies when he accidentally receives a needle stick injury. According to OSHA guidelines, which of the following actions should the technician take first? A) Seek out counseling about the incident B) Go to a medical facility for evaluation C) Wash the puncture site with soap and water D) Go tell the supervisor C) Wash the puncture site with soap and water (for at least 15 minutes) A phlebotomy technician is transporting blood specimens to a laboratory. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Place the specimens in a specimen collection tray, B) Place the specimens in the trunk of the car C) Place the specimens in a lockable container D) Place the specimens near an air-condition in a car C) Place the specimens in a lockable container A provide has ordered a urine culture and sensitivity test. EWHic of the following types of urine collection should a phlebotomy technician obtain? A) Random B) Times urine collection C) First morning D) Clean-catch midstream D) Clean-catch midstream A phlebotomy technician is reviewing a laboratory test requisition form before obtaining blood specimens from a patient. Which of the following actions should the technician take prior to performing the venipuncture? A) Ensure the requisition form includes an accession number B) Review the patients medication record C) Check the providers availably D) Check the requisition form for duplicate orders D) Check the requisition form for duplicate orders A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood from a patient who has scabies. Which following place of personal protection equipment (PPE) should the technician use? A) Goggles B) N95 respirator C) Gown D) Mask C) Gown Contact precautions After verifying a patients identity, a phlebotomy technician sees that the patients laboratory results are ready. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Have a laboratory manager discuss the results with the patient. B) Have a nurse interpret the results for the patient C) Inform the patient to contact the ordering provider to obtain the results D) Explain the results to the patient in a private exam room C) Inform the patient to contact the ordering provider to obtain the results A phelobotomy technician is verifying a patients identity before performing a venipuncture procedure. Which of the following information should the technician request from the patient? A) The patients full name and date of birth B) The name of the patients provider C) The patients room and bed number D) The nurse PIN number A) The patients full name and date of birth A phlebotomy technician is preparing to obtain a blood specimen to determine a patients sodium level. The technician should select a collection tube that has a top with which of the following colors? A) Lavender B) Gray C) Green D) SST/Gold C) Green Which of following actions should a phlebotomy technician take to maintain compliance with HIPAA? A) Discard test results into the office trash can B) Leave patient information next to the provider C) Clear phone numbers from the fax machine D) Share password with other staff C) Clear phone numbers from the fax machine Which of the following actions should a phlebotomy technician take after collecting an ammonia specimen? A) Protect the specimen tube from light B) Keep the specimen tube warm C) Keep the specimen at body temperature D) Place the specimen tube in an ice-water slurry D) Place the specimen tube in an ice-water slurry A phlebotomy technician is preparing to enter a patient's room to collect a blood specimen. Which of the following actions should the technician plan to take? A) Knick firmly on the patients door. B) Speak in a loud tone when addressing the patient C) Communicate name and department affiliation to the patient D) Place the specimen collection tray on the patients bed C) Communicate name and department affiliation to the patient A phlebotomy technician is preparing to obtain a blood specimen from a patient for thyroid studies. The technician should select a collection tube that has a top with which of the following colors? A) Gray B) Light blue C) Red D) Speckled D) Speckled What additive does orange tube obtain? A) Na+ heparin and gel B) Clot Activator and gel C) Thrombin D) Na+ Citrate C) Thrombin Remember Thrombin is a based clot activator. Used in chemistry for stat blood collection. A phlebotomy technician is using an evacuated needle holder and blood collection tubes to collect blood from a patient. Which of the following actions should the technician take? A) Position the needle at a 45 angle to the skin B) Inset the needle with the bevel side facing downward C) Palpate below the puncture site if blood flow is not established D) Push the first collection tube gently in the the holder D) Push the first collection tube gently in the the holder A phlebotomy technician is performing venipuncture on a patient. When the technician inserts the needle, the vein collapses. Which of the following is a possible cause? A) applying the tourniquet too tightly B) Inserting a smaller evacuated tube C) Applying the blood pressure cuff to 30 mmHg D) Using a 25-gauge needle and syringe A) applying the tourniquet too tightly A phlebotomy technician is performing a dermal puncture for an adult patient. Which of the following locations should the technician use for this procedure? A) The side of central of the index finger B) The side of central of the ring finger C) On the tip of the ring finger D) On the tip of the index finger B) The side of central of the ring finger What are other names for dermal puncture? Skin Puncture and Capillary Puncture A phlebotomy technician is performing a dorsal venipuncture with the needle at a 15 angle, resulting in slow blood flow and the development of a hematoma. Which of the following should the technician identify as the cause of the hematoma? A) Needle completely trough the vein B) Needle at too shallow of an angle C) Needle bevel opening in the vein D) Needle beside the vein A) Needle completely trough the vein