Chapter 47: Blood Collection
Niedzwiecki: Kinn’s The Clinical Medical Assistant, 14th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following Vacutainer tubes is routinely used for hematology testing?
a. Lavender topped
b. Red topped
c. Green topped
d. Light blue topped
ANS: A
Lavender-topped tubes contain EDTA to prevent clotting; therefore, samples for
hematology testing are collected in these tubes.
REF: p. 1131 OBJ: 2 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
2. No anticoagulants are found in which of the following tubes?
a. Lavender topped
b. Red topped
c. Green topped
d. Yellow topped
ANS: B
Red-topped tubes have no additives and are used for serology and chemistry studies.
REF: p. 1131 OBJ: 2
TOP: Phlebotomy: Tube Selection/Order of Draw/Equipment
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
3. Which type of tube should be used to collect blood specimens during a glucose tolerance
test?
a. Lavender topped
b. Red topped
c. Gray topped
d. Yellow topped
ANS: C
The fluoride in gray-topped tubes prevents glycolysis.
REF: p. 1131 OBJ: 2
TOP: Phlebotomy: Tube Selection/Order of Draw/Equipment
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
4. Choose the anticoagulant that prevents platelets from clumping and preserves the
appearance of blood cells for microscopic preparation, from the list below.
a. Thrombin
b. Sodium heparin
c. Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)
d. Sodium polyanetholsulfonate
, ANS: C
Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), which is present in the lavender-topped tube,
prevents platelet clumping and preserves the appearance of blood cells for microscopic
examination.
REF: p. 1131 OBJ: 2
TOP: Phlebotomy: Tube Selection/Order of Draw/Equipment
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
5. The slant at the open end of a needle used for venipuncture is called the:
a. lumen.
b. bevel.
c. shaft.
d. bore.
ANS: B
The bevel is the slanted edge at the tip of the needle.
REF: p. 1133 OBJ: 3 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.2.b | ABHES: 9.d.1
6. The needle size most commonly used for adult venipuncture is:
a. 16 gauge.
b. 18 gauge.
c. 23 gauge.
d. 20 gauge.
ANS: D
Routine adult venipuncture requires a 20- to 21-gauge needle.
REF: p. 1133 OBJ: 3 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.2.b | ABHES: 9.d.1
7. The needle size most commonly used by a blood bank for donations units is:
a. 16 gauge.
b. 18 gauge.
c. 23 gauge.
d. 20 gauge.
ANS: A
Blood bank donation requires a larger-gauge needle; using a 16-gauge needle to collect
blood reduces the chance of hemolysis.
REF: p. 1133 OBJ: 3 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
8. The needle size most commonly used in infants and the elderly is _____.
a. 16 gauge
b. 23 gauge
c. 20 gauge
d. 21 gauge
, ANS: B
The smallest gauge needles (23 gauge) are used to collect blood from small or fragile
veins, such as those of elderly or very young patients.
REF: p. 1133 OBJ: 3 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
9. Plasma is present in which of the following venipuncture tubes?
a. SST red-gray tube
b. SST gold tube
c. PST green-gray tube
d. SST gold tube and PST green-gray tube
ANS: C
The plasma separator tube (PST) also contains thixotropic gel. The glass tubes have a
marbled green-gray top.
REF: p. 1132 OBJ: 2 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
10. A tourniquet is used during the phlebotomy procedure to:
a. collapse the artery.
b. prevent venous flow out of the site.
c. make the veins in the area more prominent.
d. prevent venous flow out of the site and make the veins in the area more prominent.
ANS: D
A tourniquet prevents venous flow out of the site, causing the veins to bulge.
REF: p. 1129 OBJ: 1 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
11. A tourniquet should remain tied on a patient’s arm no longer than:
a. 1 minute.
b. 2 minutes.
c. 3 minutes.
d. 5 minutes.
ANS: A
Leaving a tourniquet on for longer than 1 minute greatly increases the possibility of
hemoconcentration and altered test results.
REF: p. 1129 OBJ: 1 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
12. Without a clot activator, whole blood typically clots in about what time frame?
a. 1 to 5 minutes
b. 6 to 12 minutes
c. 15 to 60 minutes
d. 70 to 90 minutes
ANS: C
Niedzwiecki: Kinn’s The Clinical Medical Assistant, 14th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following Vacutainer tubes is routinely used for hematology testing?
a. Lavender topped
b. Red topped
c. Green topped
d. Light blue topped
ANS: A
Lavender-topped tubes contain EDTA to prevent clotting; therefore, samples for
hematology testing are collected in these tubes.
REF: p. 1131 OBJ: 2 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
2. No anticoagulants are found in which of the following tubes?
a. Lavender topped
b. Red topped
c. Green topped
d. Yellow topped
ANS: B
Red-topped tubes have no additives and are used for serology and chemistry studies.
REF: p. 1131 OBJ: 2
TOP: Phlebotomy: Tube Selection/Order of Draw/Equipment
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
3. Which type of tube should be used to collect blood specimens during a glucose tolerance
test?
a. Lavender topped
b. Red topped
c. Gray topped
d. Yellow topped
ANS: C
The fluoride in gray-topped tubes prevents glycolysis.
REF: p. 1131 OBJ: 2
TOP: Phlebotomy: Tube Selection/Order of Draw/Equipment
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
4. Choose the anticoagulant that prevents platelets from clumping and preserves the
appearance of blood cells for microscopic preparation, from the list below.
a. Thrombin
b. Sodium heparin
c. Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)
d. Sodium polyanetholsulfonate
, ANS: C
Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), which is present in the lavender-topped tube,
prevents platelet clumping and preserves the appearance of blood cells for microscopic
examination.
REF: p. 1131 OBJ: 2
TOP: Phlebotomy: Tube Selection/Order of Draw/Equipment
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
5. The slant at the open end of a needle used for venipuncture is called the:
a. lumen.
b. bevel.
c. shaft.
d. bore.
ANS: B
The bevel is the slanted edge at the tip of the needle.
REF: p. 1133 OBJ: 3 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.2.b | ABHES: 9.d.1
6. The needle size most commonly used for adult venipuncture is:
a. 16 gauge.
b. 18 gauge.
c. 23 gauge.
d. 20 gauge.
ANS: D
Routine adult venipuncture requires a 20- to 21-gauge needle.
REF: p. 1133 OBJ: 3 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.2.b | ABHES: 9.d.1
7. The needle size most commonly used by a blood bank for donations units is:
a. 16 gauge.
b. 18 gauge.
c. 23 gauge.
d. 20 gauge.
ANS: A
Blood bank donation requires a larger-gauge needle; using a 16-gauge needle to collect
blood reduces the chance of hemolysis.
REF: p. 1133 OBJ: 3 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
8. The needle size most commonly used in infants and the elderly is _____.
a. 16 gauge
b. 23 gauge
c. 20 gauge
d. 21 gauge
, ANS: B
The smallest gauge needles (23 gauge) are used to collect blood from small or fragile
veins, such as those of elderly or very young patients.
REF: p. 1133 OBJ: 3 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
9. Plasma is present in which of the following venipuncture tubes?
a. SST red-gray tube
b. SST gold tube
c. PST green-gray tube
d. SST gold tube and PST green-gray tube
ANS: C
The plasma separator tube (PST) also contains thixotropic gel. The glass tubes have a
marbled green-gray top.
REF: p. 1132 OBJ: 2 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
10. A tourniquet is used during the phlebotomy procedure to:
a. collapse the artery.
b. prevent venous flow out of the site.
c. make the veins in the area more prominent.
d. prevent venous flow out of the site and make the veins in the area more prominent.
ANS: D
A tourniquet prevents venous flow out of the site, causing the veins to bulge.
REF: p. 1129 OBJ: 1 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
11. A tourniquet should remain tied on a patient’s arm no longer than:
a. 1 minute.
b. 2 minutes.
c. 3 minutes.
d. 5 minutes.
ANS: A
Leaving a tourniquet on for longer than 1 minute greatly increases the possibility of
hemoconcentration and altered test results.
REF: p. 1129 OBJ: 1 TOP: Phlebotomy: Venipuncture/Capillary Puncture
MSC: CAAHEP: I.P.11 | ABHES: 9.d
12. Without a clot activator, whole blood typically clots in about what time frame?
a. 1 to 5 minutes
b. 6 to 12 minutes
c. 15 to 60 minutes
d. 70 to 90 minutes
ANS: C
