NHA phlebotomy exam
Blood culture tube -
sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS), used for bacterial studies.
Light blue tubes -
Additive: sodium citrate.
Lab test: coagulation studies PT, PTT, factor assay.
light green/marbled green tubes -
Additive: separator, Lithium heparin.
Lab test: potassium
purple/lavender tube -
Additive: EDTA, Lab test: CBC, whole blood hematology cell count.
Gray tubes -
Additives: potassium oxalate/ heparin, sodium fluoride
Lab test: glucose, GTT, alcohol.
Royal blue tube -
Additives: sodium heparin, EDTA.
Lab test: drug screen, trace metals.
yellow tubes -
Additives: SPS, ACD.
Lab test: blood cultures, HLA studies.
Serum tubes -
used for blood tests that require the blood to clot.
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, Red tube -
no additive,
Lab test: Discard, chemistries, serologies, blood bank.
Gold tube -
Clot activator
Orange tube -
thrombin based clot activator, used when the chemistry determination is for stat blood
collection.
First choice vein -
median cubital vein
A phlebotomy technician is performing a capillary collection for CBC, FSH, and electrolyte tests.
Which of the following is the proper collection order? -
Lavender, green, red.
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?
-21 gauge ETS eclipse needle
-25 gauge ETS eclipse needle
-23 gauge winged collection set
-23 gauge syringe collection set -
23-gauge winged collection set
A patient sits down for a vina puncture in an outpatient setting, rolls up her sleeve, and extends her
arm. The patient turns her head away from the phlebotomy technician and says, "I don't want my
blood drawn." Which of the following responses should the technician make to the patient?
-I am going to start the drawing now.
-May I draw your blood?
2|Page
Blood culture tube -
sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS), used for bacterial studies.
Light blue tubes -
Additive: sodium citrate.
Lab test: coagulation studies PT, PTT, factor assay.
light green/marbled green tubes -
Additive: separator, Lithium heparin.
Lab test: potassium
purple/lavender tube -
Additive: EDTA, Lab test: CBC, whole blood hematology cell count.
Gray tubes -
Additives: potassium oxalate/ heparin, sodium fluoride
Lab test: glucose, GTT, alcohol.
Royal blue tube -
Additives: sodium heparin, EDTA.
Lab test: drug screen, trace metals.
yellow tubes -
Additives: SPS, ACD.
Lab test: blood cultures, HLA studies.
Serum tubes -
used for blood tests that require the blood to clot.
1|Page
, Red tube -
no additive,
Lab test: Discard, chemistries, serologies, blood bank.
Gold tube -
Clot activator
Orange tube -
thrombin based clot activator, used when the chemistry determination is for stat blood
collection.
First choice vein -
median cubital vein
A phlebotomy technician is performing a capillary collection for CBC, FSH, and electrolyte tests.
Which of the following is the proper collection order? -
Lavender, green, red.
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?
-21 gauge ETS eclipse needle
-25 gauge ETS eclipse needle
-23 gauge winged collection set
-23 gauge syringe collection set -
23-gauge winged collection set
A patient sits down for a vina puncture in an outpatient setting, rolls up her sleeve, and extends her
arm. The patient turns her head away from the phlebotomy technician and says, "I don't want my
blood drawn." Which of the following responses should the technician make to the patient?
-I am going to start the drawing now.
-May I draw your blood?
2|Page
