Verified for Guaranteed Pass
Using the guidelines for any method of venipuncture, which of the following actions should the
medical assistant perform directly after confirming patient identity? - To ensure accuracy
and quality, it is important to anticipate your needs before beginning the actual venipuncture
(i.e. tube color/size, minimum acceptable blood volume, whether or not the specimen needs to
be placed on ice). Therefore, the medical assistant would identify the patient, then review the
requirements for collecting and handling the blood specimen as ordered by the physician. Next,
assemble the appropriate equipment and select the proper evacuated tubes for test to be
performed. Then, apply the tourniquet and thoroughly palpate the selected vein. Finally,
position the patient's arm and cleanse the site with an antiseptic wipe, then proceed with the
venipuncture protocol.
Which of the following should be avoided as a form of patient identification? - insurance
number
The phlebotomist is drawing blood from a patient that is taking blood thinners. Which of the
following is a necessary piece of additional equipment to have at the drawing station? -
non-adhering bandage
Non-adhering bandage material would be helpful for patients on anticoagulant therapy who
may bleed more extensively than typical patients after venipuncture. It is necessary to contain
the bleed with a bandage, but adhesive might bruise once removed from a patient who has
anticoagulated blood.
A medical assistant has active symptoms of the common cold. Under which of the following
conditions may he perform venipuncture? - The medical assistant may perform
venipuncture provided he is wearing a mask and afebrile.
Which of the following evacuated tubes should the medical assistant select for collection of
electrolytes? - green-top
Which of the following additives protects serum from interacting with red blood cells after a
specimen has been centrifuged? - gel separators
Which of the following sites should the medical assistant use for newborn screening blood
collection? - plantar surface of the heel
, Appropriate needle gauge for a venipuncture - 21
After several minutes of searching the medical assistant can only palpate a small vein. The
patient is prepared and the venipuncture is performed. The blood is filling the tube, but slows
and then stops even though the patient and medical assistant remained still. Which of the
following actions should the medical assistant take? - Use a smaller tube because the
vein has collapsed.
The physician orders a sedimentation rate for a patient recovering from an infection. This is
indicated on the lab requisition as which of the following? - ESR
Venipuncture on the foot is performed in which of the following locations? - dorsal pedis
A 53-year old male with a central line has a specimen collected from the dorsal side of the hand.
- Patients with central lines would be candidates for specimen collection from dorsal side
of the hand. Venous samples are not collected from the palmar side of the wrist; veins are
accessible from the dorsal side.
Fingersticks are not performed on newborns as the blade depth could injure nerves in the
fingertips and blood would be difficult to extract. Heel sticks may be performed on newborns,
but not in the central section of the plantar surface. Nerve and/or tissue damage could result.
A medical assistant needs to draw a bilirubin on a jaundiced infant. The medical assistant should
- collect the specimen in an amber tube to protect from light.
Bilirubin is a photo-sensitive analyte (can degrade by as much as 50% with an hour of light
exposure). A specimen submitted for bilirubin testing should be collected in an amber tube
which will protect it from light (a regular tube wrapped in aluminum foil could also be
acceptable)
Which of the following arteries provides direct blood flow to the foot? - dorsalis pedis
The medical assistant is educating the patient on fasting diet requirements prior to a glucose
tolerance test. Which of the following is the minimum time frame the patient must remain NPO
before the start of the test? - 8-12 hours
Gum chewing, eating mints, and/or smoking are not allowed. Sips of water may be permitted
depending on the provider NPO policy.