8 Phlebotomy Certification Practice Free Online FlashCards

How many patient-specific identifiers must be checked before collection?

Use at least two patient-specific identifiers, such as the patient’s stated information and wristband. Never use a room or bed number.

How should a used venipuncture needle be handled?

Activate the needle’s safety feature immediately after withdrawal and discard it directly into an approved sharps container. Never recap, bend, or break it.

What should you do after a needlestick or other exposure?

Wash or flush the affected area promptly and report the exposure immediately so the facility’s response process can begin.

What should you do if a tourniquet has been on for about one minute?

Release it if it has been in place for about one minute; reapply only as needed. Prolonged application can affect some measurements and cause discomfort.

Which is collected first in the usual venous draw: citrate or EDTA?

Collect the sodium citrate tube before the EDTA tube. This sequence helps reduce additive carryover that could affect results.

Why must a citrate tube be filled to its intended volume?

Fill it to its intended mark because citrate testing depends on the correct blood-to-additive ratio. Ask the laboratory about an underfilled tube.

How should additive-containing tubes be mixed?

Gently invert them the number of times specified by the manufacturer or laboratory procedure. Do not shake.

What is serum?

Serum is the liquid remaining after blood clots and is separated from the clot, usually by centrifugation.

What determines how a blood specimen is processed?

Follow the applicable test, tube manufacturer, and laboratory instructions for clotting, centrifugation, temperature, and delivery time; requirements vary by specimen.

Where and when should collected specimens be labeled?

Label each specimen at the collection site in the patient’s presence, using required identifiers and any additional information required by the laboratory.

What should you do with a specimen whose identity cannot be confidently verified?

Do not guess or relabel it. Secure the specimen and contact the laboratory or supervisor for direction.

What should you do if a patient’s stated information conflicts with the wristband?

Stop and resolve the discrepancy before collecting. Do not guess or collect first and correct the record later.