Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Equipment and Supplies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which tube should be collected first when using the correct order of draw with an ETS?
- EDTA (lavender)
- Sodium citrate (light blue)
- Blood culture bottles (Correct answer)
- SST (gold)
Correct answer: Blood culture bottles
Blood culture bottles are drawn first to minimize the risk of microbial contamination from skin flora.
Question 2: What is the function of EDTA in a lavender-top tube?
- Activates clotting factors
- Chelates calcium to prevent coagulation (Correct answer)
- Preserves glucose levels
- Inhibits bacterial growth
Correct answer: Chelates calcium to prevent coagulation
EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) chelates calcium ions, preventing blood from clotting and preserving cell morphology for CBC testing.
Question 3: A tourniquet should be released within how many minutes after application?
- 30 seconds
- 1 minute (Correct answer)
- 3 minutes
- 5 minutes
Correct answer: 1 minute
A tourniquet must be released within 1 minute to prevent hemoconcentration and falsely elevated analyte results.
Question 4: Which of the following needle disposal containers is OSHA-approved for sharps disposal?
- Cardboard box lined with a plastic bag
- Puncture-resistant, leak-proof sharps container (Correct answer)
- Standard red biohazard bag
- Any lidded plastic container
Correct answer: Puncture-resistant, leak-proof sharps container
OSHA requires puncture-resistant, leak-proof, and properly labeled sharps containers for safe disposal of needles.
Question 5: What does a green-top tube typically contain?
- EDTA
- Sodium citrate
- Heparin (lithium or sodium) (Correct answer)
- No additive
Correct answer: Heparin (lithium or sodium)
Green-top tubes contain heparin (lithium or sodium), which inhibits thrombin and is used for plasma chemistry tests.
Question 6: When a winged collection set (butterfly) is used, what must be done before filling a sodium citrate tube?
- Fill a discard tube first to purge air from the tubing (Correct answer)
- Invert the tube 10 times
- Apply a second tourniquet
- Remove the needle and reinsert it
Correct answer: Fill a discard tube first to purge air from the tubing
A discard tube (plain red or another light blue) must fill the dead space in the butterfly tubing to ensure the citrate tube receives the correct blood volume.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam Equipment and Supplies 2
Which tube should be collected first when using the correct order of draw with an ETS?