Phlebotomy Test Safety and Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of isolation precaution is required for a patient diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis?
- Contact precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Airborne precautions (Correct answer)
- Reverse isolation
Correct answer: Airborne precautions
Airborne precautions are required for TB because the bacteria are transmitted via tiny droplet nuclei that remain suspended in the air.
Question 2: What is the correct order of donning (putting on) PPE before entering an isolation room?
- Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
- Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask, gloves, gown, eye protection
- Eye protection, gown, gloves, mask
Correct answer: Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves
CDC guidelines specify gown first, then mask/respirator, then eye protection, then gloves last so gloves cover the gown cuffs.
Question 3: A phlebotomist sustains a needlestick injury while drawing blood from an HCV-positive patient. What is the first action to take?
- Apply a tourniquet above the wound
- Immediately wash the site with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Report to the supervisor before doing anything
- Apply betadine to the puncture site
Correct answer: Immediately wash the site with soap and water
Immediate washing with soap and water for at least 15 seconds is the first response to a needlestick to reduce pathogen load.
Question 4: Which disinfectant concentration of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is recommended by the CDC for decontaminating blood spills?
- 1:10 dilution (approximately 5,000 ppm) (Correct answer)
- 1:100 dilution (approximately 500 ppm)
- Undiluted household bleach
- 1:50 dilution (approximately 1,000 ppm)
Correct answer: 1:10 dilution (approximately 5,000 ppm)
A 1:10 dilution of household bleach provides approximately 5,000 ppm of available chlorine, which is effective for blood spill decontamination.
Question 5: Which of the following actions violates standard precautions when drawing blood?
- Wearing gloves for every venipuncture
- Recapping a used needle using the one-handed scoop technique
- Disposing of sharps immediately in a puncture-resistant container
- Recapping a used needle by holding the cap with the other hand (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Recapping a used needle by holding the cap with the other hand
Two-handed recapping is prohibited under standard precautions because it significantly increases the risk of needlestick injury.
Question 6: What does the term 'fomite' refer to in the context of infection control?
- An airborne pathogen
- An inanimate object that can harbor and transmit pathogens (Correct answer)
- A blood-borne virus
- A vector such as a mosquito
Correct answer: An inanimate object that can harbor and transmit pathogens
A fomite is any inanimate object (e.g., doorknob, phlebotomy tray) that can carry infectious agents and facilitate their transfer.
Question 7: A patient with MRSA is placed on contact precautions. Which PPE is minimally required when entering the room to perform a blood draw?
- N95 respirator and gloves
- Gown and gloves (Correct answer)
- Surgical mask and gloves
- Eye protection and gloves only
Correct answer: Gown and gloves
Contact precautions require a gown and gloves at minimum to prevent skin and clothing contamination with MRSA.
Phlebotomy Test Safety and Infection Control 2
Which type of isolation precaution is required for a patient diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis?