Special Specimen Collections Flashcards
7 cards from real Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Special Specimen Collections flashcards as text
When collecting a blood culture specimen, how should the venipuncture site be cleaned?
Answer: Chlorhexidine or iodine scrub followed by alcohol
Blood culture sites require a two-step antiseptic prep using chlorhexidine gluconate or povidone-iodine followed by 70% isopropyl alcohol to reduce contamination risk.
A glucose tolerance test (GTT) requires the patient to fast for how long before the test begins?
Answer: 8–12 hours
Patients must fast for 8–12 hours before a GTT to establish a true baseline fasting glucose level.
Which tube is inoculated FIRST when collecting blood cultures using a butterfly needle?
Answer: Aerobic bottle
With a butterfly needle, the aerobic bottle is inoculated first because air in the tubing fills it, preventing air from entering the anaerobic bottle.
A 24-hour urine collection requires the patient to discard which specimen?
Answer: The first morning void at the start of collection
The first morning void is discarded to clear the bladder, and then the 24-hour timing begins with all subsequent voids collected.
Which of the following is the correct method for collecting a neonatal bilirubin specimen?
Answer: Heel stick collected into an amber microtainer
Neonatal bilirubin is collected via heel stick into an amber (light-protected) microtainer because bilirubin degrades rapidly when exposed to light.
What is the purpose of chilling a specimen for arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis?
Answer: To slow cellular metabolism and preserve gas values
Chilling an ABG specimen in ice water slows cellular metabolism, which would otherwise alter O2, CO2, and pH values during transport to the lab.
For a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) trough level, when should blood be drawn relative to the drug dose?
Answer: Immediately before the next scheduled dose
A trough level is drawn immediately before the next scheduled dose, when the drug concentration is at its lowest point.