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AMT RPT practice questions

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Question 1Safety and Infection Control

Which single practice is considered the most effective way to prevent healthcare-associated infections?

  1. Spraying the work area with disinfectant each morning
  2. Performing hand hygiene at the recommended moments Correct answer.
  3. Changing the laboratory coat after every shift
  4. Wearing a fresh pair of gloves for every patient contact

Explanation

Hands are the most common vehicle for transferring organisms between patients, equipment, and staff. Hand hygiene is therefore the primary and most effective infection-control measure, and it is required before and after every patient contact and after glove removal. Gloves and environmental cleaning are adjuncts, not substitutes.

Question 2Safety and Infection Control

Standard precautions require that phlebotomy staff treat blood and body fluids from which patients as potentially infectious?

  1. Only patients who have signed a consent for testing
  2. Patients whose charts carry an isolation sticker
  3. Only patients with a known bloodborne infection
  4. All patients, regardless of diagnosis or test results Correct answer.

Explanation

Standard precautions are applied to every patient because a person's infection status may be unknown, undisclosed, or not yet detectable. The rule removes the need to guess who is infectious and protects staff and patients alike. Isolation signage adds transmission-based precautions but does not define standard precautions.

Question 3Safety and Infection Control

At what point should a sharps container be replaced?

  1. When it is about three-quarters full Correct answer.
  2. At the end of each calendar month
  3. When the first needle has been discarded into it
  4. Only after it has visibly overflowed

Explanation

Sharps containers are replaced when they reach about three-quarters capacity, before items begin to protrude or resist entry. Overfilling creates a risk of needlesticks when the next item is pushed in or the container is closed. The fill level, not the calendar or the first item, is the trigger.

Question 4Safety and Infection Control

After a needlestick injury in the patient's room, what should the phlebotomist do first?

  1. Report the injury and complete the paperwork
  2. Scrub the site with an alcohol pad and apply a bandage
  3. Squeeze the wound firmly to express blood
  4. Wash the site with soap and running water Correct answer.

Explanation

Immediate first aid is washing the puncture site with soap and water, or water alone if soap is unavailable. Squeezing or milking the wound is not recommended because it may further traumatize tissue. Reporting and medical evaluation follow promptly but are not the first action.

Question 5Safety and Infection Control

What is the primary reason for wearing gloves during a blood draw?

  1. They eliminate the need for hand hygiene before the procedure
  2. They create a barrier that reduces exposure to bloodborne pathogens Correct answer.
  3. They are required only when the patient has a known infection
  4. They may be washed and reused for the next patient

Explanation

Gloves act as a physical barrier between the phlebotomist's skin and blood or body fluids, reducing exposure risk. They do not replace hand hygiene, which is still performed before and after glove use. Gloves are single-use and are worn with every patient because infection status is often unknown.

Question 6Safety and Infection Control

A phlebotomist is about to enter the room of a patient on airborne precautions. Which respiratory protection is required?

  1. A surgical mask
  2. No protection, provided the door stays open
  3. An N95 respirator Correct answer.
  4. A cloth face covering

Explanation

Airborne precautions address organisms that remain suspended in air over long distances, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A fit-tested N95 or higher-level respirator is required, usually with a negative-pressure room and a closed door. Surgical masks do not provide an adequate seal against airborne particles.

Question 7Safety and Infection Control

What is the recommended way to prepare disinfectant for a small blood spill on a work surface?

  1. Mix bleach with hydrogen peroxide to increase potency
  2. Use full-strength household bleach poured directly on the spill
  3. Wipe the area with 70% isopropyl alcohol and let it dry
  4. Make a fresh 1:10 dilution of household bleach and water Correct answer.

Explanation

A fresh 1:10 dilution of household bleach in water provides an effective concentration of sodium hypochlorite for blood contamination. Diluted bleach loses strength over time, so it should be prepared fresh for each spill. Mixing bleach with other chemicals can release toxic gases.

Question 8Safety and Infection Control

Which container is appropriate for disposing of a blood-soaked gauze pad?

  1. A cardboard box sealed with tape
  2. A clear plastic bag left in the hallway
  3. A red biohazard bag or labeled biohazard container Correct answer.
  4. The regular office trash in a lined wastebasket

Explanation

Items saturated with blood or body fluids are regulated medical waste and belong in red biohazard bags or rigid containers marked with the biohazard symbol. Clear or unlabeled bags do not communicate the hazard to handlers. Regular trash is acceptable only for items with no blood or fluid contamination.

Question 9Safety and Infection Control

When removing PPE after a procedure, which item is removed first?

  1. The gloves Correct answer.
  2. The eye protection
  3. The gown
  4. The mask or respirator

Explanation

Gloves are the most contaminated item and are removed first, followed by eye protection, then the gown, then the mask or respirator. Hand hygiene follows removal of the gloves and again after all PPE is off. Keeping this sequence limits transfer of organisms to the face and clean clothing.

Question 10Safety and Infection Control

A patient is placed on contact precautions. Which precautions are appropriate for the phlebotomist?

  1. Clean gloves and a gown, plus hand hygiene before and after Correct answer.
  2. No PPE is needed for a brief blood draw
  3. Surgical mask only, with the room door kept open
  4. N95 respirator and a negative-pressure room

Explanation

Contact precautions target organisms spread by direct or indirect contact, so gloves and a gown are worn for entry, with hand hygiene before and after. Equipment should be dedicated or cleaned between patients. A mask or respirator is not required unless the organism also spreads by droplet or airborne routes.

Question 11Safety and Infection Control

During transport of a patient on droplet precautions for a blood draw, the patient should:

  1. Wear an N95 respirator
  2. Be placed in a negative-pressure room
  3. Wear a surgical mask Correct answer.
  4. Be transported without any mask

Explanation

When a patient on droplet precautions must leave the room, a surgical mask is placed on the patient to contain respiratory secretions. Staff wear a surgical mask when working within about three to six feet of the patient. Negative-pressure rooms and N95 respirators are reserved for airborne precautions.

Question 12Safety and Infection Control

After a percutaneous exposure to blood from a source patient with unknown HIV status, the employee should:

  1. Wait 30 days before seeking care to see whether symptoms develop
  2. Donate blood to find out whether transmission occurred
  3. Report the exposure and seek prompt evaluation for post-exposure prophylaxis Correct answer.
  4. Take a course of antibiotics as post-exposure prophylaxis

Explanation

Exposure must be reported immediately and evaluated so that HIV post-exposure prophylaxis can begin as soon as possible, ideally within hours of exposure. Prophylaxis for HIV uses antiretroviral drugs, and baseline testing of source and employee guides management. Delay reduces the effectiveness of prophylaxis.

Question 13Safety and Infection Control

In which situation must soap and water be used instead of an alcohol-based hand rub?

  1. Before entering a patient's room
  2. After contact with a patient who has Clostridioides difficile diarrhea Correct answer.
  3. After removing gloves that are not visibly soiled
  4. Between two patients when the hands are dry

Explanation

Alcohol does not reliably kill spore-forming organisms such as C. difficile, so soap and water is required after contact with these patients. Soap and water is also required when hands are visibly soiled or after using the restroom. Alcohol-based rubs remain appropriate for routine decontamination of dry, not visibly soiled hands.

Question 14Safety and Infection Control

Under the Hazard Communication Standard, safety data sheets for chemicals used in the laboratory must be:

  1. Posted only in the locked chemical storeroom
  2. Locked in the manager's office and released only on request
  3. Readily accessible to employees during their work shift Correct answer.
  4. Replaced every five years with a new edition

Explanation

Employees have a right to know about the hazards of chemicals they work with, so safety data sheets must be accessible during the shift without delay. They may be kept electronically if workers can retrieve them readily. Locking them away defeats the purpose of the standard.

Question 15Safety and Infection Control

According to the RACE acronym, which action comes first when a fire is discovered?

  1. Evacuate the entire building
  2. Extinguish the fire with the nearest extinguisher
  3. Rescue anyone in immediate danger Correct answer.
  4. Close all doors on the unit

Explanation

RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain, and Extinguish or Evacuate, so rescue comes first. After removing anyone in danger, the alarm is activated, doors are closed to contain smoke, and the fire is fought only if it is small and the responder is trained.

Question 16Safety and Infection Control

Which technique reduces the risk of back injury when lifting a box of supplies?

  1. Keep the load close and lift with the legs Correct answer.
  2. Twist the torso while lifting to save steps
  3. Bend at the waist and keep the arms extended
  4. Lift quickly with the legs kept straight

Explanation

Keeping the load close to the body shortens the lever arm and reduces strain on the lower back. Bending the knees and lifting with the leg muscles, rather than the back, distributes the force safely. Twisting while lifting sharply increases injury risk and should be avoided.

Question 17Safety and Infection Control

Which technique is correct for an alcohol-based hand rub?

  1. Coat the fingertips only and let air-dry
  2. Use a small amount and rinse with water
  3. Cover all hand surfaces and rub until dry Correct answer.
  4. Apply to the palms only and wipe with a towel

Explanation

The product must contact every surface of the hands, including between the fingers, thumbs, and wrists, and be rubbed until it evaporates. Wiping the product off removes it before it can act, and rinsing is unnecessary. Using too little product reduces effectiveness.

Question 18Safety and Infection Control

A phlebotomist with a latex allergy should use which gloves for patient care?

  1. Sterile latex gloves only
  2. Reusable vinyl gloves washed between patients
  3. Nitrile or other synthetic non-latex gloves Correct answer.
  4. Powdered latex gloves with a cotton liner

Explanation

Staff with latex sensitivity must avoid latex exposure, so nitrile or another synthetic non-latex glove is selected. Powdered latex gloves are especially problematic because the powder carries latex proteins into the air. Gloves are single-use and are never washed and reused.

Question 19Safety and Infection Control

What is the safest way to disconnect a laboratory instrument from a wall outlet?

  1. Pull the cord while the instrument is running
  2. Grasp the plug firmly and pull it straight out Correct answer.
  3. Ask a coworker to hold the cord while you pull
  4. Pull the cord sharply at an angle

Explanation

The plug, not the cord, should be gripped and pulled straight out so that the cord and internal wiring are not stressed. Pulling at an angle or yanking the cord can damage insulation and create a shock or fire hazard. Equipment should be switched off before unplugging when possible.

Question 20Safety and Infection Control

Which practice is correct when transporting a blood specimen to the laboratory?

  1. Place the tube in a cup of ice without a bag
  2. Carry the tube uncovered in a coat pocket
  3. Place the tube in a leakproof bag with the requisition outside Correct answer.
  4. Attach the requisition to the tube with a paper clip

Explanation

Specimens are transported in a leakproof, labeled bag so that a spill is contained, with paperwork kept outside the bag to avoid contamination. Tubes must remain capped and upright where required. Carrying specimens loose invites breakage and exposure.

Question 21Safety and Infection Control

A phlebotomist must move a used needle from a syringe to a transfer device. What is the safest accepted practice?

  1. Recap the needle using both hands while watching
  2. Lay the uncapped syringe on the counter until ready
  3. Use a one-handed scoop technique or a recapping device Correct answer.
  4. Bend the needle before placing it in the sharps container

Explanation

Recapping by hand is the leading cause of needlesticks, so safety-engineered devices or a one-handed scoop are used when recapping cannot be avoided. Needles must never be bent, broken, or left uncapped on a work surface. The used needle goes directly into a sharps container.

Question 22Safety and Infection Control

What is the correct order for donning PPE before entering an isolation room?

  1. Goggles, gown, gloves, mask
  2. Gloves, goggles, mask, gown
  3. Mask, gloves, gown, goggles
  4. Gown, mask, goggles, gloves Correct answer.

Explanation

The gown is applied first, then the mask or respirator, then eye protection, and gloves last so the gloves cover the gown cuffs. This sequence keeps the outer surfaces contaminated as little as possible and matches the reverse order used for removal. Gloves placed on last remain the outermost barrier.

Question 23Safety and Infection Control

Which exposure carries the highest risk of transmitting a bloodborne pathogen?

  1. A splash of blood onto the forearm
  2. Prolonged contact of intact skin with a small drop of blood
  3. A deep stick from a large hollow-bore needle Correct answer.
  4. Touching a dried blood spot with a gloved hand

Explanation

Risk rises with the depth of injury, the size of the needle bore, and the amount of visible blood, so a deep stick from a large hollow-bore needle is the highest-risk exposure listed. Intact skin is an effective barrier when washed promptly. Gloved contact with a dried spot is a low-risk event.

Question 24Safety and Infection Control

Which method is used to sterilize reusable phlebotomy equipment?

  1. Immersion in a 1:10 bleach solution for 10 minutes
  2. Steam autoclaving at high temperature and pressure Correct answer.
  3. Wiping with 70% isopropyl alcohol
  4. Soaking in a quaternary ammonium disinfectant

Explanation

Sterilization destroys all microorganisms, including bacterial spores, and steam autoclaving achieves this with high-temperature, high-pressure steam. Alcohol, quaternary ammonium compounds, and bleach are disinfectants that reduce but do not reliably eliminate spores. Equipment that contacts sterile sites or breaks the skin barrier requires sterilization.

Question 25Safety and Infection Control

A large blood spill occurs in the hallway. What is the appropriate first response?

  1. Vacuum the area with a wet/dry vacuum
  2. Cordon off the area and use a spill kit Correct answer.
  3. Cover the spill with paper towels and leave it
  4. Rinse the blood into the floor drain with water

Explanation

The area is first restricted so that people do not walk through the spill, then a spill kit is used to absorb the liquid, clean the surface, and disinfect it. Large spills may require trained staff and a defined clean-up procedure. Washing blood into drains or vacuuming it spreads contamination and creates aerosols.

Question 26Safety and Infection Control

Before beginning a venipuncture, how should the phlebotomist confirm the patient's identity?

  1. Two identifiers, such as full name and date of birth Correct answer.
  2. The patient's room number and the name printed on the door
  3. The patient's hospital identification number only, read from the wristband
  4. The patient's stated name and the name of the ordering physician

Explanation

Two independent identifiers, verified against the requisition and the arm band, confirm the specimen is drawn from the correct person. Room numbers and physician names change and are not unique to a patient, so neither can serve as an identifier. Using only a number read from the band, without a second identifier, leaves a gap if the band is wrong or belongs to another patient.

Question 27Safety and Infection Control

At what point should a sharps container used for blood collection needles be replaced?

  1. When it is half full
  2. When it is about three-quarters full Correct answer.
  3. When it holds only a few needles
  4. When it is completely full and needles no longer fit

Explanation

Containers are replaced when they reach the fill line, usually about three-quarters full, so nothing protrudes and no one has to force an item inside. Overfilling is what causes sticks from needles sticking above the rim or being pushed in by hand. Replacing at half full or after a few needles creates unnecessary waste and cost without adding protection.

Question 28Safety and Infection Control

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between gloves and hand hygiene?

  1. Gloves may be worn for several patients as long as they look clean
  2. Hand hygiene is needed only after gloves are removed, not before
  3. Gloves remove the need for hand hygiene when the procedure is brief
  4. Hand hygiene is performed before donning gloves and after removing them Correct answer.

Explanation

Gloves are an addition to hand hygiene, not a substitute, so hands are cleaned both before donning and after removal. Transient organisms on the hands can contaminate the outside of gloves during a procedure, and hands can become contaminated through small defects or during removal. Brief procedures carry the same risk as long ones.

Question 29Safety and Infection Control

When should the safety feature of a blood collection needle be activated?

  1. After the specimen has been labeled at the work station
  2. When the needle is being placed into the sharps container
  3. Immediately after the draw, at the point of use Correct answer.
  4. After the tourniquet is removed and the site is bandaged

Explanation

Safety-engineered devices are designed to be activated immediately after use, while the phlebotomist is still at the patient's side and in control of the device. Delaying activation until the walk to the sharps container creates a window in which an exposed needle can injure someone. The device is then discarded as a unit without further handling.

Question 30Safety and Infection Control

A phlebotomist must recap a needle because no safety device is available. Which technique is acceptable?

  1. Lay the syringe down and push the cap on with the palm of the hand
  2. Hold the cap in one hand and guide the needle into it with the other hand
  3. Use the one-hand scoop method to replace the cap on a flat surface Correct answer.
  4. Ask a coworker to hold the cap steady while the needle is inserted

Explanation

Recapping is discouraged and permitted only when no alternative exists, and then only with a one-handed scoop technique in which the hand holding the cap is never in the path of the needle. Two-handed methods, palm pushing, and having another person hold the cap all place fingers directly in front of the point.

Question 31Safety and Infection Control

Which set of conditions describes an airborne infection isolation room?

  1. Positive air pressure with the door kept open for observation
  2. Standard room pressure with a curtain drawn around the bed
  3. Negative air pressure with the door closed and air exhausted or filtered Correct answer.
  4. Negative air pressure with the door propped open for staff convenience

Explanation

An airborne infection isolation room is engineered so air flows into the room and is exhausted or high-efficiency filtered before recirculation, and the door stays closed to maintain that pressure relationship. Positive pressure or an open door defeats the directional airflow and lets airborne particles escape into the corridor.

Question 32Safety and Infection Control

How often must a healthcare worker who uses an N95 respirator be fit tested?

  1. Only when the worker first starts the job
  2. Every month
  3. Every five years
  4. At least once a year Correct answer.

Explanation

Fit testing is repeated at least annually, and also whenever a different respirator model or size is introduced or facial changes affect the seal. A one-time test does not remain valid because face shape and the selected model can change over time.

Question 33Safety and Infection Control

Blood splashes into a phlebotomist's eye during a draw. What is the first action?

  1. Apply antibiotic eye drops from the supply cabinet
  2. Wipe the eye with a dry gauze pad and continue working
  3. Report to employee health and wait there for further instructions
  4. Flush the eye with water or saline for at least 15 minutes Correct answer.

Explanation

Immediate irrigation with water or saline for at least 15 minutes reduces the inoculum and is the first priority for any splash to a mucous membrane. Reporting and source evaluation follow the flush; they do not replace it. Drops are not a first-aid measure and dry wiping can abrade the conjunctiva.

Question 34Safety and Infection Control

A patient with Clostridioides difficile diarrhea contaminates the draw chair. Which disinfectant is appropriate?

  1. A chlorine bleach-based product labeled for C. difficile spores Correct answer.
  2. A quaternary ammonium wipe with a 10-second contact time
  3. An alcohol-based spray, because alcohol kills spores quickly
  4. Soap and water alone, because the chair is a noncritical surface that does not enter tissue

Explanation

C. difficile forms spores that survive alcohol and many routine disinfectants, so a chlorine bleach-based product labeled for spores is used with full contact time. Thorough mechanical cleaning comes first, because organic material protects spores from the disinfectant.

Question 35Safety and Infection Control

How should a reusable tourniquet be handled between patients?

  1. Rinse it under tap water and hang it to dry
  2. Shake it out and reuse it if no blood is visible
  3. Store it in the phlebotomy tray, because it does not touch the puncture site
  4. Clean it with a facility-approved disinfectant and allow the full contact time Correct answer.

Explanation

A tourniquet contacts intact skin and becomes contaminated with skin flora and occasionally blood, so it is cleaned with an approved disinfectant between patients and allowed to dry for the labeled contact time. Visible cleanliness is not a reliable indicator of contamination.

Question 36Safety and Infection Control

After a needlestick from a source patient with unknown HIV status, when should HIV post-exposure prophylaxis be started if it is indicated?

  1. After the employee completes the hepatitis B vaccine series
  2. Within the first month after the exposure
  3. As soon as possible, ideally within hours and no later than 72 hours Correct answer.
  4. Only after the source patient's test results are reported positive

Explanation

Prophylaxis is most effective when begun promptly, so it is started as soon as possible after exposure, ideally within hours and generally no later than 72 hours, while source testing is in progress. Waiting for a positive source result delays the window in which the drugs are most useful.

Question 37Safety and Infection Control

Which practice is acceptable in the specimen processing area?

  1. Keeping a covered coffee cup at the computer station inside the laboratory work area
  2. Eating and drinking only in a designated break area outside the work space Correct answer.
  3. Applying lip balm at the bench between specimens
  4. Storing a sealed water bottle in the refrigerator with reagents

Explanation

Eating, drinking, applying cosmetics, and handling contact lenses are prohibited in work areas where blood or other potentially infectious materials are present. These activities are confined to designated break areas away from specimens and contaminated surfaces. Sealed containers in a reagent refrigerator or covered cups at a bench still place food and drink in the exposure area.

Question 38Safety and Infection Control

An unvaccinated phlebotomist sustains a needlestick from a patient who is HBsAg positive. Which management is indicated?

  1. A booster dose of hepatitis B vaccine alone, with no immune globulin
  2. No treatment, because needlesticks rarely transmit hepatitis B
  3. Immune globulin plus starting the hepatitis B vaccine series Correct answer.
  4. A three-day course of antiviral medication started after antibody results return

Explanation

For a susceptible, unvaccinated worker exposed to hepatitis B surface antigen-positive blood, post-exposure care combines passive antibody with hepatitis B immune globulin and active immunization with the vaccine series. The decision is based on the worker's vaccination and antibody status plus the source's status, and it is made promptly rather than after a waiting period. Vaccine alone leaves the worker without immediate passive protection.

Question 39Safety and Infection Control

Under the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, what must the sharps injury log contain?

  1. The names of the source patient and the employee's supervisor
  2. The employee's hepatitis B vaccination status and the outcome of post-exposure follow-up testing
  3. The employee's home address and social security number
  4. The type and brand of device involved and the work area where the event occurred Correct answer.

Explanation

The sharps injury log is maintained to identify hazardous devices and high-risk locations, so it records the type and brand of device, the department or work area, and an explanation of how the incident occurred. Entries are kept confidential and are not a place for patient or employee identifiers or clinical follow-up details.

Question 40Safety and Infection Control

A phlebotomist has an open, weeping lesion on one hand. What is required before performing venipuncture?

  1. Apply lotion and cover the lesion with a small bandage
  2. Avoid direct patient contact until the lesion is healed or covered per policy Correct answer.
  3. Perform hand hygiene with an alcohol-based rub and draw without gloves on the unaffected hand
  4. Wear a single pair of exam gloves and proceed as usual

Explanation

Workers with exudative lesions or weeping dermatitis are restricted from direct patient care and from handling patient equipment until the condition resolves or is properly covered, because the lesion both sheds organisms and gives pathogens a portal of entry. A single glove or a simple bandage does not reliably contain drainage under a glove. Uncovered hands are never acceptable for invasive procedures.

Question 41Patient Identification, Preparation, and Communication

Before drawing blood from an inpatient, which pair of identifiers is acceptable for confirming identity?

  1. Room number and bed assignment
  2. Unit telephone number and admission date
  3. Diagnosis and attending physician
  4. Full name and date of birth Correct answer.

Explanation

Standard practice requires two patient-specific identifiers before any specimen collection. Acceptable choices include the patient's full name combined with date of birth or medical record number. Location, diagnosis, and clinician details are not unique to the patient and must never be used for identification.

Question 42Patient Identification, Preparation, and Communication

A requisition lists "Maria Gonzales, DOB 03/14/1978." The patient in the room gives her name as Maria Gonzales but states her birth date as 04/14/1978. What is the best action?

  1. Ask the patient to confirm her address so the difference can be settled
  2. Stop, do not draw, and resolve the discrepancy with the provider or nurse Correct answer.
  3. Draw the specimen and relabel the tubes with the corrected birth date
  4. Draw the specimen and note the discrepancy on the requisition

Explanation

When the stated identifiers do not match the requisition, the draw must be stopped until the discrepancy is resolved. Proceeding risks attaching a specimen to the wrong patient record, which can cause harm. The ordering provider or the nurse caring for the patient can clarify which record is correct.

Question 43Patient Identification, Preparation, and Communication

An inpatient is asleep when you arrive to collect a specimen. How should you verify identity?

  1. Wake the patient and ask them to state name and date of birth Correct answer.
  2. Compare the name on the door card with the requisition
  3. Read the armband without waking the patient
  4. Ask the roommate to confirm the patient's name

Explanation

A sleeping patient must be awakened so they can participate in identification. Ask the patient to state their full name and date of birth, then compare that with the armband. Reading the armband alone or relying on a roommate does not satisfy the two-identifier requirement.

Question 44Patient Identification, Preparation, and Communication

You must collect a specimen from an unconscious patient with no family present. How do you confirm identity?

  1. Match the armband and a second identifier confirmed with the nurse Correct answer.
  2. Use the name written on the room's whiteboard
  3. Ask the nurse to state the patient's name aloud
  4. Skip identification because the patient cannot respond

Explanation

When a patient cannot respond, identity is established from the armband plus a second identifier confirmed by a caregiver who knows the patient. The phlebotomist still performs the comparison rather than skipping it. Verbal information from staff without matching the armband is insufficient.

Question 45Patient Identification, Preparation, and Communication

A 3-year-old patient is accompanied by a parent. How should you confirm the child's identity?

  1. Match the armband and have the parent state name and birth date Correct answer.
  2. Use the child's stated name as the primary identifier for the draw
  3. Accept the parent's verbal confirmation in place of an armband check
  4. Rely on the room assignment printed at the top of the requisition

Explanation

For children, the armband is checked and the parent or guardian states the child's full name and birth date. A young child cannot be relied on as the primary source of identification. Verbal confirmation alone does not replace the armband check.

Question 46Patient Identification, Preparation, and Communication

Which instruction is correct for a patient who must fast before a lipid panel?

  1. Coffee without cream is allowed while fasting
  2. Plain water is permitted during the fasting period Correct answer.
  3. Avoid all fluids, including water, until the draw
  4. Chewing sugar-free gum is fine during the fast

Explanation

Fasting means abstaining from food and caloric beverages for the ordered interval, while plain water is allowed and even helps with vein access. Coffee, juice, gum, and mints can alter glucose and lipid results. Patients should be told explicitly that water is permitted.

Question 47Patient Identification, Preparation, and Communication

A patient scheduled for a 2-hour glucose tolerance test asks how to prepare. What should you tell them?

  1. Eat a normal breakfast in the morning and then begin the test right away
  2. Drink only fruit juice on the morning of the appointment
  3. Fast 8 to 12 hours and avoid smoking during the test Correct answer.
  4. Fast for a full 24 hours before arriving at the laboratory

Explanation

A glucose tolerance test requires an 8- to 12-hour fast, and smoking or caffeine can affect results, so patients should avoid them during the test. The fasting sample is drawn first, then the glucose load is given at timed intervals. Eating before the test invalidates the results.

Question 48Patient Identification, Preparation, and Communication

A physician orders a specimen to be drawn 30 minutes after a medication dose. What is the phlebotomist's best action?

  1. Draw at any point during the shift and note the delay
  2. Draw immediately and write the actual time on the requisition
  3. Ask the nurse to change the order to a random collection
  4. Confirm the dose time with nursing and draw at the specified interval Correct answer.

Explanation

Timed specimens must be collected within the specified window relative to the dose or event. The phlebotomist confirms the actual administration time with nursing and draws at the correct interval, documenting the exact collection time. Drawing early or late changes the interpretation of the result.

Question 49Patient Identification, Preparation, and Communication

When starting a 24-hour urine collection, what should the patient be instructed to do with the first specimen?

  1. Save it in the container along with all later samples
  2. Discard it, then collect all urine for the next 24 hours Correct answer.
  3. Keep it only if the collection begins before noon
  4. Freeze it separately from the rest of the collection

Explanation

The 24-hour collection begins after the patient voids and discards that first specimen, and the start time is recorded. All urine for the following 24 hours is collected, ending with a final void at the stop time. Including the first void would overestimate the analyte.

Question 50Patient Identification, Preparation, and Communication

A patient speaks limited English and the facility provides interpreter services. What is the best approach?

  1. Ask a bilingual coworker to interpret during the draw
  2. Have the patient's adult child interpret the instructions
  3. Use gestures and proceed without interpretation
  4. Arrange a qualified medical interpreter before the procedure Correct answer.

Explanation

Facilities must provide meaningful language access, which means using a qualified medical interpreter, in person or by phone or video. Untrained ad hoc interpreters, including family members and coworkers, can introduce errors and breach confidentiality. Preparation and fasting instructions are too important to convey through gestures.