NHA Phlebotomy Technician Certification Exam (CPT) Exam Phlebotomy-Technician Exam Questions

The appropriate dermal puncture site on an infant is the medial or lateral plantar surface of the heel. These areas reduce the risk of puncturing bone and provide suitable capillary blood flow for neonatal testing. The posterior curvature of the heel should be avoided because the bone may be close to the surface, increasing risk of osteomyelitis or injury. The arch of the foot is not an approved puncture site and may damage nerves, tendons, or deeper structures. The tip of the index finger is inappropriate for infants because there is insufficient tissue depth and greater risk of bone injury. Correct infant dermal puncture also requires using an age-appropriate lancet depth, warming the site if needed, cleaning and drying the skin, wiping away the first drop when required, avoiding excessive squeezing, and collecting specimens in the correct order. Infant blood volume is limited, so collection volume must be minimized. Reference topics: Special Collections; infant heel puncture; dermal puncture sites; neonatal safety; osteomyelitis prevention.

A prothrombin time/INR test evaluates the extrinsic and common coagulation pathways and is commonly used to monitor anticoagulant therapy, especially warfarin. Therefore, when a PT/INR point-of-care result is critically abnormal, the medication category most expected on the patient’s list is anticoagulants. Anticoagulants interfere with clot formation and can prolong PT/INR values, creating an increased bleeding risk if outside the therapeutic range. Opioids are analgesics and do not directly monitor through PT/INR. Antidiabetics are associated with glucose monitoring, not coagulation testing. Statins are lipid-lowering medications and are usually monitored through lipid panels and liver-related considerations, not PT/INR. A critical PT/INR value must be handled according to facility policy, documented accurately, and reported through the correct clinical pathway; the phlebotomist does not interpret or treat the result independently. The NHA CPT outline covers point-of-care testing, critical values for POC and CLIA-waived testing, hemostasis, coagulation, and reporting requirements. Reference topics: Special Collections; point-of-care testing; hemostasis and coagulation; critical value reporting.

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A small blood spill should be cleaned using an approved disinfectant according to facility policy. Blood is treated as potentially infectious, so spill response requires gloves, appropriate PPE, containment, removal of visible material, disinfection with correct contact time, and proper disposal of contaminated materials. Dry gauze alone does not disinfect the surface and can spread contamination. Air freshener has no disinfection role. Covering the spill and leaving it to dry is unsafe because dried blood may still represent a contamination hazard and creates exposure risk for staff and patients. The specific disinfectant may vary by facility, but it must be appropriate for bloodborne pathogens and used as directed. The phlebotomist must also avoid direct hand contact, dispose of materials in designated biohazard waste when required, and perform hand hygiene after glove removal. This question tests standard precautions, environmental safety, and infection-control discipline. Reference topics: Safety and Compliance; blood spill cleanup; disinfectants; standard precautions; biohazard waste.

The best site for phenylketonuria, or PKU, collection on an infant is the medial or lateral plantar surface of the heel. PKU screening is a newborn metabolic screening test commonly collected by heel stick onto filter paper. The medial and lateral heel areas are selected because they provide adequate capillary blood flow while reducing the risk of puncturing bone. The central area of the heel is unsafe because the calcaneus may be closer to the puncture site, increasing the risk of bone injury or osteomyelitis. Fingertip puncture is inappropriate for infants because the tissue is small, bone is close to the surface, and the site does not provide the recommended specimen collection area for newborn screening. Proper PKU collection also requires warming the heel when indicated, allowing blood to flow freely, filling filter-paper circles completely from one side, avoiding layering, and allowing the specimen to dry properly before transport. NHA CPT special collection content includes collecting blood for metabolic syndromes such as PKU, filter-paper collection techniques, pediatric considerations, and minimum/maximum volume requirements. Reference topics: Special Collections; PKU collection; infant heel puncture; filter-paper specimen collection.

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The vein is anchored by placing the thumb of the free hand below the intended puncture site and gently pulling the skin taut. This stabilizes the vein, reduces rolling, creates a firmer puncture surface, and supports accurate needle entry. Anchoring above the site is unsafe because it places the phlebotomist’s hand in the direction of needle travel and increases needlestick risk. Using two fingers instead of the thumb provides less controlled traction and may interfere with the venipuncture angle or contaminate the prepared site. The phlebotomist should avoid touching the cleansed puncture site after antisepsis unless the site is re-cleansed. Proper anchoring is especially important for superficial or mobile veins because failure to stabilize the vein can cause missed access, hematoma formation, probing, patient discomfort, or specimen collection failure. The NHA CPT outline identifies anchoring the vein below the venipuncture site and knowledge of anchoring techniques as routine venipuncture competencies. Reference topics: Routine Blood Collections; site selection; anchoring below venipuncture site; venous anatomy and safe insertion technique.

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