Phlebotomy Assessment/Quiz (Blood, Health Sciences, Medical Assistant, Nursing) - Free Printable

Let's go through each question in the Phlebotomy Assessment and provide the correct answer with a clear explanation.

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1. Which of the following anticoagulants would be found in a light blue vacutainer tube?

a. EDTA
b. Sodium oxalate
c. Sodium citrate
d. Lithium heparin

✔ Correct Answer: c. Sodium citrate

Explanation:
The light blue top vacutainer tube contains sodium citrate, which is used as an anticoagulant primarily for coagulation studies (e.g., PT/INR, aPTT). It works by binding calcium ions, which are essential for the clotting process.

- EDTA is in lavender-top tubes.
- Sodium oxalate is rarely used today and not standard in common tubes.
- Lithium heparin is in green-top tubes.

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2. You are asked to draw blood in the antecubital space. Which of the following veins are found here?

a. Cephalic
b. Median cubital
c. Basilica
d. All of the above

✔ Correct Answer: d. All of the above

Explanation:
The antecubital fossa (the area on the front of the elbow) contains three main veins commonly used for venipuncture:
- Cephalic vein – runs along the thumb side of the arm.
- Median cubital vein – connects cephalic and basilic veins; often the most accessible.
- Basilic vein – runs along the little finger side of the arm.

These are the primary sites for routine venipuncture.

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3. A lavender topped venipuncture tube contains which of the following?

a. Sodium citrate
b. EDTA
c. Heparin
d. Potassium oxalate

✔ Correct Answer: b. EDTA

Explanation:
The lavender-top tube contains EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), which is an anticoagulant that binds calcium and prevents clotting. It is commonly used for complete blood counts (CBC) and other hematology tests.

- Sodium citrate → Light blue top
- Heparin → Green top
- Potassium oxalate → Gray or pink top (used for glucose testing)

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4. Sealed or locked specimen transfer bags are used as part of which of the following?

a. Chain of custody
b. Plasma thawing
c. Clotting of blood
d. Routine urinalysis

✔ Correct Answer: a. Chain of custody

Explanation:
Sealed or locked specimen transfer bags are used in forensic or legal situations (such as DUI testing) to maintain the chain of custody. This ensures that the specimen is not tampered with and can be legally admissible in court.

- These bags prevent unauthorized access and document who handled the sample.
- They are not used for plasma thawing, clotting, or routine urinalysis.

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5. Which of the following is the proper cleansing agent used for a venipuncture to be performed on a patient suspected of drunk driving?

a. Benzalkonium chloride
b. 70% isopropyl alcohol
c. Povidone-iodine
d. Chlorhexidine gluconate

✔ Correct Answer: b. 70% isopropyl alcohol

Explanation:
For patients suspected of drunk driving (DUI), the preferred cleansing agent is 70% isopropyl alcohol because it does not contain alcohol that could contaminate the blood sample and skew ethanol levels.

- Alcohol-based solutions like povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine may contain trace amounts of alcohol or have potential for contamination.
- Benzalkonium chloride is not typically used for skin antisepsis in phlebotomy.
- 70% isopropyl alcohol is effective at disinfecting without interfering with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) testing.

> ⚠️ Note: Some protocols use chlorhexidine if available, but isopropyl alcohol remains standard in many forensic settings due to its non-interference with ethanol analysis.

However, if the options include both chlorhexidine and isopropyl alcohol, 70% isopropyl alcohol is generally accepted as the best choice for DUI testing.

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✔ Final Answers Summary:

| Question | Correct Answer |
|--------|----------------|
| 1 | c. Sodium citrate |
| 2 | d. All of the above |
| 3 | b. EDTA |
| 4 | a. Chain of custody |
| 5 | b. 70% isopropyl alcohol |

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