NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician Certification Examination Practice Test
The NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician Certification Examination practice page covers venous and capillary blood collection, specimen handling, and patient safety. Its questions sample practical decisions such as verifying patient identifiers, selecting an appropriate collection site, responding to complications, and preparing specimens for accurate laboratory testing.
Exam overview
About the NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician Certification Examination Exam
Phlebotomy work requires matching the patient, requisition, and specimen labels; choosing a suitable site; and collecting blood with attention to order of draw and tube additives. Collection decisions also involve recognizing when a site is unsuitable, applying infection-prevention procedures, and responding promptly to a hematoma or needlestick exposure. Capillary collection calls for appropriate puncture technique and specimen handling. After collection, correct tube mixing, labeling, and transport help protect specimen integrity. Patient-facing skills include explaining collection procedures clearly while keeping test interpretation and result communication within the appropriate clinical role. These practice questions sample the judgment involved in carrying out routine collection tasks safely and identifying actions that may compromise a specimen or patient safety.
Sample Practice Questions
Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.
After collecting a specimen in a tube containing an additive, which action helps ensure the additive is distributed appropriately?
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Correct answer: AAdditive tubes are typically mixed by gentle inversion according to manufacturer or laboratory instructions. Vigorous shaking can damage blood cells, while inadequate mixing can cause clotting or other specimen problems.
A patient asks why the blood collection area is cleaned between patients. Which explanation is most accurate?
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Correct answer: BCleaning and disinfection of shared surfaces help reduce cross-contamination and transmission of infectious agents. Environmental cleaning complements, rather than replaces, hand hygiene.
During venipuncture, a hematoma begins to form around the puncture site. What should the phlebotomist do?
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Correct answer: BA developing hematoma indicates blood is leaking into surrounding tissue. Stop the collection, release the tourniquet, remove the needle, and apply firm pressure; follow facility procedures and document or report as required.
Before collecting a specimen, a phlebotomist sees that the test requisition and the patient’s wristband show different medical record numbers. What should the phlebotomist do?
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Correct answer: BA mismatch between patient identifiers must be resolved before collection so the specimen is not attributed to the wrong person. Follow facility procedures and obtain corrected documentation or identification before proceeding.
A patient has an arteriovenous fistula in one arm for dialysis. Which site should the phlebotomist select for a routine venipuncture?
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Correct answer: CRoutine venipuncture should generally be avoided in an arm with a dialysis access. Use the other arm when appropriate and follow facility policy or seek guidance if no suitable alternative exists.
A patient is scheduled for a complete blood count and a prothrombin time. Which tube should generally be filled first?
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Correct answer: AWhen collecting these tubes by venipuncture, the coagulation tube is collected before the EDTA tube to reduce the risk that additive carryover affects coagulation testing.
During a capillary collection, the first drop of blood forms after the puncture. What is generally recommended before collecting the specimen?
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Correct answer: AThe first drop may contain tissue fluid or residual skin antiseptic, so it is generally wiped away with clean gauze before collection. Excessive squeezing should be avoided because it can affect specimen quality.
How to use this practice test
Access is free. A practice session draws up to 20 random questions from the 50-question bank, covering topics such as collection technique, specimen handling, and safety. Results appear after the session, so use missed items to identify which procedural decisions or terminology need further review.
Preparation tips
- Compare identifiers on the requisition and patient wristband before collection; practice identifying discrepancies that require resolution before proceeding.
- Review routine venipuncture site selection, including situations where an arm or site should be avoided, such as an arm with an arteriovenous fistula.
- Practice the order of draw for common tubes and connect it to the additives or tests each tube supports.
- Review responses to collection complications and exposure events, including hematoma formation and a needlestick from a used device.
- Rehearse capillary collection and post-collection tube handling, including when additive-containing tubes require mixing.