Important NHA Phlebotomy-Technician Exam Questions

Answer: C

Explanation:

A nearly full sharps container increases the risk for a needlestick because contaminated needles or other sharps may protrude, rebound, or be difficult to place safely into the container. Sharps containers must be puncture-resistant, leak-resistant, properly labeled or color-coded, kept upright, and replaced before they become overfilled. OSHA specifically warns not to allow sharps containers to overfill and requires routine replacement to reduce sharps injury risk. A tight tourniquet can cause patient discomfort, hemoconcentration, or venous obstruction, but it is not the best answer for needlestick risk. A 22-gauge needle is commonly used for routine venipuncture, especially for smaller veins, and is not inherently unsafe. A transfer device used with the syringe method is actually a safety control because it prevents the phlebotomist from manually pushing blood through a needle into evacuated tubes. NHA CPT safety content includes bloodborne pathogens, sharps safety, OSHA standards, exposure control, and safe disposal of contaminated equipment. Reference topics: Safety and Compliance; OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard; sharps disposal; needlestick prevention.

==========

Answer: C

Explanation:

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.

Answer: C

Explanation:

The correct source is the Safety Data Sheet. An SDS provides chemical-specific information about hazards, exposure controls, personal protective equipment, first aid, spill response, handling, storage, and disposal. During a chemical splash, the phlebotomist must follow facility policy immediately, use the eyewash or shower if indicated, notify appropriate personnel, and consult the SDS for the exact chemical involved. Current Procedural Terminology is a medical coding system and has no role in chemical exposure response. The CDC provides infection-control guidance, but it is not the primary document for a specific chemical's hazard and first-aid requirements. OSHA establishes workplace safety regulations, including hazard communication expectations, but the SDS is the actual document used at the point of exposure for chemical-specific instructions. NHA CPT safety content includes workplace safety regulations, exposure control protocols, reporting requirements, PPE, and biohazard or chemical safety practices. OSHA also describes SDSs as documents containing chemical properties, hazards, protective measures, and safety precautions. Reference topics: Safety and Compliance; chemical exposure; SDS; OSHA hazard communication.

==========

Answer: A

Explanation:

The phlebotomist should contact the provider for approval. After a mastectomy, especially radical mastectomy with lymph node involvement, venipuncture on the affected side is generally avoided because impaired lymphatic drainage can increase risk for lymphedema, infection, delayed healing, and patient complications. With a bilateral radical mastectomy, both arms may be restricted, so the phlebotomist should not independently choose an alternate arm vein. Drawing from an ulnar vein is not a standard solution and could still be in a restricted extremity. Requesting surgical outpatient records is not the immediate collection action and does not provide authorization to proceed. Obtaining a specimen from the subclavian vein is outside the phlebotomist's routine scope and would be a provider-level invasive procedure. The correct approach is to pause, follow facility policy, notify the nurse or provider, and obtain explicit direction for an approved site or alternate collection method. Reference topics: Routine Blood Collections; site contraindications; mastectomy precautions; provider communication; patient safety.

==========

Answer: C

Explanation:

A specimen requiring immediate processing should be delivered or processed according to stat or time-sensitive protocol. Some analytes degrade rapidly, some cells change after collection, and some tests depend on strict timing. Leaving the specimen until the next courier pickup may cause inaccurate results or rejection. Marking it routine ignores the priority and may delay care. Refrigerating it overnight is inappropriate unless specifically required, and even then it would not satisfy immediate processing. The phlebotomist must recognize priority indicators such as STAT, timed, fasting, peak/trough, chilled, protected-from-light, and immediate-spin requirements. The responsibility does not end when blood enters the tube. Specimen integrity depends on timely transport, correct temperature, proper centrifugation, and accurate documentation. If a delay occurs, the phlebotomist should communicate it according to facility policy rather than silently submitting a compromised specimen. Reference topics: Processing Specimens; stat specimens; time-sensitive processing; transport priority; specimen stability.