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Special handling practice questions

27 questions from the phlebotomy technician practice test.

Special handling practice test

10 questions, graded as you go, with the reason for every answer. No sign-up.

What this covers

Sample questions

What is the main purpose of the extra skin preparation done before blood cultures are collected?

  1. To make the vein easier to see and feel through the skin
  2. To keep skin bacteria from contaminating the culture
  3. To stop the blood from clotting in the bottle
  4. To numb the skin, since more blood is collected
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B. To keep skin bacteria from contaminating the culture

Bacteria that normally live on the skin can enter the bottle and grow, giving a false positive that may lead to unneeded antibiotics. Careful antisepsis with friction and full drying time keeps the contamination rate down.

Reference: CLSI M47: blood culture collection

Blood cultures are being collected with a winged infusion (butterfly) set. Which bottle is filled first?

  1. The anaerobic bottle, because those organisms die off soonest
  2. Either bottle, because the tubing holds no air before the draw
  3. The aerobic bottle, because air in the tubing enters the first bottle
  4. The anaerobic bottle, because it needs the larger volume of blood
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C. The aerobic bottle, because air in the tubing enters the first bottle

The tubing of a butterfly set contains air that is drawn into the first bottle, and air would harm organisms that grow only without oxygen, so the aerobic bottle goes first. With a syringe there is no such air, so the anaerobic bottle is commonly filled first.

Reference: CLSI M47: blood culture collection

After the blood culture site has been scrubbed with antiseptic, the phlebotomist needs to feel for the vein again. What must be done?

  1. Nothing more; a clean gloved finger does not contaminate a prepared site at all
  2. Wipe the site once with dry sterile gauze after touching it
  3. Clean the gloved fingertip the same way as the site, or repeat the site prep
  4. Blow gently on the site so that it dries again more quickly
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C. Clean the gloved fingertip the same way as the site, or repeat the site prep

Non-sterile gloves carry organisms, so touching the prepared site recontaminates it. If the vein must be felt again, the fingertip is cleaned with the same antiseptic, or the site is prepared again.

Reference: CLSI M47: blood culture collection

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