1. Which of the following is the capital of the United States?
A. Washington, DC Correct
B. New York, NY
C. Chicago, IL
D. Los Angeles, CA
Explanation
Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States. This is a factual general knowledge question.
2. A phlebotomist is planning to collect a specimen to measure a patient's serum cortisol level. Which of the following factors should the phlebotomist consider?
A. Body temperature
B. Time of day Correct
C. Alcohol consumption
D. Prandial status
Explanation
Cortisol levels exhibit diurnal variation, meaning they fluctuate throughout the day, typically being highest in the morning and lowest at night. Therefore, the time of day the sample is collected is a critical factor for accurate interpretation of serum cortisol levels.
3. Which of the following processes occurs after a venipuncture to control the bleeding?
A. Homeostasis
B. Hemostasis Correct
C. Hematopoiesis
D. Hemoconcentration
Explanation
Hemostasis is the physiological process that stops bleeding, involving vasoconstriction, platelet plug formation, and coagulation. After venipuncture, the body's hemostatic mechanisms are activated to form a clot and stop blood loss. Homeostasis is the body's overall balance, hematopoiesis is blood cell formation, and hemoconcentration is increased blood component concentration due to fluid loss.
4. Which of the following locations should a phlebotomist use to anchor a vein during a venipuncture using the evacuated tube method?
A. 1 to 2 inches below the puncture site Correct
B. 1 to 2 inches above the puncture site
C. 2 inches left of the puncture site
D. 1 inch right of the puncture site
Explanation
When anchoring a vein during venipuncture, the phlebotomist should place their thumb (or fingers) 1 to 2 inches below the intended puncture site. This pulls the skin taut, straightens the vein, and helps to stabilize it, preventing it from rolling.
5. After anchoring the vein, which of the following actions should the phlebotomist take next?
A. Clean the site.
B. Perform the procedure. Correct
C. Examine the needle.
D. Reapply the tourniquet.
Explanation
After anchoring the vein to stabilize it, the next immediate step is to perform the venipuncture procedure, which involves inserting the needle into the vein. Cleaning the site and applying the tourniquet would have occurred before anchoring. Examining the needle is done before insertion.