NHA Module 8

Typical size of vacutainer needles

20 to 22 cause with length of ¾ inch to 1 ½ inches

Number of inversions for the red/grey marbled vacuum tube

5

Maximum amount of time allowed to leave tornquet on

1 min

Preferred puncture sites for obtaining capillary puncture

Middle or ring finger of the non dominant hand for adults and children; underside of the heel for infants

Order of draw for micro capillary tube

Blood gases

EDTA tubes

Other additive tubes

Serum tubes

Amount of time a tube must stand upright before being centrifuged

30 to 45 minutes to allow blood to clot

Examples of pre analytical errors

Mislabeling of specimens, errors in patient identification, mislabeling of specimens tubes, sample collection errors, insufficient quantity for testing and incorrect handling or transportation processes

Additive in light blue vacuum tube

Sodium citrate

Color of tube required for a complete blood count (CBC)

Lavender

Order of draw for vacuum tubes

Blood cultures, light blue, red, red/gray, green, green/gray, lavender, gray

Position of the bevel when performing phlebotomy

Facing upward

Main components of blood

Plasma, white cells, red cells and platelets

Four types of blood specimens

Serum, plasma, clotted and whole blood

Which of the following is the preferred alcohol concentrator for disinviting the skin prior to phlebotomy test?

70%

In which of the following places should a MA first attempt to locate vein

Antecubital space

Which of the following is the appropriate needle size when using a butterfly system

22- gauge, ½ inch

How should light sensitive samples be prepared for transport?

They should be wrapped in foil

Which of the following color tubes should be drawn first?

Red

How long should serum specimens be allowed to clot prior to centrifugation?

30 minutes

A clinic has just received laboratory results for a patient indicating an error with the sample. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take first?

Forward the results and alert the ordering provider

How many times should an EDTA tube be inverted?

8 to 10 times

How should critical laboratory values be handled when they are received at the office?

Report the critical values to the provider right away and documentation that the provider was notified

A MA is preparing to centrifuge a blood sample when they notice the centrifuge is 3 months overdue for calibration. Which following actions should the MA take?

Notify the laboratory supervisor and use another device

Which of the following additives is found in light blue blood tubes?

Sodium citrate

Which of the following steps should a MA take if they are unsure which tube to use when obtaining blood specimen?

Consult the laboratory reference manual

A MA is preforming a phlebotomy draw on a patient who reports feeling lightheaded and restless. Which following action should the MA take?

Stop the procedure and alert provider

which of the following questions should a MA ask a patient prior to obtaining a blood specimen for a lipid panel?

When was the last time you had anything to eat or drink?

While preparing the phlebotomy equipment for a blood draw, the MA notices the patient appears very anxious. Which of the following questions should the assistant ask the patient to ensure the patient’s safety?

Have you ever fainted during a phlebotomy test?

Which of the following is a post analytical consideration in phlebotomy?

improper data entry

Which of the following is the minimum amount of time a MA should instruct a patient to leave their bandage in place following a phlebotomy or capillary puncture?

15 min

Which of the following often requires chain of custody documentation?

Drug screening

Which of the following information should be included in a laboratory requisition form?

Diagnosis codes

Which of the following is a characteristic of collecting timed specimens?

They monitor therapeutic medication levels