Order of Draw

SECTION 1 — VENIPUNCTURE ORDER OF DRAW

1. Which tube is drawn FIRST in venipuncture?

A. Red
B. Light blue
C. Yellow-top (SPS) / Blood cultures
D. Lavender

Correct Answer: C

2. Which of the following is the correct venipuncture order of draw?

A. Yellow → Light Blue → Red → Green → Lavender → Gray
B. Light Blue → Yellow → Red → Lavender → Gray → Green
C. Red → Lavender → Yellow → Green → Gray
D. Yellow → Red → Green → Lavender → Light Blue → Gray

Correct Answer: A

3. Why must the order of draw be followed?

A. To reduce patient pain
B. To prevent additive carryover and inaccurate results
C. To shorten procedure time
D. To improve tube vacuum fill

Correct Answer: B

4. Which tube MUST be filled completely?

A. Lavender
B. Red
C. Light blue
D. Green

Correct Answer: C (Coagulation ratio must remain accurate.)

5. Which tube is drawn immediately AFTER the light blue?

A. Green
B. Red
C. Lavender
D. Gray

Correct Answer: B (Serum tube after coag.)

6. Which tube is drawn LAST in venipuncture?

A. Green
B. Lavender
C. Gray
D. Red

Correct Answer: C (Gray = last)

7. Which three tubes correctly represent the first 3 in venipuncture?

A. Light Blue → Lavender → Gray
B. Yellow → Light Blue → Red
C. Red → Lavender → Green
D. Green → Lavender → Gray

Correct Answer: B

8. If the phlebotomist draws a lavender tube before a light blue tube, what must happen?

A. Continue testing
B. Shake tubes more aggressively
C. Redraw the light blue tube
D. Add saline to the tube

Correct Answer: C (EDTA carryover invalidates coag results.)

SECTION 2 — BLOOD CULTURE ORDER OF DRAW

9. When collecting blood cultures using a butterfly needle, which bottle is filled FIRST?

A. Anaerobic
B. Aerobic
C. Lavender
D. Red

Correct Answer: B (Air in tubing makes aerobic first.)

10. Why must blood cultures be drawn before all other tubes?

A. To prevent hemolysis
B. To avoid contamination
C. To reduce clotting
D. To speed up processing

Correct Answer: B

11. Blood culture bottles contain which additive?

A. EDTA
B. SST gel
C. Broth / Sodium polyanethol sulfonate
D. Sodium citrate

Correct Answer: C

SECTION 3 — DERMAL / CAPILLARY ORDER OF DRAW

(From your microtainer chart)
Lavender → Green → Gray → Gold → Red

12. What is the FIRST tube in dermal/capillary order of draw?

A. Red
B. Gray
C. Lavender
D. Gold

Correct Answer: C

13. What is the correct dermal order of draw?

A. Red → Gray → Lavender → Green → Gold
B. Lavender → Green → Gray → Gold → Red
C. Green → Lavender → Gray → Red → Gold
D. Gold → Lavender → Green → Red → Gray

Correct Answer: B

14. Why is lavender (EDTA) collected first during dermal puncture?

A. It clots the fastest
B. To prevent microclots affecting hematology results
C. It needs more blood
D. It prevents hemolysis

Correct Answer: B

15. Which tube is collected LAST in a dermal puncture?

A. Gold
B. Gray
C. Lavender
D. Red

Correct Answer: D

16. Which capillary tube contains lithium heparin?

A. Lavender
B. Green
C. Gold
D. Red

Correct Answer: B

17. Which microtainer contains a clot activator?

A. Gray
B. Gold
C. Lavender
D. Green

Correct Answer: B

SECTION 4 — ADDITIVES

18. What additive is in the light blue tube?

A. Heparin
B. EDTA
C. Sodium citrate
D. Sodium fluoride

Correct Answer: C

19. Lavender tubes contain:

A. Heparin
B. EDTA
C. Sodium fluoride
D. Silica

Correct Answer: B

20. Green tubes contain:

A. EDTA
B. Sodium fluoride
C. Heparin
D. SPS

Correct Answer: C

21. The gray tube contains:

A. Silica + gel
B. Sodium fluoride + potassium oxalate
C. EDTA
D. Heparin

Correct Answer: B

22. The red tube contains which additive?

A. Heparin
B. No additive
C. EDTA
D. Sodium citrate

Correct Answer: B (Plain serum)

23. Which tube contains silica particles to enhance clotting?

A. Lavender
B. Red/gray marbled (SST)
C. Gray
D. Light blue

Correct Answer: B (SST clot activator)

SECTION 5 — TUBE USES & DEPARTMENTS

24. Light blue tubes are used for:

A. Chemistry
B. Coagulation
C. Hematology
D. Blood bank

Correct Answer: B

25. Lavender tubes are used for:

A. Coagulation studies
B. Blood cultures
C. Hematology (CBC)
D. Chemistry panels

Correct Answer: C

26. Green tubes are used for:

A. Hematology
B. Blood bank
C. Plasma chemistry tests
D. Coagulation

Correct Answer: C

27. Gray tubes are used for:

A. Glucose & alcohol testing
B. CBC
C. Blood cultures
D. Electrolytes

Correct Answer: A

28. Red tubes are used for:

A. Hematology
B. Microbiology
C. Serum chemistry & immunology
D. Glucose testing

Correct Answer: C

29. Yellow-top SPS tubes are used for:

A. Coagulation
B. Blood cultures
C. Serum chemistry
D. Electrolytes

Correct Answer: B

30. SST tubes are most commonly used in which department?

A. Microbiology
B. Chemistry
C. Hematology
D. Urinalysis

Correct Answer: B

SECTION 6 — INVERSION REQUIREMENTS

31. Light blue tubes require how many inversions?

A. 2
B. 3–4
C. 5
D. 8–10

Correct Answer: B

32. Lavender tubes require how many inversions?

A. 2
B. 5
C. 8
D. 10

Correct Answer: C (8)

33. Green tubes require:

A. 5 inversions
B. 8 inversions
C. 10 inversions
D. No mixing

Correct Answer: B (8)

34. Gray tubes require:

A. 3–4 inversions
B. 5
C. 8–10 inversions
D. No inversion

Correct Answer: C

SECTION 7 — SAMPLE TYPES & PROCESSING

35. Which tubes yield serum after centrifugation?

A. SST, Red
B. Lavender, Gray
C. Green, Light blue
D. Gray only

Correct Answer: A

36. Plasma tubes can be centrifuged:

A. Immediately
B. After 30 minutes
C. After 1 hour
D. Only after clotting

Correct Answer: A (Anticoagulant prevents clotting.)

37. Serum tubes must clot for:

A. 5 minutes
B. 10 minutes
C. 30–60 minutes
D. 2 hours

Correct Answer: C

SECTION 8 — TUBE ERRORS & FACTORS

38. What happens with expired tubes?

A. They fill faster
B. They lose vacuum & additive potency
C. They reduce hemolysis
D. They increase white cell count

Correct Answer: B

39. EDTA carryover would falsely:

A. Increase calcium
B. Decrease calcium
C. Increase potassium
D. Lower glucose

Correct Answer: B (EDTA binds calcium.)

40. Underfilling the light blue tube causes:

A. Faster clotting
B. Incorrect anticoagulant ratio
C. Better accuracy
D. Plasma hemolysis

Correct Answer: B

SECTION 9 — COMBINED PRACTICE SCENARIOS

41. Which tubes are needed for CMP, CBC, PT/INR, and glucose?

A. Lavender → Gray → Light blue
B. Light blue → SST → Green → Lavender → Gray
C. Red → Lavender only
D. Green → Gray only

Correct Answer: B (Matches standard order.)

42. Which tube is correct for CBC?

A. Red
B. Lavender
C. Green
D. Gray

Correct Answer: B

43. Which tube is used for alcohol testing?

A. Lavender
B. Light blue
C. Gray
D. Green

Correct Answer: C

44. For coagulation studies, which tube is required?

A. Red
B. Light blue
C. Lavender
D. Green

Correct Answer: B

45. For blood cultures, how much blood is needed for an adult set?

A. 5 mL
B. 10–15 mL total
C. 20–30 mL total
D. 40 mL

Correct Answer: C (Split into aerobic + anaerobic.)

46. Which antiseptic is acceptable for blood culture collection?

A. Alcohol only
B. Povidone‑iodine or chlorhexidine
C. Soap and water
D. Sterile saline

Correct Answer: B

47. SST tubes are identified by:

A. Blue stopper
B. Gel separator
C. No additive
D. Fluoride additive

Correct Answer: B

48. Which tube is common for plasma chemistry tests?

A. Green
B. Lavender
C. Red
D. Gray

Correct Answer: A (Heparin)

49. Why is red last in dermal order of draw?

A. It clots too fast
B. It is not affected by additives
C. It is required for blood cultures
D. It must be kept warm

Correct Answer: B

50. Which tube is used for serum chemistry testing when a gel is needed?

A. Gray
B. Lavender
C. SST / Red‑gray
D. Light blue

Correct Answer: C