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NHA CPTFree Certified Phlebotomy Technician practice test
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10 real NHA CPT practice questions with instant answers and explanations — no account, no credit card, no email. Score yourself, then unlock the full bank of 1,000 questions whenever you’re ready. The NHA CPT passing score is Scaled score of 390 (on a 200-500 scale).
According to the standard order of draw, which tube should be filled FIRST when a blood culture is ordered along with other routine chemistry and hematology tests?
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Q1. According to the standard order of draw, which tube should be filled FIRST when a blood culture is ordered along with other routine chemistry and hematology tests?
Correct answer: A. The blood culture bottle (yellow, SPS additive)
Blood culture bottles are always collected first to minimize the risk of contamination from other additives or skin flora carried over on the needle.
Q2. Which vein is generally the first choice for venipuncture because it is large, well-anchored in the antecubital fossa, and less likely to cause complications?
Correct answer: C. Median cubital vein
The median cubital vein is typically larger, more stable, and less painful to puncture than nearby veins, making it the preferred first choice.
Q3. The lavender-top tube contains which additive, making it the standard tube used for a complete blood count (CBC)?
Correct answer: B. EDTA
EDTA binds calcium to prevent clotting while preserving cell morphology, which is why it is the anticoagulant of choice for hematology testing.
Q4. A gray-top tube containing sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate is primarily used for which type of test?
Correct answer: D. Glucose testing
Sodium fluoride inhibits glycolysis so glucose values remain stable in the tube, and potassium oxalate acts as the anticoagulant.
Q5. Which needle gauge range is most commonly used for routine venipuncture on an adult patient with normal veins?
Correct answer: C. 20-22 gauge
A 20-22 gauge needle is wide enough to allow adequate blood flow while remaining appropriate for most adult veins during routine draws.
Q6. Why should a phlebotomist gently invert an additive tube several times rather than shaking it vigorously after collection?
Correct answer: A. Vigorous shaking can cause hemolysis and foaming that affect test results
Vigorous agitation ruptures red blood cells, causing hemolysis and foam that can interfere with many laboratory assays.
Q7. The basilic vein is typically used only as a last resort for venipuncture because it...
Correct answer: D. lies close to the brachial artery and median nerve, increasing risk of injury
The basilic vein runs near the brachial artery and median nerve, so an errant puncture carries a higher risk of nerve damage or arterial puncture.
Q8. The light blue-top tube used for coagulation testing such as PT/INR contains which anticoagulant?
Correct answer: B. Sodium citrate
Sodium citrate reversibly binds calcium, preserving the coagulation cascade for accurate PT and PTT testing when the plasma is later recalcified.
Q9. To reduce the risk of hemoconcentration affecting laboratory results, a tourniquet should generally not remain applied for longer than approximately...
Correct answer: C. 1 minute
Leaving a tourniquet on too long causes fluid shifts out of the vessel, concentrating cells and analytes and skewing results; about one minute is the accepted limit.
Q10. Standard precautions require that a phlebotomist treat all patient blood and body fluids as...
Correct answer: B. Potentially infectious regardless of the patient's diagnosis
Standard precautions assume every specimen and body fluid could carry a pathogen, so the same protective measures apply to every patient.
Exam facts and objectives sourced from the official NHA (National Healthcareer Association) certification page. Last reviewed June 2026.
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