Which instance most closely resembles basal state? A patient who has…

a) been lying down for an hour

b) just arrived for a fasting blood test

c) just awakened at 0600 after fasting all night

d) worked all night but did not eat at work

You must draw a pro time specimen from a patient with IVs in both arms. Which of the following is the best thing to do? Draw the specimen…

a) above an IV

b) below an IV

c) from an ankle vein

d) from an IV

It is not a good idea to collect a CBC specimen from a screaming infant because the…

a) platelets are more likely to clump

b) specimen will be hemoconcentrated

c) specimen will be more likely to hemolyze

d) white blood count may be falsely elevated

You have no choice but to draw a specimen from a site with a hematoma. Where should obtain the specimen?

a) distal to the hematoma

b) in the area of the hematoma

c) proximal to the hematoma

d) none of the options is correct

Prolonged tourniquet application may cause a change in blood composition primarily because of…

a) hemoconcentration

b) hemoglobin

c) hemolysis

d) homeostasis

Which of the following vascular access devices is placed in a peripheral vein for the purpose of blood collection and administration of medication?

a) fistula

b) heparin lock

c) implanted port

d) PICC

A phlebotomist has attempted twice to draw a partial thromboplastin time (PTT) specimen from a patient with difficult veins. Both times the phlebotomist has been able to draw only a partial tube. What should the phlebotomist do?

a) collect the specimen by skin puncture

b) have another phlebotomist attempt to draw the specimen

c) pour the two tubes together and mix well

d) submit the fullest tube for testing, noting the draw was difficult

Why do pregnant patients have lower reference ranges for red blood cell counts?

a) body fluid increases in pregnancy, dilute red blood cells

b) constant nausea leads to hemoconcentration of the blood

c) poor appetite leads to transient anemia

d) the growing fetus uses up the mother's iron reserves

Levels of this analyte can differ by 50% or more between morning and late afternoon.

a) BUN

b) CBC

c) Cortisol

d) Sodium

Which instance may lead you to suspect that you have accidentally punctured an artery?

a) a hematoma starts to form instantly

b) the blood obtained is dark red

c) the blood pulses into the tube

d) there is no way to tell

If blood is drawn too quickly from a small vein, the vein will have a tendency to…

a) bruise

b) collapse

c) disintegrate

d) roll

How long before obtaining blood for testing should drugs known to interfere with blood tests be discontinued?

a) 1 to 4 hours

b) 4 to 24 hours

c) 24 to 36 hours

d) 48 to 72 hours

A fistula is a(n)…

a) implanted port attached to an indwelling line

b) permanent fusion of an artery and a vein

c) special winged infusion set left in a patient's arm

d) temporary fusion of an artery and a vein

When a test requires a fasting specimen, but the serum is _____________, it is a clue that the patient was not fasting.

a) hemoconcentrated

b) hemolyzed

c) jaundiced

d) lipemic

Tests influenced by diurnal variations are often ordered as _________ tests, and it is important to collect them as close as possible to the time ordered.

a) fasting

b) postprandial

c) STAT

d) timed