NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Exam practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q11How many tubes are typically needed for a blood culture collection?
✓ Correct answer: B. Two
Typically, a blood culture collection requires two tubes. One is for the aerobic culture, and the other is for the anaerobic culture. This ensures that any bacteria present, regardless of their preferred growing conditions, can be detected.
Q12What additive(s) are present in the lavender-top blood collection tube?
✓ Correct answer: C. EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)
Answer: EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) Lavender-top tubes contain EDTA, which is an anticoagulant used for hematology tests like complete blood counts (CBC) and blood smears. The anticoagulant prevents blood from clotting.
Q13After collecting a blood sample using venipuncture, the phlebotomist must follow the correct order of tube collection to ensure accurate results. What is the correct order?
✓ Correct answer: D. Blood culture tubes, coagulation tubes, serum tubes, heparin tubes, EDTA tubes, glycolytic inhibitor tubes
Answer: Blood culture tubes, coagulation tubes, serum tubes, heparin tubes, EDTA tubes, glycolytic inhibitor tubes The order of draw is crucial to prevent cross-contamination and inaccurate test results caused by additives from one tube mixing with another. Blood culture tubes are collected first to avoid contamination, followed by coagulation tubes for accurate clotting test results, serum and heparin tubes for chemistry tests, EDTA tubes for hematology, and glycolytic inhibitor tubes last to preserve glucose.
Q14When performing a venipuncture, which of the following tubes is used to obtain a blood sample for glucose testing?
✓ Correct answer: B. Gray top
Answer: Gray top The gray top tube contains additives like sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate, which prevent glycolysis and stabilize glucose levels in the blood sample.
Q15What is the appropriate method for cleaning a fingerstick site before collecting a capillary blood sample?
✓ Correct answer: A. In a circular motion from the center moving outward
Answer: In a circular motion from the center moving outward The phlebotomist should select the fingerstick site and then clean the patient's skin using small circles starting from the site and moving outward. This method helps to prevent microorganisms from being spread back onto the site, ensuring a more sterile environment before puncture.
Q16Which of the following anticoagulants prevents the aggregation of platelets?
✓ Correct answer: C. EDTA
Answer: EDTA EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is an anticoagulant that works by binding calcium ions in the blood, which inhibits the clotting process and prevents the aggregation of platelets. EDTA is typically used in blood collection tubes for complete blood count (CBC) tests.
Q17Which additives are found in blood culture bottles used to identify bacteria in septicemia?
✓ Correct answer: A. Sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS) and charcoal
Answer: Sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS) and charcoal Blood culture bottles used to identify bacteria in cases of septicemia typically contain the additive SPS to prevent the blood from clotting and to inhibit phagocytosis of bacteria, as well as charcoal to neutralize potential antibiotics in the sample. These additives help ensure the accuracy of blood cultures.
Q18Which of the following actions should be taken if a patient experiences dizziness after a fingerstick procedure?
✓ Correct answer: B. Incidents of dizziness must be reported and documented according to facility policy
Answer: Incidents of dizziness must be reported and documented according to facility policy Any incident related to specimen collection, including dizziness, must be reported and documented as per the facility policy. Every patient has the potential to feel dizzy during or after a procedure. Factors like dehydration, hypoglycemia, or anxiety could contribute to dizziness.
Q19Where should the first drop of blood be placed when performing a fingerstick?
✓ Correct answer: D. On the gauze pad to wipe it off
Answer: On the gauze pad to wipe it off. The first drop of blood is usually wiped away because it may contain tissue fluid, which can alter the test results. The second drop of blood is used for accurate testing.
Q20When entering patient information into an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, which of the following must be selected to add a new patient record?
✓ Correct answer: A. New Patient Button
Answer: New Patient Button To add a new patient record in most Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, users must typically click on the 'New Patient Button'. The search bar is used to find existing patients, and the settings or file menus are generally used for configuration and other administrative tasks.
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