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Certified Medical Assistant — Practice Exam

Phlebotomy and specimens: practice questions

Our Medical Assistant bank has 33 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

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Question 1

How long should a tourniquet stay on the arm, at most?

  1. Until the draw ends
  2. About 1 minute
  3. About 10 minutes
  4. About 5 minutes
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B. About 1 minute — Longer application causes hemoconcentration and alters results.

Question 2

Where should a heel stick be performed on an infant?

  1. In the centre of the arch of the foot
  2. On the medial or lateral plantar surface of the heel
  3. On the big toe of either foot
  4. On the back of the heel at the curvature
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B. On the medial or lateral plantar surface of the heel — Avoid the back curvature to prevent bone injury.

Question 3

How should tubes with additives be mixed after collection?

  1. Rolled quickly between the palms of the hands
  2. Shaken vigorously for at least 30 seconds
  3. Gently inverted the number of times the manufacturer specifies
  4. Left standing without mixing at all
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C. Gently inverted the number of times the manufacturer specifies — Inadequate mixing causes clots; vigorous shaking causes hemolysis.

Question 4

What should be done if a patient feels faint during a blood draw?

  1. Have the patient stand up and walk around
  2. Stop the draw, lower the patient's head, and stay with them
  3. Give the patient a glass of water at once
  4. Finish the draw quickly before they faint
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B. Stop the draw, lower the patient's head, and stay with them — Never leave a fainting patient alone.

Question 5

Which finger is generally used for an adult capillary puncture?

  1. Middle or ring finger of the non-dominant hand
  2. Index finger of the dominant hand
  3. Little finger of either hand
  4. Thumb of either hand
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A. Middle or ring finger of the non-dominant hand — Puncture the fleshy pad off-centre, across the fingerprint lines.

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