A Phlebotomy Technician is a trained professional in blood-drawing. Typically working in a laboratory setting, they have acquire a vast array of knowledge regarding the care and maintenance of blood samples, as well as proper laboratory procedures. Phlebotomy Certification is becoming a top priority for employers who seek to find qualified individuals to perform blood-draws to their patients.The exam consist of a 90-question, multiple choice
assessment. Each candidate has 2 hours to complete the exam. The exam consists of the following topics:
Quality and Professional Issues
Quality Patient Care:
Professional Development:
Patient Rights,Standards, and Regulations:
Infection Control and Safety
Safety Standards:
- Select a specific activation method for sharps with safety mechanisms.
- Select an appropriate course of action for medical follow-up of a needlestick injury.
- Describe and recognize the need to follow CDC Standard Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions (i.e. airborne,contact, and droplet).
- According to OSHA bloodborne pathogen and hazardous material standards, select the proper disposal of all phlebotomy equipment (e.g. sharps, trash,biohazardous waste).
- Recall and follow OSHA standards for Health Care Workers.
- Make decisions regarding the proper use of personal protective equipment (e.g.gloves, mask, lab coat, respirator).
Infection Control and Disease:
- Practice infection prevention and exposure control procedures.
- Understand/follow patient isolation procedures.
- Recognize common sources of infection and transmission.
- Recognize common causes/spread of nosocomial infection.
- Identify airborne precautions.
- Differentiate among the need/uses for cleansing,disinfection,and sterilization.
Terms and Anatomy
- Use medical terms and abbreviations related to phlebotomy.
- Recognize the major body systems and functions.
- Recognize typical diagnostic tests by body systems.
- Identify anatomic regions of the body.
- Identify components of the circulatory system and all blood vessels.
- Recognize the function of the cellular components of blood.
- Apply knowledge in making phlebotomy-related decisions for patients on anticoagulant therapy or with clotting deficiencies.
Orders and Equipment Selection
- Identify venipuncture equipment typically found on a blood collection tray.
- Identify microsamplingequipment typically found on a blood collection tray.
- Differentiate among the uses of evacuated tubes (i.e. all stopper colors) in blood collection.
- Select equipment for specimen collection needs accordingto lab orders, patient age, vein and patient conditions.
- Identify additives/anticoagulants added to evacuated blood collection tubes (by stopper color).
- Identify the mode of action of additives/anticoagulants in blood collection tubes.
- Identify the importance of inversion, recommended number of inversions, and fill-levels in tubes with additives/anticoagulants.
- Select proper equipment choices for use with patients that have latex allergies.
- Select proper bandaging equipment (e.g.age, allergy, skin type).
Patient ID and Site Preparation
- Recognize the importance of following protocols for patient approach and identification at all times.
- Recognize the possible ramifications for inaccuracies/errors in collection.
- Determine appropriate site selection for blood collection (i.e. based upon varied patient conditions).
- Prepare patients and site for blood collection (i.e. microsampling,venipuncture, bacterial culture).
Collection, Problems, and Corrections
- Perform venipuncture on patients of all ages.
- Perform capillary punctures by fingerstick and/or heelstick.
- Identify the CLSl-recommended order of draw for blood samples collected by a specified method.
- Recognize precautions for patients with special needs (e.g. mastectomy, IV,burns, dementia, bleeding disorders,other).
- Recognize and respond to complications of phlebotomy (e.g. hematoma,excessive bleeding,other).
- Select the proper steps for phlebotomy aftercare.
- Understand where and how pre-analytical sources of error can occur.
- Take corrective actions for problems with test requests, specimen transport, or specimen processing.
All exams are done online. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us: . If you feel ready to become certified, select the Phlebotomy Technician option on the registration page (button below) and we will call you to schedule your exam.
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