Phlebotomy Technician Certification Exam
Infection Control & Safety Practice Questions
60 practice questions with detailed explanations — aligned to the Phlebotomy Technician Certification Exam.
Master Infection Control & Safety to boost your score on the Phlebotomy Technician Certification Exam. Each question below mirrors the style and difficulty of real exam questions, complete with detailed explanations so you understand the why behind every answer. Work through all 60 questions, review any that trip you up, and use the related topics below to round out your preparation.
Q1.Standard Precautions in phlebotomy require treating which patient specimens as potentially infectious?
A.Only specimens from patients with known infectious diseasesB.Only blood specimens, not other body fluidsC.All blood and body fluid specimens from ALL patients, regardless of diagnosisD.Only specimens labeled as 'biohazard' by the nursing staffC. All blood and body fluid specimens from ALL patients, regardless of diagnosisExplanation: Standard Precautions (formerly Universal Precautions) mandate that all blood and body fluids from every patient be treated as potentially infectious, regardless of known diagnosis. This approach protects healthcare workers from undiagnosed infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
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Q2.After performing venipuncture, the used needle should be:
A.Recapped using two hands and placed in a regular trash binB.Immediately disposed of, uncapped, into an approved sharps containerC.Placed on a tray and recapped with a one-hand scoop techniqueD.Broken off and disposed of in a biohazard bagB. Immediately disposed of, uncapped, into an approved sharps containerExplanation: OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires that used needles never be recapped by hand and must be immediately disposed of, uncapped, directly into an approved sharps container. Sharps containers must be puncture-resistant, leak-proof, and labeled with a biohazard symbol.
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Q3.The single MOST effective method of preventing healthcare-associated infections is:
A.Wearing gloves for all patient contactB.Using a new needle for each patientC.Proper hand hygiene before and after patient contactD.Wearing a surgical mask during blood drawsC. Proper hand hygiene before and after patient contactExplanation: Proper hand hygiene — washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer — is the single most effective method for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Hands must be cleaned before glove application and immediately after glove removal.
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Q4.A phlebotomist sustains a needlestick injury from a used needle. The IMMEDIATE first action should be:
A.Apply a tourniquet above the wound to stop the spread of any pathogenB.Squeeze the wound to express blood, then wash thoroughly with soap and waterC.Immediately go to the emergency department without any first aidD.Apply a dry bandage and complete the shift before reportingB. Squeeze the wound to express blood, then wash thoroughly with soap and waterExplanation: Following a needlestick, the phlebotomist should immediately allow the wound to bleed freely (do not squeeze excessively), wash thoroughly with soap and water, then follow the facility's exposure control plan: report the incident, identify the source patient, and seek post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis if indicated.
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Q5.When performing venipuncture on a patient on Contact Precautions, the phlebotomist MUST wear:
A.Gloves onlyB.Gown and gloves at minimumC.N95 respirator and face shieldD.Gown, gloves, N95 respirator, and gogglesB. Gown and gloves at minimumExplanation: Contact Precautions require a gown and gloves upon entry to the patient's room. These precautions are used for patients with multidrug-resistant organisms (MRSA, VRE) or infections spread by direct or indirect contact. An N95 respirator is required for Airborne Precautions (TB, measles, varicella).
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Q6.Which of the following is the CORRECT sequence for putting on (donning) PPE before entering an isolation room?
A.Gloves, gown, mask, eye protectionB.Gown, mask/respirator, eye protection, glovesC.Mask, gloves, gown, eye protectionD.Eye protection, gloves, gown, maskB. Gown, mask/respirator, eye protection, glovesExplanation: The CDC-recommended donning sequence for full PPE is: gown first (to protect clothing), then mask or respirator (to protect respiratory tract), then eye protection (goggles or face shield), and gloves last (to protect hands and secure the gown cuffs). Doffing order is the reverse, removing gloves first.
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Q7.A sharps container is considered full and must be replaced when it reaches what fill level?
A.25% fullB.50% fullC.75% fullD.100% full (overflowing)C. 75% fullExplanation: Sharps containers must be replaced when they reach the fill line, typically at 75% capacity. Overfilling sharps containers creates a risk of needlesticks when attempting to deposit additional sharps, as needles near the opening can stick out or cause injury during disposal.
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Q8.Which bloodborne pathogen poses the GREATEST risk of transmission following a needlestick exposure?
A.HIVB.Hepatitis C virus (HCV)C.Hepatitis B virus (HBV)D.All three pose equal riskC. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)Explanation: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) poses the greatest transmission risk following needlestick exposure. The risk of infection after a needlestick from an HBV-positive source is approximately 6–30% (depending on e-antigen status). HIV risk is approximately 0.3%, and HCV risk is approximately 1.8%. Vaccination against HBV is required for healthcare workers.
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Q9.When cleaning up a blood spill in the phlebotomy area, what solution is MOST commonly recommended as a disinfectant?
A.Isopropyl alcohol 70%B.Hydrogen peroxide 3%C.Bleach solution (1:10 dilution of household bleach)D.Sterile salineC. Bleach solution (1:10 dilution of household bleach)Explanation: A 1:10 dilution of household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) — approximately 5,000 ppm — is the standard recommended disinfectant for blood spills. It is effective against HIV, HBV, and HCV. The area should first be cleaned to remove gross contamination before applying the disinfectant.
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Q10.The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires that employers offer free hepatitis B vaccination to which employees?
A.Only employees who have had a previous needlestickB.All employees with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materialsC.Only full-time employees, not part-time or contracted staffD.Employees who work in the ICU onlyB. All employees with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materialsExplanation: OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) requires employers to offer free hepatitis B vaccination within 10 working days of initial assignment to all employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), regardless of employment status.
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