Free Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1An adult becomes unresponsive during a blood draw and is not breathing normally, but a trained responder confirms a pulse. At what interval does the 2025 AHA adult BLS guideline consider rescue breaths reasonable?

   1. A. One breath every 2 seconds.
   2. B. One breath every 4 seconds.
   3. C. One breath every 6 seconds.
   4. D. One breath every 8 seconds.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: AHA states, "For adult patients who are not breathing normally but have a pulse, it is reasonable for rescuers to provide 1 breath every 6 seconds (10 breaths per minute)." The pulse-present condition calls for the stated rescue-breath interval.

   Reference: 2025 AHA Guidelines, Part 7: Adult Basic Life Support — Adult Basic Life Support, summary recommendations, respiratory arrest

2. 2At a Joint Commission-accredited ambulatory collection site, a phlebotomist is about to draw blood from a conscious patient. What is the minimum number of person-specific patient identifiers the technician should use to match the patient to the order?

   1. A. One identifier.
   2. B. Two identifiers.
   3. C. Three identifiers.
   4. D. Four identifiers.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The Joint Commission explains, "The intent of the goal is met when the patient is correctly identified using two identifiers and the containers are labeled with two identifiers in the presence of the patient." Two person-specific identifiers are the minimum for matching this patient to the order.

   Reference: The Joint Commission: Two Patient Identifiers FAQ — Containers used for blood and other specimens

3. 3During routine venipuncture, a phlebotomist is placing a tourniquet above the chosen site. What spacing does the WHO procedure specify?

   1. A. About 1–2 finger widths above the site.
   2. B. About 2–3 finger widths above the site.
   3. C. About 4–5 finger widths above the site.
   4. D. About 7–8 finger widths above the site.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: WHO instructs, "Apply the tourniquet about 4–5 finger widths above the venepuncture site and re-examine the vein."

   Reference: WHO Guidelines on Drawing Blood: Best Practices in Phlebotomy — Chapter 2, Step 3, Select the site

4. 4For an adult with suspected bloodstream infection, what blood volume does CDC recommend for one culture set obtained by venipuncture?

   1. A. 5–10 mL
   2. B. 10–15 mL
   3. C. 20–30 mL
   4. D. 40–60 mL

   Answer: C

   Explanation: CDC states, "A blood culture set from an adult patient should consist of 20–30 mL of blood collected through venipuncture." This is the volume per set, not the total across sets.

   Reference: Collect Adult Blood Culture Sets — Collect multiple sets to achieve the optimal volume

5. 5A phlebotomy technician is preparing filled tubes and their requisition for transport. Where should the requisition be placed to reduce contamination risk?

   1. A. In an outside compartment of the leak-proof specimen bag.
   2. B. Inside the same compartment as the filled specimen tubes.
   3. C. Within a second specimen bag containing the filled tubes.
   4. D. Between the tubes in a padded specimen holder.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: WHO instructs, "Pack laboratory samples safely in a plastic leak-proof bag with an outside compartment for the laboratory request form. Placing the requisition on the outside helps avoid contamination." The outside compartment separates paperwork from specimens.

   Reference: WHO Guidelines on Drawing Blood: Best Practices in Phlebotomy — Chapter 2, Step 10, Prepare samples for transportation

6. 6During a blood draw, an adult who is choking remains conscious but shows signs of severe foreign-body airway obstruction. How many back blows does the 2025 AHA adult BLS guideline place before abdominal thrusts in each cycle?

   1. A. Three back blows.
   2. B. Five back blows.
   3. C. Seven back blows.
   4. D. Ten back blows.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: AHA states, "For adults with severe foreign-body airway obstruction (FBAO), rescuers should perform cycles of 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or the patient becomes unresponsive." The first phase of each cycle uses five back blows.

   Reference: 2025 AHA Guidelines, Part 7: Adult Basic Life Support — Adult Basic Life Support, summary recommendations, severe foreign-body airway obstruction

7. 7An adult has an ordered fasting blood glucose test and asks the phlebotomist about preparation. What is the shortest fasting period MedlinePlus gives for this specific test?

   1. A. At least 4 hours
   2. B. At least 6 hours
   3. C. At least 8 hours
   4. D. At least 12 hours

   Answer: C

   Explanation: MedlinePlus states, "A fasting blood glucose test measures your glucose after you fast (not eating or drinking, except for water) for at least 8 hours." The stem asks for the lower bound for this test, which is 8 hours; the individual order can specify a longer fast.

   Reference: MedlinePlus Medical Tests: Blood Glucose Test — What happens during a blood glucose test?, A fasting blood glucose test

8. 8For a routine venipuncture that is neither a blood culture nor donor collection, how long does WHO direct the phlebotomist to clean the puncture site with a 70% alcohol swab?

   1. A. 10 seconds
   2. B. 20 seconds
   3. C. 30 seconds
   4. D. 60 seconds

   Answer: C

   Explanation: WHO says, "clean the site with a 70% alcohol swab for 30 seconds and allow to dry completely (30 seconds)." The cleaning interval is 30 seconds.

   Reference: WHO Guidelines on Drawing Blood: Best Practices in Phlebotomy — Chapter 2, Step 5, Disinfect the entry site

9. 9An adult is being evaluated for a suspected bloodstream infection. What is the minimum number of blood culture sets CDC says a facility should direct staff to collect within 24 hours?

   1. A. One set
   2. B. Two sets
   3. C. Three sets
   4. D. Four sets

   Answer: B

   Explanation: CDC says the facility should instruct staff to "collect at least two blood culture sets" within 24 hours. The question asks for the minimum, not the maximum.

   Reference: Collect Adult Blood Culture Sets — Collect multiple sets to achieve the optimal volume

10. 10A phlebotomy technician places several labeled blood tubes in a rack or padded holder for transport to the testing laboratory. Which transport hazard does WHO say that support is intended to reduce?

    1. A. Breakage of the collection tubes
    2. B. Contamination of the requisition form
    3. C. Misidentification of the patient
    4. D. Temperature drift of the specimens

    Answer: A

    Explanation: WHO states, "If there are multiple tubes, place them in a rack or padded holder to avoid breakage during transportation." The support is directed at physical tube damage, while other transport controls address paperwork, identity and temperature.

    Reference: WHO Guidelines on Drawing Blood: Best Practices in Phlebotomy — Chapter 2, Step 10, Prepare samples for transportation