Phlebotomy Tech Prep: CPT Coming soon

Special Collections practice questions for the CPT exam

Special Collections is 12 of the 100 scored questions (12%) on the CPT exam. Try 8 free questions below: tap an answer to check it, then read why the other options are wrong and the sources.

8 questions. Tap an answer to check it, or open the explanation under each one.

Question 1

A blood culture order notes that fungemia due to yeast is suspected. Under IDSA/ASM guidance, which bottle combination may the lab ask for in at least one set?

  1. One AFB-specific vial
  2. Two anaerobic bottles
  3. Two aerobic bottles
  4. One anaerobic bottle only
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Two aerobic bottles

Because yeast are highly aerobic, IDSA/ASM says it may be prudent to inoculate at least one specimen into two aerobic vials instead of the usual aerobic and anaerobic pair. The phlebotomist follows the lab's policy for the order.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. One AFB-specific vial: AFB vials are for mycobacteria, not routine yeast cultures.
  • B. Two anaerobic bottles: Yeast are highly aerobic, so anaerobic bottles are the wrong choice.
  • D. One anaerobic bottle only: A single anaerobic bottle suits yeast least and is less than a set.

Sources

Question 2

Blood is drawn by syringe for blood cultures and a lavender-top tube. Using a transfer device, which is filled first?

  1. The culture bottles
  2. The lavender-top (EDTA) tube
  3. Whichever is closest
  4. Both at the same time
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. The culture bottles

The order of draw is the same whether blood is collected by vacuum tube or syringe (Korean consensus), so the culture bottles are filled before the EDTA tube.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. The lavender-top (EDTA) tube: EDTA comes after cultures in the order of draw.
  • C. Whichever is closest: The order is fixed, not based on convenience.
  • D. Both at the same time: Bottles and tubes are filled one at a time in order.

Sources

Question 3

A donor's blood flow is well established 40 seconds after the needle enters the vein, with the blood pressure cuff still inflated. What does WHO say to do with the cuff or tourniquet?

  1. Keep it inflated for at least 2 more minutes
  2. Remove it now that flow is established
  3. Leave it on until the bag is full
  4. Tighten it to speed the collection
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Remove it now that flow is established

WHO says to remove the tourniquet when blood flow is established or after 2 minutes, whichever comes first; flow is established here, so it comes off now.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Keep it inflated for at least 2 more minutes: Two minutes is the maximum, not a required minimum.
  • C. Leave it on until the bag is full: Leaving it on for the whole collection exceeds the WHO limit.
  • D. Tighten it to speed the collection: Increasing pressure is not part of the procedure.

Sources

Question 4

Before a morning draw on a 6-month-old, what should the phlebotomist check in addition to today's orders?

  1. The volume already drawn in the past 24 hours
  2. The infant's length in centimeters
  3. The infant's blood type
  4. The time of the infant's last feeding and its type
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. The volume already drawn in the past 24 hours

Limits apply to the total volume drawn over a period, not to one draw; Howie stresses considering total sampling volume rather than single samples.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. The infant's length in centimeters: Length is not used in the volume calculation; weight is.
  • C. The infant's blood type: Blood type does not affect how much blood may be taken.
  • D. The time of the infant's last feeding and its type: Feeding time matters for some tests but not for volume limits.

Sources

Question 5

A phlebotomist flips the plastic cap off a new culture bottle. Why must the septum still be disinfected?

  1. Wiping softens the rubber for the needle
  2. Alcohol activates the broth in the bottle
  3. Wiping releases excess vacuum from the bottle
  4. The septum under the cap is not sterile
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. The septum under the cap is not sterile

Doern 2019 states the rubber septa of blood culture bottles are not sterile, so they are disinfected before inoculation.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Wiping softens the rubber for the needle: Alcohol is used to disinfect, not to soften rubber.
  • B. Alcohol activates the broth in the bottle: The broth needs no activation.
  • C. Wiping releases excess vacuum from the bottle: Wiping does not change the bottle's vacuum.

Sources

Question 6

What do blood culture bottles contain?

  1. Sodium fluoride that stops glycolysis
  2. EDTA that prevents the blood from clotting
  3. A gel that separates serum from cells
  4. A broth that keeps microorganisms alive
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. A broth that keeps microorganisms alive

WHO lists the blood culture bottle additive as a broth mixture that preserves the viability of microorganisms for aerobic, anaerobic and fungal culture.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Sodium fluoride that stops glycolysis: Sodium fluoride is the gray-top tube additive.
  • B. EDTA that prevents the blood from clotting: EDTA is the lavender-top tube additive.
  • C. A gel that separates serum from cells: Gel separators are found in serum and plasma separator tubes.

Sources

Question 7

Before swabbing an infected leg ulcer for culture, what should the collector use to cleanse the wound?

  1. Povidone-iodine solution
  2. 70% isopropyl alcohol
  3. Sterile normal saline
  4. Chlorhexidine gluconate
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Sterile normal saline

The wound is irrigated and cleansed with sterile saline. Disinfectants are avoided because they can kill the organisms and cause false-negative cultures.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Povidone-iodine solution: An antiseptic on the wound bed can cause a false-negative culture.
  • B. 70% isopropyl alcohol: Alcohol is a disinfectant and can suppress growth.
  • D. Chlorhexidine gluconate: Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic and can suppress growth.

Sources

Question 8

The 2-hour sample of a glucose tolerance test is due at 1030, and the phlebotomist is finishing another patient. Following WHO/IDF advice to collect it within 5 minutes of the 120-minute mark, what is the latest acceptable draw time?

  1. 1035
  2. 1040
  3. 1045
  4. 1100
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. 1035

WHO/IDF notes that some OGTT variation is avoided by collecting the 2-hour sample within 5 minutes of 120 minutes: 1030 + 5 minutes = 1035.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. 1040: 1040 is 10 minutes late.
  • C. 1045: 1045 is 15 minutes late.
  • D. 1100: 1100 is half an hour late and changes the result.

Sources

Cheat sheets for this domain

Special Collections terms

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