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Free CPT Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CPT practice test to study every exam domain.

The CPT exam has 120 questions and runs 2 hours.

These 10 free CPT questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Certified Phlebotomy Technician blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.

Domain 1: Safety and Compliance 25% of exam

Question 1

A phlebotomy technician needs to collect blood from a patient on both Contact and Droplet Precautions. The minimum PPE required is:

  1. Gloves and hand sanitizer only
  2. Gloves, gown, and face shield
  3. Gloves, gown, and surgical mask
  4. Gloves, gown, N95 respirator, and shoe covers
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Gloves, gown, and surgical mask

Domain 2: Patient Preparation 20% of exam

Question 2

A phlebotomy technician asks a patient, 'Are you Maria Garcia?' This method of patient identification is:

  1. Acceptable because the technician used the patient's full name
  2. Unacceptable because it allows for patient misidentification
  3. The preferred method in outpatient settings
  4. Required by HIPAA regulations
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Unacceptable because it allows for patient misidentification

Question 3

An unconscious patient is brought to the emergency department and several blood tests are ordered. The phlebotomy technician should collect the blood because the patient has received which type of consent?

  1. Implied consent
  2. Expressed consent
  3. Informed consent
  4. No consent given
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Implied consent

Domain 3: Routine and Special Collections 35% of exam

Question 4

A patient reports a sharp, shooting, electric-like pain radiating down the arm during venipuncture. This most likely indicates:

  1. The needle has entered the vein correctly
  2. The needle has contacted a nerve
  3. The tourniquet is too tight
  4. The patient is experiencing syncope
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - The needle has contacted a nerve

Question 5

A phlebotomy technician is using a butterfly to collect a light blue (citrate) tube as the FIRST and ONLY tube. What should the technician do?

  1. Draw a discard tube first to fill the dead space in the tubing
  2. Proceed without a discard tube since it is the only tube needed
  3. Overfill the light blue tube to compensate for the dead space
  4. Use a syringe instead of the evacuated tube system
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Draw a discard tube first to fill the dead space in the tubing

Question 6

After venipuncture, a phlebotomy technician instructs the patient to bend their arm to apply pressure. This instruction is:

  1. Correct - bending the arm helps stop bleeding
  2. Incorrect - bending the arm can increase hematoma risk
  3. Correct only for patients on anticoagulants
  4. Neither correct nor incorrect - it doesn't matter
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Incorrect - bending the arm can increase hematoma risk

Question 7

A physician orders blood cultures, a PT/INR, a CBC, and a BMP. Which tubes are needed and in what order?

  1. Blood culture bottles → Light blue → Gold → Lavender
  2. Lavender → Light blue → Gold → Blood culture bottles
  3. Gold → Lavender → Light blue → Blood culture bottles
  4. Light blue → Blood culture bottles → Lavender → Gold
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Blood culture bottles → Light blue → Gold → Lavender

Domain 4: Processing, Quality, and Management 20% of exam

Question 8

When collecting a blood specimen for blood alcohol level (BAL) testing, the phlebotomy technician should NOT use which of the following for skin antisepsis?

  1. Hydrogen peroxide solution
  2. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach solution)
  3. Isopropyl alcohol
  4. Providone-iodine swab sticks
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Isopropyl alcohol

More CPT practice questions

Question 9

A specimen for a potassium level arrives hemolyzed. The MOST likely effect on the result would be:

  1. A falsely decreased potassium level
  2. A falsely elevated potassium level
  3. No effect on the potassium level
  4. An inaccurate sodium level only
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - A falsely elevated potassium level

Question 10

A phlebotomy technician performing a POCT glucose test obtains a result of 450 mg/dL, which is above the facility's critical value threshold. The technician should:

  1. Retest the patient two more times to confirm before notifying anyone
  2. Immediately notify the patient's nurse or physician and document the notification
  3. Tell the patient to eat something and recheck in an hour
  4. Record the result and move on to the next patient
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Immediately notify the patient's nurse or physician and document the notification

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