Safety and Compliance — Phlebotomy Technician Practice Test

This Phlebotomy Technician Safety and Compliance practice set has 78 practice questions based on the official exam materials, each with an instant explanation.

Sample questions

Three questions from the Safety and Compliance bank with the correct answer and an explanation. The practice quiz above draws 30 questions at random from the same bank.

1. Which OSHA standard governs occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials for phlebotomists?

   • The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030 — Correct answer
   • The Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200
   • The Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134
   • The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)

   Explanation: OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) is the regulation that protects workers from exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). It requires an exposure control plan, engineering and work-practice controls, PPE, the hepatitis B vaccine, and post-exposure follow-up. Hazard Communication (1910.1200) covers chemical labeling, and CLIA governs laboratory testing quality — not bloodborne exposure. (Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030)

   Handbook: Safety and Compliance — Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

2. Under Standard Precautions, how should a phlebotomist treat every patient's blood and body fluids?

   • As if they are potentially infectious, regardless of the patient's known diagnosis — Correct answer
   • As infectious only when the patient has a documented bloodborne disease
   • As infectious only when visible blood is present
   • As non-infectious once the patient tests negative on admission

   Explanation: Standard Precautions (from the CDC) require that the blood and body fluids of ALL patients be treated as if they are potentially infectious, because a patient's infection status is often unknown. This single consistent practice — gloves, hand hygiene, safe sharps handling — protects the worker whether or not a diagnosis is documented. Waiting for a known diagnosis would leave the phlebotomist unprotected during the window before results are available. (Source: CDC Standard Precautions)

   Handbook: Safety and Compliance — Standard Precautions

3. When must a phlebotomist put on a clean pair of gloves during routine venipuncture?

   • Before each patient, and a fresh pair for every new patient — Correct answer
   • Only when the patient is known to have an infection
   • Once per shift, changing them only if they tear
   • Only after the needle has been inserted

   Explanation: Gloves are single-use PPE. A fresh pair must be donned before performing venipuncture on each patient and removed and discarded after that patient, followed by hand hygiene. Reusing gloves between patients — or wearing one pair for a whole shift — can transfer pathogens from patient to patient. Gloves are required for every draw under the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, not only for patients with a known infection. (Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 / CDC)

   Handbook: Safety and Compliance — Personal Protective Equipment