Phlebotomy point of care testing practice questions, with every answer explained

1. The number of strips used yesterday
2. The store price
3. The color of the box
4. The lot number and expiration date

Answer: D. Expired strips or unverified lots can give inaccurate results. Lot numbers and expiration dates are checked and recorded per policy.

Why not A: Past usage does not affect today's accuracy.

Why not B: Price does not affect accuracy.

Why not C: Box color is irrelevant.

Exam tactic: Strips: check lot and date.

1. Air and humidity may damage them
2. The strips become sterile
3. The strips will read in a different unit
4. Open vials make the meter's battery drain faster

Answer: A. Test strips are sensitive to moisture and air. A vial left open may give inaccurate results, so the manufacturer's instructions on discarding are followed.

Why not B: Strips are not sterile devices, and exposure does not improve them.

Why not C: Units are set by the meter, not the vial.

Why not D: The vial does not affect the battery.

Exam tactic: Cap the strips.

1. Patient identification and time of test
2. Nothing, POC results are informal
3. Only the numeric result, since the meter keeps the rest
4. The meter's purchase date and warranty number

Answer: A. POC results are part of the medical record and must include patient identification, result, time and operator per policy.

Why not B: POC results are formal medical results.

Why not C: Meter memory is not the medical record; patient ID, time and operator must be documented with the result.

Why not D: Purchase details are equipment records, not part of a patient result.

Exam tactic: POC result = real result, full documentation.

1. It reflects average glucose over roughly the past 2 to 3 months
2. It measures only insulin
3. Food does not change blood glucose levels at any point after a meal
4. It is a urine test

Answer: A. Hemoglobin A1c reflects average blood glucose over about the past 2 to 3 months, so a recent meal does not change it meaningfully.

Why not B: It does not measure insulin.

Why not C: Food does affect blood glucose, but not A1c in the short term.

Why not D: A1c is a blood test.

Exam tactic: A1c: months, not meals.

1. Shake the meter vigorously
2. Run quality control per policy
3. Store the strips in a warm car
4. Skip the checks on weekends

Answer: B. Point-of-care testing requires quality control at the frequency set by the manufacturer and facility, with checks on strip lot and expiration.

Why not A: Shaking does not calibrate a meter.

Why not C: Heat damages test strips.

Why not D: QC schedules do not change on weekends.

Exam tactic: POCT: QC before patients.

1. Heat from a lighter
2. Tape
3. A cotton ball
4. Sealing clay

Answer: D. Microhematocrit tubes are sealed with special sealing clay so blood does not leak during centrifugation.

Why not A: Open flames are a fire hazard and are not used.

Why not B: Tape does not reliably seal the tube.

Why not C: Cotton does not seal the tube.

Exam tactic: Microhematocrit: clay seal.

1. It replaces all lab testing
2. Operators need no training
3. Fast results near the patient
4. It never needs quality control

Answer: C. Point-of-care tests provide rapid results at or near the patient, supporting quick decisions, but still require training, quality control and documentation.

Why not A: Many tests still need a central lab.

Why not B: Operators must be trained and competent.

Why not D: QC is always required.

Exam tactic: POCT = fast, not free of rules.

1. They only measure cholesterol and triglycerides, not glucose, in most models
2. They are less precise than laboratory methods used for diagnosis
3. They cannot be used on fingersticks
4. They work only on urine

Answer: B. Meters are designed for monitoring. Diagnosis relies on laboratory testing, which is more accurate and standardized.

Why not A: Glucose meters measure glucose.

Why not C: Meters are designed for fingersticks.

Why not D: Glucose meters use blood.

Exam tactic: Meters monitor. Labs diagnose.

1. Ignore it and retest tomorrow
2. Confirm with a lab specimen per protocol
3. Report the displayed number as the final glucose value
4. Repeat on the same strip

Answer: B. Readings outside the meter's range, or unexpected values, are confirmed with a laboratory specimen and reported per policy because they may be critical.

Why not A: Possible critical values cannot wait.

Why not C: Out-of-range readings are not reportable as exact values.

Why not D: Strips are single use.

Exam tactic: Meter says HI or LO: confirm with the lab.

1. With two identifiers, the same as for any lab test
2. By room number
3. No identification is needed for bedside tests
4. By asking the nurse to confirm the patient's name verbally at the bedside

Answer: A. Point-of-care tests are lab tests, and the same identification rules apply. Results are tied to the correct patient record.

Why not B: A room number is not an identifier.

Why not C: Bedside testing still requires identification.

Why not D: A nurse's word does not replace checking two identifiers.

Exam tactic: Bedside test, same ID rules.