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AMT RPT Practice Exam 1

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AMT RPT Practice Exam 1

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Questions
200
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Multiple choice
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2 years
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About these practice questions

These practice questions will help you prepare for the AMT RPT exam.

This practice test contains 200 practice questions covering the eight sections of the AMT RPT exam:

  1. Obtaining Blood Samples
  2. Specimen Collection and Processing
  3. Time Management and Assignment Organization
  4. Professional Communications
  5. Clerical Skills and Duties
  6. Safety Standards and Procedures
  7. Legal, Ethical, and Professional Considerations
  8. Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology

All questions have been carefully designed to reflect the questions on the real exam, to help you prepare and get a passing grade.

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Section 1: Obtaining Blood Samples

1) A phlebotomist needs to collect a blood specimen from an inpatient who is not wearing an ID band. What is the best action to take?
  1. Ask the nurse to confirm the identity of the patient
  2. Do not draw the specimen until an ID band is placed
    Inpatients must be identified using the details on their ID band. If the patient is not wearing an ID band, do not collect the specimen. Instead, notify the nurse so a new ID band can be placed. The other options are wrong because you shouldn't rely on verbal confirmation, nurse confirmation, or name cards to identify a patient.
  3. Identify the patient by asking them, "What is your name?"
  4. Identify the patient by the name card on the door
2) What can a phlebotomist do to find a difficult vein?
  1. Apply the tourniquet tightly for 3 to 4 minutes
  2. Ask the patient to hold their arm up
    Asking the patient to hold their arm up would drain the arm of blood and make the veins harder to find.
  3. Ask the patient to make a fist
    Making a fist makes the veins more prominent by increasing blood flow to the area. This is a standard technique used by phlebotomists during venipuncture.
  4. Cool the area with an ice pack
    Cooling the area with an ice pack would make the veins constrict, making them harder to find. Warming the area with a heating pad is the correct approach.
3) A patient has several short lengths of IV-type tubing protruding from his chest. This is most likely to be a(n):
  1. CVC
    A central venous catheter (CVC) is a thin, flexible tube inserted into a vein in the chest, neck, or arm and guided into the superior vena cava of the heart. It is used to give intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, and medications.
  2. PICC
    Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) enter through the arm, not the chest.
  3. arterial line
  4. implanted port
    Implanted ports are completely under the skin and do not have external tubing.
4) A patient has an IV in his left wrist and a cast on his right arm. Which site should be used to obtain a venous blood sample?
  1. A vein in the left forearm
  2. A vein in the left hand
    The right arm cannot be used due to the cast. Therefore, the blood must be drawn from the left arm. However, blood should not be drawn from above the IV because the IV fluid could contaminate the blood sample. Therefore, the best place to draw blood is the left hand (below the IV site).
  3. A vein in the right forearm
  4. An earlobe
5) Which vein should be tried first when choosing a draw site?
  1. Basilic
  2. Cephalic
  3. Median antebrachial
  4. Median cubital
    The median cubital vein is preferred for venipuncture because it is large, easy to access, and unlikely to roll around.
6) For venipuncture, tourniquets should be:
  1. applied very tightly to the arm
  2. left on the arm for at least three minutes
    Leaving the tourniquet on for three minutes could cause blood pooling at the venipuncture site, leading to falsely elevated results.
  3. tight enough to slow arterial flow
  4. tight enough to slow venous flow
    The tourniquet should be tight enough to slow venous flow without affecting the arterial flow.
7) In venipuncture, what can happen if you palpate a site after cleaning it with alcohol?
  1. Difficulty locating the vein
  2. Entry of alcohol into the patient's bloodstream
  3. Hemolysis of the specimen
  4. Recontamination
    Alcohol is used to kill microorganisms on the skin before inserting the needle. If you touch the site again after cleaning, your fingers can transfer bacteria or other contaminants back to the area. This recontaminates the site, increasing the risk of infection or invalid test results. If you must palpate the vein again, you should first sanitize your fingers with an alcohol pad, or clean the site again after touching it.
8) What is the purpose of a tourniquet in venipuncture?
  1. To decrease the oxygen level
  2. To make the veins more prominent
    Tourniquets restrict blood flow in the arm, making the veins more prominent and accessible.
  3. To monitor blood pressure
  4. To prevent hematoma
9) What is the most common antiseptic used to disinfect puncture sites before venipuncture?
  1. 70% isopropyl alcohol
    The most common antiseptic to cleanse and disinfect the site before venipuncture is 70% isopropyl alcohol in wipe form.
  2. Betadine
  3. EMLA
  4. Iodine
10) After applying a tourniquet, small red spots appear on the patient's arm. These spots are a sign that:
  1. the patient has diabetes
  2. the patient is taking an anticoagulant
  3. the site may bleed excessively
    Tiny, non-raised red spots that appear on the patient’s skin when a tourniquet is applied are called petechiae. They indicate the venipuncture site may bleed excessively. They do not indicate that the phlebotomist has performed the procedure incorrectly.
  4. the tourniquet is too tight
11) What can happen if a phlebotomist removes the needle before releasing the tourniquet?
  1. Angina
  2. Bleeding
    If the needle is removed before the tourniquet, the puncture site will bleed. For this reason, you should remove the tourniquet first, then the needle.
  3. Cyanosis
  4. Edema
12) Which statement about venipuncture is true?
  1. Disinfect the entry site with a 70% alcohol swab
    Before performing venipuncture, you should disinfect the site with an alcohol swab to minimize the risk of infection.
  2. Ensure the bevel of the needle is pointing down when the needle enters the vein
    The bevel should be pointing up, not down.
  3. Enter the vein at a 50-degree angle
    You should enter the vein at a 15–30° angle, not a 50° angle.
  4. Remove the needle first, then the tourniquet
    You should release the tourniquet first, then withdraw the needle.
13) In which direction should the bevel be facing when the needle enters the arm?
  1. Downwards
  2. To the left
  3. To the right
  4. Upwards
    The bevel should be facing up when the needle enters the arm. This way, the very tip of the needle pierces the vein first. This helps the needle enter the skin and the vein smoothly.
14) A phlebotomist has made two unsuccessful attempts at collecting blood from a patient. What should the phlebotomist do next?
  1. Ask another phlebotomist to collect the specimen
    Phlebotomists should make no more than two attempts at drawing blood from a patient. After this, another phlebotomist should try.
  2. Ask the patient's nurse to do the draw
  3. Collect the specimen by arterial puncture
  4. Try one more time
15) Fist pumping during a blood draw can cause falsely elevated levels of which ion?
  1. Chloride
  2. Iron
  3. Potassium
    Patients are often asked to fist pump (make a fist) during venipuncture to make the veins more prominent and easier to locate. However, this can release potassium from the forearm muscles, causing pseudohyperkalemia (falsely elevated potassium levels).
  4. Sodium
16) What may occur if the plunger is pulled back too quickly when collecting blood with a syringe?
  1. A needle stick injury
  2. Adulteration of the specimen
  3. Bacterial contamination
  4. Hemolysis of the specimen
    Pulling the plunger up too quickly can create excessive negative pressure in the syringe, causing red blood cells to rupture, which is called hemolysis. Hemolyzed samples can lead to inaccurate test results, especially for tests that require the analysis of serum or plasma components.
17) Which Vacutainer tube is needed for a complete blood count?
  1. Gold
  2. Lavender
    Complete blood counts require lavender tubes. These tubes contain EDTA, an anticoagulant that prevents clotting, which is essential for accurate CBC results.
  3. Light blue
  4. Red
18) For which test should sodium heparin be avoided?
  1. Electrolyte panel
    Sodium heparin should not be used for electrolyte panels because it contains sodium, which can falsely raise the sodium results.
  2. Hematocrit
  3. Lithium levels
  4. pH
19) A phlebotomist must collect a lavender top tube, green top tube, and light blue top tube from a patient. In which order should the phlebotomist fill the tubes?
  1. Green, lavender, light blue
  2. Green, light blue, lavender
  3. Lavender, green, light blue
  4. Light blue, green, lavender
    The light blue top tube has a defined amount of sodium citrate, so it must be taken before other tubes containing additives. Lavender tubes should be taken after green tubes. This is because lavender tubes contain EDTA, which is high in potassium. If EDTA contaminates the green top tube, it could make the patient's potassium levels seem higher than they are.
20) What are cross-match tubes used for?
  1. Blood compatibility testing
    Cross-match tubes are used for blood compatibility testing, which identifies incompatibilities between the donor and recipient before blood transfusions.
  2. Coagulation studies
  3. Glucose tests
  4. Trace element studies

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About the AMT RPT exam

What is the AMT RPT exam?

The AMT RPT (Registered Phlebotomy Technician) certification exam is set by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). Passing the exam proves to employers that you have the knowledge to work as a phlebotomist.

The exam contains 200 questions and lasts 145 minutes. All questions are multiple-choice.

Applying for the exam

The easiest way to apply to take the exam is online. Go to the AMT website (americanmedtech.org), and under Certification, click Apply/Check Status. Scroll down and click the Apply Today button to begin the application process.

The exam fee is $120 if you're living in North America or $140 if you're living outside North America.

Note that there are two ways to take the RPT exam:

  • at home, or
  • at a testing center

When you apply for the exam, you can choose which option you prefer.

What if I need to cancel or reschedule the exam?

You can cancel or reschedule your exam by contacting Pearson Vue at least 24 hours before your exam starts. There is no charge for canceling or rescheduling, however, the exam fee is non-refundable.

Taking the exam at a testing center

If you're taking the exam in a testing center, then you must bring two valid forms of ID with you, one of which must have your photo.

Acceptable photo IDs are:

  • Driver’s License
  • Passport
  • Military Identification
  • State Identification Card

Calculators aren't allowed in the exam.

Make sure to arrive 30 minutes before the exam starts because you'll need time to check-in and show your ID.

You'll be taken to a computer where you'll do the exam. The exam is 145 minutes long and consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. There are no breaks.

Taking the exam at home

If you're taking the exam at home, then you'll need to do it in a quiet room on your laptop or PC. First, the OnVUE application will ask you for photos of your government-issued ID and your testing environment, as well as a headshot. A proctor will then review your photos. If your pictures pass the review, then you will begin your exam. A proctor will monitor you via webcam and microphone throughout your test.

What score do I need to pass?

There is no set number of questions you must answer to pass. Instead, each question is worth a certain number of points depending on its difficulty. Easy questions are worth fewer points and hard questions are worth more points. To pass, you must earn 70 points out of 100.

How do I get my results?

You'll get your result immediately after finishing the exam. The computer will tell you if you passed or failed.

If you take the exam at a testing center, then you'll also get a paper copy of your results before you leave.

What if I fail the exam?

If you fail the exam, you can take it again after 45 days. To retake the exam, contact AMT at 847/823-5169 or complete the Examination Retake Form and email it to AMT. You'll also need to pay a retesting fee.

Exam structure

The AMT RPT exam is divided into eight Work Areas:

  1. Obtaining Blood Samples
  2. Specimen Collection and Processing
  3. Time Management and Assignment Organization
  4. Professional Communications
  5. Clerical Skills and Duties
  6. Safety Standards and Procedures
  7. Legal, Ethical, and Professional Considerations
  8. Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology

1. Obtaining Blood Samples

The first Work Area, Obtaining Blood Samples, is worth 42.5% of the exam and consists of 85 questions. It will test your knowledge of:

  • identifying patients
  • phlebotomy
    • getting the patient ready
    • selecting the right venipuncture site
    • selecting the right vacutainer
    • performing the venipuncture
    • collecting blood in the right sequence of vacutainers
  • capillary punctures
  • newborn heel punctures
  • labeling blood samples
  • handling blood samples

2. Specimen Collection and Processing

The second Work Area, Specimen Collection and Processing, is worth 15.9% of the exam and consists of 31 questions. It will test your knowledge of:

  • collecting and handling non-blood specimens, such as:
    • urine
    • throat swabs
    • semen
    • vaginal swabs
    • cerebrospinal fluid
    • breath
    • feces
  • point of care testing

3. Time Management and Assignment Organization

The third Work Area, Time Management and Assignment Organization, is worth 8.0% of the exam (16 questions). It will test your knowledge of:

  • reading physician requisitions
  • prioritizing specimen collections
  • time intervals for tolerance tests
  • time intervals for therapeutic drug monitoring
  • the laboratory path of workflow

4. Professional Communications

The fourth Work Area, Professional Communications, is worth 4.5% of the exam and consists of 9 questions. It will test your knowledge of:

  • communicating with patients
  • communicating with other staff
  • telephone skills
  • informing patients of special test requirements

5. Clerical Skills and Dutie

The fifth Work Area, Clerical Skills and Dutie, is worth 4.0% of the exam and consists of 8 questions. It will test your knowledge of:

  • filing reports
  • entering and retrieving patient data
  • restocking supplies
  • computer skills

6. Safety Standards and Procedures

The sixth Work Area, Safety Standards and Procedures, is worth 20.0% of the exam and consists of 20 questions. It will test your knowledge of:

  • safety regulations
  • safety data sheets (SDS)
  • OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)
  • universal precautions
  • control and isolation techniques
  • complications of phlebotomy (nerve injury, accidental arterial puncture, lymphedema, hematoma)
  • what to do if patient faints, feels sick, starts convulsing, etc.

7. Legal, Ethical, and Professional Considerations

The seventh Work Area, Legal, Ethical, and Professional Considerations, is worth 7.0% of the exam and consists of 14 questions. It will test your knowledge of:

  • liability
  • ethics
  • law
  • professional conduct
  • patient consent

8. Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology

The eighth Work Area, Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology, is worth 8.5% of the exam and consists of 17 questions. It will test your knowledge of:

  • medical terminology, including suffixes, prefixes, and root words
  • human anatomy
  • human physiology