Pass Phlebotomy

NHA CPT Phlebotomy study guide

NHA CPT Phlebotomy, administered by National Healthcareer Association (NHA), is mapped here as 5 topic areas; the heaviest are Routine Blood Collections (28%), Safety & Compliance (26%) and Patient Preparation (20%).

About this course: Build confidence with the order of draw, safety, and specimen handling.

NHA CPT Phlebotomy at a glance

Questions
120
Time allowed
2.0 hours
Passing standard
390 scaled (200–500 scale)
Format
120 questions total (100 scored + 20 unscored pretest items)
Standard / edition
NHA CPT Test Plan 2025
Administered by
National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

Source: NHA CPT Test Plan 2025, National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Confirm current details with the exam owner before you book.

Topic areas and weights

Topic areaWeightConceptsGuide
Routine Blood Collections28%9Topic page
Safety & Compliance26%6Section below
Patient Preparation20%6Topic page
Processing14%6Topic page
Special Collections12%7Topic page

Topic guides at a glance

Routine Blood Collections

28% of the course blueprint, 9 concepts. Emphasized: What is EDTA carryover and why is it clinically dangerous?, What happens if a light-blue tube is not filled to its mark? and When using a butterfly set with a light-blue coagulation tube as the first draw, what must be done first?. Watch for: Swapping lavender/green in the order of draw.

Patient Preparation

20% of the course blueprint, 6 concepts. Emphasized: What is the two-identifier rule and why is room number NOT acceptable?, What must be verified from the test requisition before performing the venipuncture? and How should fasting requirements be checked before collecting an ordered fasting glucose or lipid test?. Watch for: Room number is an acceptable patient identifier (WRONG; two independent identifiers required).

Processing

14% of the course blueprint, 6 concepts. Emphasized: What is the difference between serum and plasma?, What are the main specimen rejection criteria? and What causes hemolysis in a blood specimen, and which analytes are falsely elevated?. Watch for: EDTA tube yields serum (WRONG; anticoagulated tubes yield plasma).

Special Collections

12% of the course blueprint, 7 concepts. Emphasized: What are the key requirements for collecting blood cultures?, How does the capillary order of draw DIFFER from the venous order of draw? and Why is patient identification especially critical for blood bank / type & crossmatch specimens?. Watch for: Applying venous order of draw to capillary puncture (WRONG; EDTA first in capillary).

Study plan in this course

  1. Routine Blood Collections — 21 cards · free
  2. Safety & Compliance — 12 cards · full course
  3. Patient Preparation — 7 cards · full course
  4. Processing — 9 cards · full course
  5. Special Collections — 9 cards · full course

Safety & Compliance

Safety & Compliance carries 26% of the NHA CPT Phlebotomy blueprint used in this course, the second-largest of its 5 weighted areas. It spans 6 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Safety & Compliance.

What Safety & Compliance covers

  • What does the OSHA BBP Standard require employers to provide? — 29 CFR 1910.1030
  • What are standard precautions and when do they apply? — Targeted correction authority: https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/isolation-precautions/precautions.html. Earlier reference: CDC standard precautions
  • What are the sharps safety rules for needle disposal under the OSHA BBP Standard? — BD Vacutainer Push Button Blood Collection Set IFU
  • What are the four steps of the post-exposure protocol in order? — OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030
  • What does each regulatory body govern in the phlebotomy context — OSHA, CDC, CLIA, HIPAA? — OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030
  • How do you decontaminate a biohazard blood spill? — OSHA BBP Standard

Common mistakes in Safety & Compliance

  • PPE is the PRIMARY means of exposure reduction (WRONG; engineering and work-practice controls are primary)
  • Recapping needles is acceptable if done carefully (WRONG; never recap by hand)
  • Standard precautions apply only to known-infectious patients (WRONG; apply to ALL patients/blood/body fluids)
  • CLIA governs worker bloodborne-pathogen safety (WRONG; OSHA governs worker safety; CLIA governs lab testing quality)
  • CDC sets legally enforceable workplace standards (WRONG; OSHA sets enforceable standards; CDC issues guidelines)

Key terms for Safety & Compliance

OPIM · ECP · Standard precautions · CLIA · HIPAA

Official references for Safety & Compliance

In the app this area comes with 12 memory cards and 36 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Official references

Start the free NHA CPT Phlebotomy modules → · Pricing · FAQ