Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Quiz: Aliquoting

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Aliquoting, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT).

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

Question 1

1. Pipet serum from above the gel (correct answer)
2. Pour serum into a plain tube
3. Stick pipet through the gel
4. Pipet below gel, near cells

Question 2

1. Record and use the aliquot
2. Label from original tube
3. Discard; re-aliquot original (correct answer)
4. Ask another tech to label

Question 3

1. From the very bottom upward
2. At the serum-cell interface
3. Below the serum-cell interface
4. Near surface, above cell layer (correct answer)

Question 4

1. Gel barrier at bottom
2. Fibrin strands in serum (correct answer)
3. No visible serum layer
4. Hemolysis in the serum

Question 5

1. Recap and re-spin 10 min (correct answer)
2. Pour into plain tube, spin
3. Discard; redraw the patient
4. Shake the tube, spin again

Question 6

1. Inadequate clotting time before centrifugation; re-centrifuge the tube at higher speed to break up fibrin strands (correct answer)
2. Temperature fluctuation during storage; filter the serum through gauze to remove fibrin before aliquoting
3. Insufficient mixing after collection; gently remix the tube and re-centrifuge to complete clot retraction
4. Normal clot retraction process; carefully pipette serum around the clot avoiding disturbance during aliquoting

Question 7

1. Insufficient centrifugation time leading to incomplete cellular separation during the aliquoting process
2. Excessive mixing of the SST tube after centrifugation but before serum separation and aliquoting
3. Improper needle gauge selection during the original venipuncture procedure causing cellular damage (correct answer)
4. Inadequate inversion technique immediately following the venipuncture collection causing clot formation

Question 8

1. Excessive hemolysis during collection caused significant volume loss through cellular lysis and fluid redistribution
2. Inadequate mixing after collection resulted in incomplete clot retraction and reduced serum yield
3. The patient's hematocrit was significantly elevated, resulting in reduced plasma volume and increased cellular mass (correct answer)
4. Evaporation occurred during the clotting period due to improper tube storage conditions and temperature control

Question 9

1. Perform CBC and comprehensive metabolic panel first, then contact physician about thyroid function test alternatives
2. Aliquot equal volumes for each test department and request micro-method adaptations for all three tests
3. Contact the laboratory supervisor to determine which tests have micro-methods available before proceeding (correct answer)
4. Process comprehensive metabolic panel only since it provides the most diagnostic information per volume used

Question 10

1. Aliquot the available serum proportionally among all three departments based on their original volume requirements
2. Prioritize the chemistry panel first, then distribute remaining serum between immunology and endocrinology proportionally
3. Contact the ordering physician to determine test priority and proceed with recollection for insufficient volume (correct answer)
4. Combine some tests into fewer aliquots to maximize the available serum volume for testing

Question 11

1. The original collection tube type and anticoagulant used for plasma separation and preservation
2. The time elapsed between collection and completion of the aliquoting process before shipping (correct answer)
3. The volume of each aliquot and the surface area to volume ratio in the shipping container
4. The pH of the specimen and potential for metabolic changes during the extended transport time

Question 12

1. Verify the actual duration and completeness of the patient's fasting status including beverages consumed (correct answer)
2. Check if the specimen was collected using proper needle gauge and vacuum pressure techniques
3. Review the centrifugation parameters used to separate the serum from cellular components
4. Determine if the collection tube contained the appropriate clot activator and gel separator

Question 13

1. Transfer the plasma to pre-chilled aliquot tubes using temperature-controlled pipettes within the refrigerated environment
2. Remove the plasma tubes from centrifuge and immediately begin aliquoting at room temperature to prevent condensation
3. Allow tubes to equilibrate to room temperature for 5 minutes before aliquoting to prevent thermal shock
4. Place centrifuged tubes on ice and complete all labeling of aliquot tubes before beginning plasma transfer (correct answer)

Question 14

1. Process all specimens simultaneously, then place all aliquots in the freezer at once to maintain consistent timing
2. Work in batches of 5 specimens, freezing each batch immediately after aliquoting before processing the next batch
3. Complete all aliquoting first, then gradually place tubes in freezer to prevent temperature shock to the unit
4. Process specimens in order of collection time, prioritizing those approaching the 4-hour deadline regardless of batch size (correct answer)

Question 15

1. Recording the exact volume transferred to each aliquot tube with technician initials and timestamp
2. Maintaining a log that traces each aliquot back to the original specimen with unique identifier linkage (correct answer)
3. Documenting the centrifugation speed and time used for each batch of specimens processed
4. Creating a worksheet showing the order in which specimens were processed with department destinations