NHA Phlebotomy Certification Practice Exam

True or False: When using a butterfly needle, a light blue stopper tube should be collected first.

1. True

2. False

3. N/A

4. Dependent on specimen type

The correct answer is: False

When using a butterfly needle, it is important to follow the proper order of draw for collecting blood specimens. A light blue stopper tube contains sodium citrate as an anticoagulant, used for coagulation studies. According to the established order of draw, the light blue tube should be collected after blood cultures and prior to other specimen tubes such as those with serum or gel separators. The reason the answer is false is that when using a butterfly needle, the first draw should typically be a non-additive tube, or in some cases, blood cultures. Collecting the light blue tube first could potentially result in contamination, affecting the coagulation test results. Following proper guidelines ensures accurate test results and maintains the integrity of the specimens.