NHA Phlebotomy Certification Practice Exam

What is considered the most serious error a phlebotomist can make?

1. Causing a hematoma

2. Drawing a specimen in the wrong tube

3. Failure to correctly identify a patient

4. Collecting a hemolyzed dermal puncture specimen

The correct answer is: Failure to correctly identify a patient

Failure to correctly identify a patient is considered the most serious error a phlebotomist can make because accurate patient identification is crucial for ensuring that the right tests are performed on the correct individual. Misidentification can lead to a wide range of complications, including the potential for incorrect diagnoses, inappropriate treatments, and even harm to the patient. This fundamental error can result in significant legal repercussions for the healthcare provider and compromise patient safety, which is paramount in the medical field. In contrast, while causing a hematoma, drawing a specimen in the wrong tube, and collecting a hemolyzed specimen are certainly errors that can cause discomfort, inconvenience, or complications in the testing process, they do not carry the same level of risk to patient safety and treatment as misidentification does. The consequences of a misidentified patient, affecting the integrity of medical records, lab results, and patient treatment plans, underscore the critical importance of patient verification in phlebotomy.