Skin Puncture Quiz

Which of the following devices is not appropriate for performing skin punctures?
1. lancet
2. automatic puncture device
3. puncture device with retractable blade
4. surgical blade
Skin punctures should not exceed a depth of:
1. 3 mm
2. 2 mm
3. 1 mm
4. 4 mm
The following sites should not be used for collection of capillary samples:
1. baby finger
2. thumb
3. very side or tip of the finger
4. all of the above
The first drop of blood that forms following a skin puncture should be:
1. bright red
2. hemolyzed
3. wiped away
4. all of the above
The proper order of draw for skin puncture samples is:
1. red, lavender, blood gases, smears
2. smears, blood gases, lavender, red
3. blood gases, smears, lavender, red
4. lavender, blood gases, red, smears
Skin puncture blood is comprised of:
1. venous blood
2. arterial blood
3. interstitial fluid
4. all of the above
Capillaries are located:
1. only in the antecubital fossa
2. less than 2 mm below the skin surface
3. both a) and b)
4. none of the above
Pressure must be applied to the skin puncture site:
1. Continuously so that tissue fluid does not contaminate the sample
2. Intermittently to allow capillaries to refill before applying further pressure
3. Continuously so that wound does not stop bleeding
4. None of the above
Cotton/rayon balls may:
1. initiate bleeding when removed from the puncture site
2. cause hemolysis of the sample
3. be used instead of 70% alcohol when cleansing the skin puncture site
4. All of the above
Capillary tubes used for collecting blood gases:
1. should be anticoagulated
2. should be collected before other samples
3. should be immediately placed on ice
4. all of the above
Which of the following tests are often performed on pediatric skin puncture samples:
1. CBC
2. Blood culture
3. PT
4. All of the above
The following sites are acceptable for performing skin punctures:
1. cyanotic
2. previous puncture sites
3. edematous
4. none of the above
Retractable lancets provide:
1. protection against sharps injuries
2. an opportunity for a sharps injury to occur
3. protection against injury to tissues and structures lying below the capillary bed
4. both a) and c)
The following is/are true:
1. bandages should not be used on infants and children less than the age of two
2. to stop bleeding following heel puncture, the foot of the infant should be elevated
3. skin antisepsis usually involves the use of 70% alcohol
4. all of the above
The blade of the lancet should:
1. Be held firmly against the skin
2. Be placed across the finger-print
3. Have a controlled depth
4. All of the above
Blood flow from a skin puncture wound can be improved by:
1. a wider cut
2. a deeper cut
3. warming the site
4. both a) and c)
The first drop of blood that forms following skin puncture is wiped away because:
1. it contains excess tissue fluid
2. platelets have to be removed from the site
3. it may contain residual alcohol
4. both a) and c)
If a blood smear is prepared from an EDTA tube, it should be made:
1. within one hour
2. within two hours
3. within four hours
4. there is no time limit – the sample is anticoagulated
Blood for smears and EDTA tubes are collected before other tests to reduce:
1. contamination with tissue fluid
2. platelet clumping in the sample
3. hemolysis
4. all of the above
Skin puncture blood reference values are higher than those of venous blood for which of the following:
1. CBC
2. Glucose
3. Potassium
4. Protein