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CMA · 20% of the exam

Procedures/Examinations practice questions

10 free Procedures/Examinations questions for the CMA (AAMA) Certified Medical Assistant Exam (CMA) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question CMA quiz

What this domain covers

The largest CMA domain: assisting with examinations and clinical procedures, including specimens and point-of-care tests.

Exam weight
20%
On a real exam
≈ 40 questions
In our bank
121 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Assisting with physical exams and minor procedures
  • Venipuncture and capillary puncture
  • Specimen collection and handling
  • ECG basics and lead placement
  • Point-of-care testing and quality control

How to study it

Memorise the order of draw and the tube colours with their additives; it's one of the most reliably tested facts on the exam.

Sample Procedures/Examinations questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    A hemoglobin A1C level reflects average blood glucose over about:

    • A1 year
    • BAbout 1 day
    • CAbout 1 week
    • D2–3 months
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) 2–3 months

    • AIncorrect. It covers about 2–3 months.
    • BIncorrect. That is a daily glucose.
    • CIncorrect. It covers months.
    • DCorrect. It reflects the lifespan of red blood cells.

  2. Question 2

    How can a hematoma be prevented during venipuncture?

    • AProbe the vein repeatedly
    • BRemove the needle while the tourniquet is still tight, then bend the arm up hard
    • CBend the arm up tightly right away
    • DRelease the tourniquet first, then remove the needle and apply pressure
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Release the tourniquet first, then remove the needle and apply pressure

    • AIncorrect. That causes tissue damage.
    • BIncorrect. That causes bleeding.
    • CIncorrect. Apply direct pressure instead.
    • DCorrect. This limits bleeding into tissue.

  3. Question 3

    Normal sinus rhythm has a heart rate of:

    • A30–50 bpm
    • B60–100 bpm
    • C120–150 bpm
    • D150–200 bpm
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 60–100 bpm

    • AIncorrect. This is bradycardia.
    • BCorrect. Below 60 is sinus bradycardia; above 100 is sinus tachycardia.
    • CIncorrect. This is tachycardia.
    • DIncorrect. This is too fast.

  4. Question 4

    A provider orders an in-office rapid influenza diagnostic test for a patient with fever and cough that started two days ago. Which specimen does the medical assistant typically collect, following the kit's package insert?

    • AA venous blood sample drawn to check for influenza antibodies
    • BA nasopharyngeal or nasal swab of the upper respiratory tract
    • CA fingerstick capillary blood sample applied to a test cassette
    • DA clean-catch midstream urine sample tested for viral antigen
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) A nasopharyngeal or nasal swab of the upper respiratory tract

    Rapid influenza tests are immunoassays that detect viral antigens in respiratory specimens, usually nasopharyngeal or nasal swabs. Always follow the specific kit's package insert.

    • AIncorrect. Rapid influenza tests detect viral antigens in respiratory specimens, not antibodies in blood. Antibodies also take time to develop after infection.
    • BCorrect. Rapid influenza tests detect influenza A and B antigens in respiratory specimens, usually a nasopharyngeal or nasal swab. The package insert lists the approved specimen types.
    • CIncorrect. Fingerstick cassettes are used for tests like glucose or hemoglobin. Influenza virus is found in respiratory secretions, not capillary blood.
    • DIncorrect. Influenza is a respiratory infection, and rapid influenza tests are not approved for urine specimens.

  5. Question 5

    Why do bandage scissors have a blunt tip?

    • ATo cut tissue during surgery
    • BTo cut sutures close to the skin without pulling on the wound edges
    • CTo slide under bandages without injuring the skin
    • DTo open supply boxes
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) To slide under bandages without injuring the skin

    • AIncorrect. That's surgical scissors.
    • BIncorrect. That's suture scissors.
    • CCorrect. The blunt tip protects the patient.
    • DIncorrect. That isn't their purpose.

  6. Question 6

    When is a butterfly (winged infusion) set useful?

    • AFor intramuscular injections
    • BFor very large veins only
    • CFor capillary puncture
    • DFor small or fragile veins
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) For small or fragile veins

    • AIncorrect. It's for venipuncture.
    • BIncorrect. It's useful for small veins.
    • CIncorrect. That uses a lancet.
    • DCorrect. Hand veins are an example.

  7. Question 7

    For an infant heel stick, the puncture should be made on the:

    • ABack of the heel
    • BSide of the heel
    • CCenter of the arch
    • DTip of the big toe
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Side of the heel

    • AIncorrect. This risks bone injury.
    • BCorrect. These areas avoid the bone and nerves.
    • CIncorrect. This is not recommended.
    • DIncorrect. This is not recommended.

  8. Question 8

    A sputum specimen is best collected:

    • AAt any random time
    • BRight after eating
    • CFrom saliva only
    • DIn the early morning
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) In the early morning

    • AIncorrect. Morning is best.
    • BIncorrect. Food can contaminate it.
    • CIncorrect. It must come from deep coughing.
    • DCorrect. Secretions accumulate overnight.

  9. Question 9

    Which wound drainage is thin, watery and pale yellow?

    • APurulent
    • BSerous
    • CSanguineous
    • DSerosanguineous
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Serous

    Serous drainage is thin, watery, clear to pale yellow plasma with no blood. Sanguineous drainage is bloody, serosanguineous is blood-tinged serum, and purulent drainage is thick and suggests infection.

    • AIncorrect. Purulent drainage is thick and opaque. It can be tan, yellow, green or brown, and it points to infection.
    • BCorrect. Serous drainage is clear to pale yellow, thin and watery fluid that comes from plasma (serum) and contains no blood. It is normal early in wound healing.
    • CIncorrect. Sanguineous drainage is bloody, meaning fresh bleeding from the wound.
    • DIncorrect. Serosanguineous drainage is serum mixed with a small amount of blood, so it looks pink or blood-tinged rather than plain pale yellow.

  10. Question 10

    On standard ECG paper, how long does one small box represent?

    • A0.20 seconds
    • B0.04 seconds
    • C1 second
    • D0.40 seconds
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 0.04 seconds

    • AIncorrect. That's a large box.
    • BCorrect. A large box is 0.20 seconds.
    • CIncorrect. That's five large boxes.
    • DIncorrect. That's two large boxes.

Procedures/Examinations: FAQs

How much of the CMA exam is Procedures/Examinations?

Procedures/Examinations is 20% of the CMA exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 200-question form works out to roughly 40 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Procedures/Examinations domain cover?

The largest CMA domain: assisting with examinations and clinical procedures, including specimens and point-of-care tests.

How should I study Procedures/Examinations for CMA?

Memorise the order of draw and the tube colours with their additives; it's one of the most reliably tested facts on the exam.

Where can I practise more Procedures/Examinations questions?

This page has 10 free Procedures/Examinations questions with answers. The ExamWize CMA question bank has 121 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other CMA topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the CMA cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Procedures/Examinations exam-ready

The full CMA bank has 121 Procedures/Examinations questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full CMA practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with AAMA; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.