Infection Control, Instruments and Laboratory Procedures practice questions

Answer: B) Side of the fleshy pad of the middle or ring finger

For adults, the capillary puncture goes on the side of the fleshy pad (pulp) of the middle or ring finger. Heel sticks are for infants.

• AIncorrect. The index finger is often callused and more sensitive. The very tip has little tissue over the bone, so this site is avoided.
• BCorrect. CDC guidance says to prick the side of the pulp of the 3rd or 4th finger. This gives good blood flow with less pain than the center of the pad.
• CIncorrect. Heel punctures are used for infants, not for routine adult capillary collection.
• DIncorrect. The little finger has thin tissue over the bone. The center of the pad is also more painful than the side.

Answer: D) Ratchet

• AIncorrect. Rings hold the fingers.
• BIncorrect. Serrations grip tissue.
• CIncorrect. Teeth grasp tissue firmly.
• DCorrect. Ratchets hold the jaws closed at set positions.

Answer: C) Tonsils and pharynx

• AIncorrect. This is not the target.
• BIncorrect. Avoid the tongue.
• CCorrect. Swab the posterior pharynx and tonsils, avoiding the tongue.
• DIncorrect. This is not the target.

Answer: A) Make the vaccine series available at no cost within 10 working days of initial assignment

The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires employers to offer the hepatitis B vaccine series at no cost within 10 working days of initial assignment. Prescreening cannot be required, and employees may decline in writing.

• ACorrect. 29 CFR 1910.1030(f) requires employers to make the hepatitis B vaccine series available at no cost to the employee within 10 working days of initial assignment.
• BIncorrect. The standard says the employer may not make participation in a prescreening program a prerequisite for receiving the vaccine.
• CIncorrect. Employees may decline by signing the declination statement in Appendix A. They may still accept the vaccine later at no cost.
• DIncorrect. Post-exposure follow-up is a separate requirement. The vaccine must be offered before any exposure, at initial assignment.

Answer: B) Blood

• AIncorrect. It is not spread by casual contact.
• BCorrect. HBV is a bloodborne pathogen.
• CIncorrect. It is not airborne.
• DIncorrect. It is not vector-borne.

Answer: D) 1 minute

• AIncorrect. The limit is about 1 minute.
• BIncorrect. This is too long.
• CIncorrect. This is too long.
• DCorrect. Longer application can alter results (hemoconcentration).

Answer: D) Diabetes mellitus

• AIncorrect. That's hCG.
• BIncorrect. It isn't normal.
• CIncorrect. That's nitrite or leukocytes.
• DCorrect. Blood glucose is high enough to spill into urine.

Answer: A) Resident microorganisms that normally live on or in the body and help keep pathogens from multiplying

Normal flora are microorganisms that normally live on or in the body without causing disease and help prevent pathogens from multiplying. Disrupting them, for example with antibiotics, can allow opportunistic overgrowth.

• ACorrect. Normal flora are the microbes that normally colonize the skin, gut and other sites. They compete with pathogens for space and nutrients. When an antibiotic disrupts them, organisms such as yeast or C. difficile can overgrow.
• BIncorrect. This describes a carrier state of a pathogen, not the harmless resident microbes that make up normal flora.
• CIncorrect. These are transient or environmental pathogens. Normal flora are resident microbes that usually do not cause disease where they normally live.
• DIncorrect. These are parts of the body's own immune system. Normal flora are microorganisms, not body cells or proteins.

Answer: D) Light blue (sodium citrate)

• AIncorrect. That's for serum.
• BIncorrect. That's for CBCs.
• CIncorrect. That's for glucose.
• DCorrect. It must be filled completely.

Answer: A) Not be recapped by hand

• ACorrect. Two-handed recapping causes needlesticks.
• BIncorrect. This is prohibited.
• CIncorrect. This is prohibited.
• DIncorrect. Use sharps containers.