American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) Phlebotomy Practice Exam

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Prepare for the AMCA Phlebotomy Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Ace the exam and become a certified phlebotomy technician!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the recommended maximum time to leave a tourniquet on a patient's arm?

2 minutes
5 minutes
1 minute
30 seconds

The correct answer is: 1 minute

The recommended maximum time to leave a tourniquet on a patient's arm is one minute. This guideline is crucial because prolonged application of a tourniquet can lead to venous stasis and the potential for hemoconcentration, which can affect laboratory test results. Additionally, leaving a tourniquet on for too long can cause discomfort and bruising for the patient. In practice, phlebotomists are trained to apply the tourniquet shortly before the venipuncture to allow for venous distention and then remove it as soon as the blood collection is initiated to minimize complications. Using the tourniquet for just one minute strikes a balance between achieving adequate venous access and ensuring patient safety and comfort.