Test your knowledge of phlebotomy and the correct order of draw with this interactive quiz. Designed for nursing students, medical assistants, and NCLEX prep, these questions cover essential topics such as lab tube colors, additives, proper inversion techniques, and blood collection order.
Understanding these concepts is critical for accurate lab results and safe patient care. Take the quiz to strengthen your skills and ensure you’re confident in performing blood draws and handling laboratory specimens correctly.
Order of Draw Phlebotomy Quiz Questions
Order of Draw Reference
Never forget the order of draw with this bright, easy-to-read “Order of Draw” mouse pad or poster, designed for phlebotomists, nurses, and students who want accurate lab information at a glance.
This functional reference displays each lab tube color in the correct order, including additives, common tests, required inversion times, and a memory mnemonic, keeping essential details right at your fingertips while you study, chart, or work.
Perfect for study desks, nursing stations, labs, classrooms, and offices, this reference reinforces accuracy, confidence, and best practice without interrupting your workflow.
Whether you’re learning, teaching, or practicing, this mouse pad turns essential lab knowledge into a clean, colorful, and functional reference that supports safe, accurate blood collection.
Available at: NurseSarah.com
Order of Draw Phlebotomy Quiz
- What lab tube contains the additive sodium citrate?
A. Lavender top
B. Light blue top
C. Green top
D. Gold top
The answer is B: Light blue top. Light blue tubes contain sodium citrate, which prevents clotting. They are commonly used for coagulation tests like PT, INR, fibrinogen etc.
- The nurse needs to draw the following lab tubes: pink (EDTA), light green (lithium heparin), gray (potassium oxalate), and light blue (sodium citrate). Which one will the nurse draw last?
A. Pink top
B. Light green top
C. Gray top
D. Light blue top
The answer is C: Gray top. The gray tube is drawn last in the order of draw because it contains additives like fluoride and oxalate that could cross contaminate the other tubes.
- The patient is ordered a PT/INR and CBC. The nurse obtains a light blue tube (sodium citrate), a lavender (EDTA) top tube, and a winged butterfly collection set. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. The nurse draws the lavender tube first.
B. The nurse draws a discard tube and then draws the lavender tube followed by the light blue tube.
C. The nurse draws a discard tube and then draws the light blue tube followed by the lavender tube.
D. The nurse draws the light blue tube immediately after obtaining blood flow.
The answer is C: The nurse draws a discard tube and then draws the light blue tube followed by the lavender tube. When using a butterfly needle, a discard tube is needed before the light blue tube to remove air from the tubing so the correct blood-to-additive ratio is obtained for coagulation tests.
- What type of additive does the lavender tube contain?
A. EDTA
B. Sodium citrate
C. Lithium heparin
D. Sodium heparin
The answer is A: EDTA. Lavender tubes contain EDTA, which prevents clotting and is commonly used for tests like a CBC, hemoglobinA1c etc.
- Which tube top color is typically used for blood typing?
A. Lavender
B. Green
C. Gray
D. Pink
The answer is D: Pink. Pink tubes contain EDTA and are commonly used for blood typing and crossmatching in the blood bank.
- The nurse is ordered to draw a lactic acid level. Which tube color will the nurse select?
A. Light blue
B. Gray
C. Lavender
D. Pink
The answer is B: Gray. Gray tubes contain sodium fluoride, which helps preserve glucose and lactate levels in the blood sample.
- Select all the lab tubes that contain the additive EDTA:
A. Light blue top
B. Yellow top
C. Pink top
D. Green top
E. Lavender top
The answers are C: Pink top and E: Lavender top. Both pink and lavender tubes contain EDTA, which prevents blood from clotting and is commonly used for CBC and blood bank testing.
- The nurse is ordered to draw the following tube colors: green (sodium heparin), yellow (blood cultures), light blue (sodium citrate), and lavender (EDTA). Which tube will the nurse draw first?
A. Light blue
B. Yellow
C. Green
D. Lavender
The answer is B: Yellow. Blood cultures (yellow tubes) are drawn first in the order of draw to prevent contamination and ensure accurate detection of microorganisms.
- Fill in the blank: A gold (clot activator) tube top is inverted times and a light blue (sodium citrate) tube top is inverted times after collection.
A. 2–3; 3–4
B. 5–10; 8–10
C. 3–4; 3–4
D. 5–10; 3–4
The answer is D: 5–10; 3–4. Gold tubes must be inverted 5–10 times to properly mix the clot activator and gel separator. Light blue tubes are inverted 3–4 times to gently mix sodium citrate with the blood for accurate coagulation testing.
- Select all the tubes that have the same inversion time after collection:
A. Pink
B. Green
C. Light blue
D. Lavender
E. Gray
The answers are A: Pink, B: Green, D: Lavender, and E: Gray. These tubes are all inverted 8–10 times after collection to make sure the additives mix properly with the blood. Light blue (C) is only inverted 3–4 times, so it is not included.
- The nurse needs to draw the following lab tubes: red (clot activator), light green (lithium heparin), lavender (EDTA), yellow (blood cultures), gold (clot activator), gray (potassium oxalate), light blue (sodium citrate), and pink (EDTA). Which option demonstrates the correct order of draw for these tubes?
A. Yellow, light blue, red, gold, light green, lavender, pink, and gray
B. Yellow, gold, red, light blue, light green, lavender, gray, and pink
C. Light blue, gray, red, yellow, pink, lavender, gold, and green
D. Yellow, light blue, red, gold, light green, lavender, gray, and pink
The answer is A: Yellow, light blue, red, gold, light green, lavender, pink, and gray. The correct order of draw helps prevent additives from contaminating other tubes. Blood cultures are drawn first, followed by coagulation tubes, then serum tubes, heparin tubes, EDTA tubes, and gray tubes last.
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