Phlebotomy Technician Practice Exam (NCPT/CPT)

What should be checked on blood tubes before their use?

1. Expiration date

2. Manufacturer's reputation

3. Tube color

4. Tube size

The correct answer is: Expiration date

Before using blood tubes, it is important to check their expiration date. This is because expired blood tubes may not effectively collect or preserve blood samples, leading to inaccurate test results. Checking the manufacturer's reputation or tube color does not pertain to the functionality of the tubes, and thus are not correct options. Similarly, tube size may affect the amount of blood that can be collected, but is not a key factor in determining the quality or usability of the tubes. Therefore, expiration date is the most important factor to check before using blood tubes.