American Medical Technologist (AMT) Practice Exam

What can careful site selection and limited needle relocation help prevent?

1. Infection

2. Injury

3. Phlebitis

4. Hemoconcentration

The correct answer is: Injury

Careful site selection and limited needle relocation are important practices in phlebotomy that primarily help prevent injury. When a needle is inserted into a vein, adjusting the needle position excessively can cause trauma to the surrounding tissues, including nerves and blood vessels. This repeated movement can lead to complications such as hematomas or nerve damage, which can result in pain and longer recovery times for patients. By choosing an appropriate site initially and minimizing the need to relocate the needle, practitioners reduce the risk of injuring the vein and surrounding structures. This is particularly important in maintaining patient safety and ensuring a comfortable experience during blood collection, enhancing overall procedural efficacy. Infection, phlebitis, and hemoconcentration are concerns that do relate to phlebotomy practices, but they are more directly associated with factors like poor aseptic technique, prolonged catheterization, and the biology of blood flow, rather than the specific issue of needle movement at the site of venipuncture.