CPT (Certified Phlebotomy Technician) Practice Exam

What do you do with the first drop of capillary blood?

1. Air dry it

2. Blow it away

3. Wipe it away

4. Leave it on the skin

The correct answer is: Wipe it away

The appropriate action with the first drop of capillary blood is to wipe it away. This is done to eliminate any potential contaminants that could interfere with the laboratory test results. The first drop may contain tissue fluids or other contaminants from the skin, which can skew the accuracy of the test. By wiping it away with a clean tissue or gauze, the phlebotomist ensures that the subsequent sample is as pure as possible for accurate diagnostic purposes. Collecting from the second or subsequent drops is standard practice as they are less likely to be affected by these contaminants.