CPT (Certified Phlebotomy Technician) Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

When a patient has an IV running in their arm, it is best practice to perform the blood draw on the opposite arm. This recommendation is crucial because drawing blood from the same arm where the IV is located could lead to contamination of the sample with IV fluids or medications, which can affect laboratory results. Furthermore, performing the blood draw below the IV site can cause dilution of the blood sample with the IV fluid, ultimately compromising the integrity of the test results.

Choosing the opposite arm ensures that the blood sample is not influenced by any substances that may be present in the IV. It also minimizes the risk of complications, such as hematoma formation or discomfort for the patient, by avoiding the area of active intravenous therapy. Therefore, opting to use the opposite arm is the most appropriate and safest choice for obtaining a quality blood sample while preserving the validity of test results.