How many processing questions are on the CPT?

14. The blueprint in force publishes an item count for every content area, and it gives Processing 14% of the paper — 14 of the 100 scored questions (14%). The full-length test on this site deals that number rather than an even share.

Is this section timed?

Not on this page. These sets are for learning the material — each answer comes with an explanation straight away. When you want the whole paper, the full-length test runs the published clock. The real sitting is 120 questions in 120 minutes.

Are these real questions from the test?

No. Every question here is original, written to the published format. The real item banks are confidential and nobody outside the publisher has them.

CPT processing questions

What happens to the specimen after the needle comes out — and the chain that must not break.

5 14 of the 100 scored questions (14%)

20 questions in this set Untimed — explanation after each answer

CPT processing 1 of 10

Why must a centrifuge be loaded in balance?

What this type asks

Fourteen questions on the half of the job that happens after the patient has gone. Preparing specimens by centrifuging, aliquoting, freezing or refrigerating; maintaining integrity against the handling requirements that apply to that specimen — temperature, light, time; adhering to chain of custody where it is required, which is what makes a forensic or blood alcohol specimen admissible rather than merely accurate; following clinical research protocols; coordinating with non-laboratory staff; entering and retrieving specimen data; recognising and reporting critical values from point-of-care and CLIA-waived testing; making sure results reach the ordering provider; and contacting the patient when a re-collection is needed. The unifying idea is that a specimen is only as good as the least careful thing that happened to it, and most of those things happen here.

Preparing specimens for testing or transport (centrifuging, aliquoting, freezing, refrigeration)Maintaining specimen integrity against handling requirementsAdhering to chain of custody guidelines where requiredFollowing clinical research laboratory protocolsCoordinating communication with non-laboratory personnelInputting and retrieving specimen data in the laboratory information systemRecognising and reporting critical values for point-of-care and CLIA-waived testingEnsuring results are distributed and the medical record updatedContacting the patient for re-collection as needed

Now do it with the clock running.

120 questions in 120 minutes — about 1 minutes each, which is the part no amount of untimed practice prepares you for.

Take the full CPT test

The other question types

Safety and compliance Patient preparation Routine blood collections Special collections Full timed test

Frequently asked

How many processing questions are on the CPT?: 14. The blueprint in force publishes an item count for every content area, and it gives Processing 14% of the paper — 14 of the 100 scored questions (14%). The full-length test on this site deals that number rather than an even share.
Is this section timed?: Not on this page. These sets are for learning the material — each answer comes with an explanation straight away. When you want the whole paper, the full-length test runs the published clock. The real sitting is 120 questions in 120 minutes.
Are these real questions from the test?: No. Every question here is original, written to the published format. The real item banks are confidential and nobody outside the publisher has them.

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from one of the documents below, with the date it was read. Requirements change; if a source has moved on since that date, the source is right and this page is out of date.

National Healthcareer Association — NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Test Plan for the CPT Exam Read August 29, 2026
National Healthcareer Association — NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Detailed Test Plan (2016 job analysis) Read August 29, 2026
National Healthcareer Association — Phlebotomy Certification (CPT) programme page Read August 29, 2026

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