California Phlebotomy Certification Practice Exam

What should a technician do if a patient is allergic to latex during a blood draw?

1. Use latex gloves

2. Use vinyl or nitrile gloves

3. Consult the physician for alternative measures

4. Use a latex bandage post-draw

The correct answer is: Use vinyl or nitrile gloves

When a patient is allergic to latex, using vinyl or nitrile gloves is the appropriate course of action. These materials are non-latex alternatives that provide a barrier to potential contaminants without triggering an allergic response. Latex allergies can range in severity, so it is crucial to prevent any exposure to latex products during procedures such as a blood draw. Vinyl and nitrile gloves have similar protective qualities to latex gloves but do not contain the proteins that cause allergic reactions. This makes them suitable for ensuring patient safety while still allowing the technician to perform the necessary procedures effectively. In contrast, using latex gloves would pose a direct risk to the patient’s health, consulting a physician for alternative measures might add unnecessary delays and may not provide immediate relief for the patient’s allergy, and using a latex bandage post-draw would again expose the patient to latex, potentially causing an adverse reaction. Thus, selecting non-latex gloves directly addresses the safety and comfort of the patient during medical procedures.