American Medical Technologist (AMT) Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

A skin puncture is preferred over a venipuncture when the patient has severe burns, particularly in areas where venipuncture would be challenging or risky. In cases of severe burns, the skin may be damaged, making veins less accessible or more likely to be damaged if a needle were to be inserted intravenously. The skin puncture allows for blood collection from capillaries without the complications that could arise from accessing a vein in an area with compromised skin integrity.

In scenarios involving dehydration, while it may present challenges for venipuncture, skin punctures would not address the underlying issue and may still not provide sufficient blood volume. A high pain tolerance primarily doesn't dictate the choice of procedure, as both methods can cause discomfort regardless of the patient’s pain threshold. When an infection is present, especially in the bloodstream (such as septicemia), venipuncture is usually preferable to ensure a larger volume of blood is collected for accurate testing.