VTNE Sample Questions & Answers
Free Veterinary Technician National Examination practice questions with worked answers and explanations. See how the ExamJungle simulator prepares you — then jump into the full test.
Launch the full VTNE simulator →Showing 6 of 12 free samples.
- Question 1Advanced
Surgical Nursing · Task 2I - Sterilize equipment and supplies by the appropriate method (including but not limited to steam, gas).
While processing reusable cloth surgical drapes and gowns contaminated with infectious exudate from a septic peritonitis surgery, which decontamination, laundering, and packaging protocol must the technician follow prior to steam sterilization?
flowchart LR A[Infectious Surgical Linen] --> B[Presoak Step] B --> C[Machine Wash Cycle] C --> D[High-Temp Drying] D --> E[Pack Assembly with QC Indicator] E --> F[Steam Autoclave]Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Infectious laundry must be presoaked in a 9:1 water-to-bleach solution, washed, and dried at high temperatures (65-70°C) before packing with a sterility indicator; autoclaving soiled linen sets protein stains.
- Question 2Intermediate
Dentistry · Task 3C - Perform Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) (including but not limited to scaling and polishing; manual and machine).
While performing a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) on an anesthetized beagle, a veterinary technician uses a powered ultrasonic scaler to remove heavy supragingival calculus from the maxillary fourth premolars. Which technique prevents iatrogenic thermal pulp necrosis and enamel damage during mechanical scaling?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Adapting the lateral surface of the ultrasonic tip at 0-15 degrees with adequate water coolant and limiting contact time prevents thermal pulpitis, whereas pointing the tip at 90 degrees gouges enamel.
- Question 3Advanced
Laboratory Procedures · Task 4C - Perform laboratory tests and procedures (including but not limited to microbiology, serology, cytology, hematology, urinalysis, and parasitology).
A mixed-animal veterinary hospital receives an EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood sample collected from a 4-year-old Holstein cow and another EDTA blood sample from a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever. Because a courier vehicle was delayed, the canine sample remained in warm transit for 16 hours before arriving at the clinic laboratory, whereas the bovine sample was collected on-site 10 minutes before processing.
The veterinary technician analyzes both samples on an automated hematology analyzer, which directly measures mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and red blood cell (RBC) count to generate a calculated hematocrit using the formula HCT = (MCV x RBC count) ÷ 10. To cross-check the automated values, the technician also prepares microhematocrit capillary tubes from both samples to measure the spun packed cell volume (PCV).
When setting up the microhematocrit centrifuge for both species and interpreting discrepancies between the calculated HCT and spun PCV, which centrifugation protocol and hematologic interpretation are correct?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Ruminant RBCs do not pack as readily and require 10 minutes of centrifugation versus 3 minutes in dogs. Prolonged storage causes RBC swelling, which increases MCV and falsely elevates calculated HCT.
- Question 4IntermediateSelect 2
Laboratory Procedures · Task 4C - Perform laboratory tests and procedures (including but not limited to microbiology, serology, cytology, hematology, urinalysis, and parasitology).
A veterinary technician is performing diagnostic parasitology evaluations on canine blood and fecal specimens. Which TWO laboratory procedures or diagnostic interpretations are accurate? (Select TWO)
Show answer & explanation
Correct answers: A, E
The Baermann technique uses warm water to stimulate active migration of lungworm larvae out of fecal samples so they settle in the funnel stem for microscopic identification.
Modified Knott's lyses red cells and fixes microfilariae in an extended state so body length, width, and tail morphology can differentiate D. immitis from A. reconditum.
- Question 5Intermediate
Animal Care and Nursing · Task 5D - Perform clinical procedures to aid in diagnosis and prognosis (including but not limited to blood pressure measurement, electrocardiography, and tonometry).
A critically ill domestic shorthair cat is admitted to the intensive care unit in decompensated shock with an initial Doppler blood pressure (DopBP) of 66 mm Hg. While monitoring the patient's response to hemodynamic stabilization during hospitalization, what minimum increase in DopBP is associated with a significantly higher (69% vs. 17%) survival-to-discharge rate?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
In critically ill hypotensive cats, achieving an increase in Doppler blood pressure of at least 20 mm Hg during hospitalization correlates with a 69% survival rate compared to 17% when the increase is under 20 mm Hg.
- Question 6Beginner
Animal Care and Nursing · Task 5D - Perform clinical procedures to aid in diagnosis and prognosis (including but not limited to blood pressure measurement, electrocardiography, and tonometry).
True or False: Continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring alone is sufficient to rule out cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) in a critically ill patient because the presence of organized QRS complexes on the monitor guarantees mechanical cardiac output and peripheral perfusion.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
ECG measures only electrical activity and cannot rule out cardiopulmonary arrest during pulseless electrical activity (PEA) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, so it must be paired with blood pressure, SpO2, or ETCO2.
Ready for the real thing?
The full VTNE simulator has every exam-style question, timed mode, and instant scoring.