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Phlebotomist

Phlebotomy is the act of drawing blood either for testing or transfusion. It is a skill employed by physicians and many professionals in allied health fields, including medical assistants, paramedics, and clinical laboratory scientists. Health care is a rapidly expanding industry, and a new professional, the certified phlebotomist, helps to reduce the workload of doctors and nurses by focusing exclusively on blood collection, particularly in hospitals and blood drives. Depending on the regional characteristics of the organization they work for, phlebotomists may have to travel to collect samples (this is referred to as a domiciliary service). They may travel to nursing homes or outpatient clinics to collect samples. Phlebotomists collect blood primarily by performing venipuncture and, for collection of minute quantities of blood, fingersticks. Blood may be collected from infants by means of a heel stick. Specially trained phlebotomists collect arterial blood samples from the radial artery of the wrist or brachial artery in the antecubital area (bend in the arm).

What is a Phlebotomy Technician?

A Phlebotomy Technician, also called a Phlebotomist, Phlebotomy Tech, Blood Drawer, Patient Care Technician, or Patient Care Aide, is an integral member of the health care team. The primary function of the Phlebotomy technician is to collect blood samples from patients by venipuncture or microtechniques. The Phlebotomy Technician facilitates the collection and transportation of laboratory specimens, and is often the patient’s only contact with the medical laboratory. A phlebotomy technician also draws blood for transfusions, donations and research.

Phlebotomy Technicians must like challenge and responsibility. They must be accurate, work well under pressure and communicate effectively. In addition, they must have an understanding of the health care environment. They are required to practice discretion and confidentiality at all times. They must be able to deal with patients and be able to calm patients. This is why we offer our students a well-rounded education which includes hands-on training as well as instruction on patient needs. Our training is your foundation for your career as a Phlebotomist, or in any crossover medical career you may pursue in the future.

What are the duties of a Phlebotomy Technician?

Duties performed by a Phlebotomy Technician differ by doctor's office, hospital and laboratory:

A phlebotomy technician:

  • Draws blood from patients or donors in hospitals, blood banks, clinics, doctor's offices, laboratories or similar facility for medical purposes
  • Assembles equipment (such as needles, blood collection devices, gauze, tourniquet, cotton, and alcohol)
  • Verifies or records identity of patient or donor
  • Converses with patients to allay fear of procedure
  • Applies tourniquet to arm, locates vein, swabs area with disinfectant, and inserts needle into vein to draw blood into collection tube. (May also prick finger instead of inserting needle.)
  • Labels and stores blood container for processing
  • May conduct interview, take vital signs and test blood samples to screen donors at a blood bank
  • Analyzes information and make appropriate recommendations

Do I have to take a State License examination when I complete the Phlebotomy training?

Some states such as New York there is no license, certification, special test or examination required when you complete your Phlebotomy Technician course. When you finish your Phlebotomy training, the school will issue you a diploma. This is what you will need when you pursue work as a Phlebotomy Technician. If in doubt contact your states department of health or department of education.

I went to school and took an allied medical course. Some phlebotomy was covered. I am not sure if I learned enough to perform phlebotomy.

This question is often asked by students. Phlebotomy is included in the education of some allied medical and nurse courses, which is not job specific to only phlebotomy. This includes: Medical assistant training, Laboratory technician class, Nurse technician, Multiskilled medical technician, and sometimes even in certified nurse assistant training. It is very hard to know what you have learned unless I see the curriculum for the course. There are schools that just discuss the phlebotomy procedure as part of their course. This, of course would not be proper training for a phlebotomy technician. I have also seen schools who give a complete education in phlebotomy. Students who graduate from such a school would have the knowledge to work as a phlebotomy technician.

It is important to have had enough training in drawing blood.

Below I have listed what a phlebotomy technician would be required to do in a hospital setting. I have listed the standard procedure for performing phlebotomy.

Again before considering if you are qualified as a phlebotomy technician, you should have experience in actual blood drawing using training arms and/or patients under supervision.

Sample Phlebotomy Procedure:

  • First the phlebotomy technician must confirm the identity of the patient. Check armbands of all inpatients for name and medical record number. Ask outpatients for their name and date of birth.
  • The phlebotomy technician must make sure that the name and medical record number on the laboratory requisition match the information on the armband and/or information provided by the patient.
  • The phlebotomy technician will wash hands, using proper hand washing procedures.
  • The phlebotomy technician will then put on gloves.
  • Inspect the patient's arm. The phlebotomy technician then needs to select an appropriate venipuncture site.
  • Place the tourniquet approximately 3" to 5" above the vein site. The phlebotomy technician will instruct the patient to extend his/her arm and open and close the fist a few times to engorge the veins for easier identification.
  • Palpate the selected vein if necessary. The phlebotomy technician will then cleanse with alcohol or povidone-iodine prep pads. Allow the area to dry completely. A phlebotomy technician must never leave the tourniquet on the arm for more than 2 minutes without releasing.
  • The phlebotomy technician will then prepare the Vacutainer® holder by aseptically screwing in the multisample needle into the holder. Use only holders that are equipped with a needle safety device.
  • Firmly grasping the Vacutainer® holder with the dominant hand, puncture the vein at a 35° to 45° angle. As the needle enters the skin, lower the angle so that only the anterior wall of the vein is pierced. Push the Vacutainer® tube onto the needle in the holder. Maintain stability of the needle in the vein. Blood should immediately begin to fill the tube due to the vacuum action. Fill all tubes completely. When drawing multiple blood tests, it is important to draw the blood in a specific order to prevent contamination of subsequently drawn tubes by anticoagulants. The phlebotomy technician must know the required order of draw, which is:
    • Blood culture
    • Red top tube
    • Gold top tube
    • Light blue top tube
    • Black top tube
    • Green or tan top tube
    • Royal blue EDTA Blood Bank tube (lavender band on tube)
    • Lavender/purple top tube
    • Gray top tube
    • Yellow top ACD tube
    • Yellow/black top IsolatorTM tube
  • Phlebotomy Blood Collection Tubes used in class practice
  • The phlebotomy technician will remove the tube and replace it with a new tube as needed, keeping the needle steady and in the vein. Gently invert the collected tube of blood several times. DO NOT SHAKE.
  • After the phlebotomy technician has collected all tubes, the phlebotomy technician will then release the tourniquet. Remove the Vacutainer® tube from the holder before removing the needle from the vein.
  • Next the phlebotomy technician must press a sterile gauze pad over the venipuncture site and remove the needle. Hold the pad in place for 1-3 minutes until bleeding has stopped.
  • After the bleeding has stopped, the phlebotomy technician will place a bandage over the site to prevent blood leakage.
  • It is required that the phlebotomy technician immediately label all specimens with the patient's name and medical record number. Be sure that the name on the requisition and corresponding tube are spelled correctly.
  • After labeling the specimens, the phlebotomy technician has to indicate the number and type of tubes drawn and the time of collection on the requisition. Sign the requisition with your name or phlebotomy identification code. Initial all Blood Bank tubes. (See specific instructions for collection of samples for Blood Bank at the end of this section.)
  • It is then the responsibility of the phlebotomy technician to place all tubes in the approved specimen transport bag with the requisition and transport to the laboratory as soon as possible.
  • Phlebotomy technicians must understand the care taken to handle all specimens optimally. Check the Alphabetical Listing of Tests for any special handling requirements (warm, iced, etc).
Phoenix University
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Locations: Online
Be part of an institution that has grown from an upstart in 1976 to becoming today’s largest private university in North America. Students study at more than 200 locations, as well as through online programs available in most countries around the world.
Medical Education Programs: CNA (Certified Nurse's Assistant), Medical Assistant, Medical Billing, Medical Coding, Dental Assistant and more.
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Devry University
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Since 1975, 237,957 undergraduate students system-wide have graduated from DeVry, and 90% of those in the active job market were employed in career-related positions within six months of graduation. Active job market includes those employed prior to graduation. 96 of Fortune 100 companies employed DeVry graduates from 2003 to 2008.
Medical Education Programs: Phlebotomy, Medical Assisting, Nursing, Dental etc.
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ITT
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Locations: Online
At ITT Technical Institutes, we are committed to helping men and women develop the skills and knowledge to pursue many opportunities in today's fastest growing career fields.
Medical Education Programs: LVN, Medical Biller, Nursing, Dental Assistant and more.
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