I finished Medical Technology in college, but wasn’t able to practice until I passed the licensing examination for Medical Technology. In the US, while waiting to write the Clinical Laboratory Scientist examination, I was able to work as a phlebotomist and then became a laboratory assistant.
Working as a phlebotomist helped me prepare for my Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) or Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) examination.
What is Phlebotomy?
Phlebotomy is the method used in puncturing the vein to collect or draw blood. This skill is relatively new in the field of medicine and the demand for qualified, trained personnel grew in the last two decades.
Phlebotomist is the medical personnel trained and certified to do phlebotomy or commonly called as blood venipuncture and blood extraction. It is the phlebotomist’s role to collect blood without inflicting too much pain to the patient.
To achieve this, a phlebotomist has to undergo good training skills through accredited or certified phlebotomy training schools and pass the licensing examination given by the governing State or Province.
Obtaining a certificate will be easy once you already have the proper training and developed good venipuncture or extraction skills. Basic anatomy knowledge is also required to help the phlebotomist locate the vein in the body. Though, the main focus of learning is how to properly and hygienically draw blood, an individual will also be taught how to safely dispose biohazardous materials and handle specimens according to standard operating procedure.
Phlebotomy Technician Job Description
A phlebotomy technician or phlebotomist is an integral part of the laboratory team. They are the personnel responsible mostly in the initial stage of a laboratory testing. When an outpatient walks to a hospital laboratory, oftentimes the phlebotomist is the one that greets them first.
Once they gather the patient’s information and the tests to be done, they take the patient to the drawing room. They extract or draw blood from patients for diagnostic and medical purposes. They also draw bloods from donors in hospitals and blood bank facilities.
Phlebotomists or phlebotomy technicians use many medical paraphernalia to function well. The commonly phlebotomy equipment used are:
- Tourniquet
- Needles: straight needle sizes : 21 Gauge 1″, 22 Gauge 1″, 21 Gauge 1 1/2″, 22 Gauge 1 1/2″
- Winged infusion or butterfly needles : sizes : 21 Gauge, 23 Gauge, 25 Gauge
- Vacutainer holder
- Vacutainer tubes: Adults and Pediatric
- Microtainers
- Lancets
- Disposable biohazardous sharp containers for used needles
- Gauze or cotton balls
- Bandaids or bandage
- 70% Isopropyl alcohol
- Disposable gloves
They carry all these blood collection devices in work tray, which is assembled according to State or Provincial and Laboratory standard procedures.
Before the phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician draws the patient’s blood, they are required to verify the identity of the patient or donor based on State or Provincial identifying modifiers like complete name and date of birth of the patient and hospital assigned identification number which can be found on the patient’s wrist band.
Another way of identification is by directly asking the patient.
When they already confirmed the identity of the patient, they explain the procedure to be done to the patient or donor for them not to be scared of the phlebotomy procedure.
Here’s a brief description of the process of phlebotomy:
- Properly identify the patient.
- Confirm all the tests to be done. Ensure that the patient was on fasting if needed.
- Explain the procedure to the patient.
- Ask the patient which side of the arm they want to have blood extraction or venipuncture.
- Apply the tourniquet to the arm to locate accessible vein.
- Clean the venipuncture site with alcohol.
- Remove the tourniquet. Let the alcohol dry.
- Prepare all blood collection devices to be used.
- Re-apply the tourniquet and do not touch the venipuncture site again to keep it sterile.
- Slowly insert the needle into the vein to draw blood.
- Fill the blood collection tubes or bags according to the required amount for testing.
- Withdraw needle with a bandage or cotton ball over the puncture site.
- Apply treatment pressure with cotton ball or bandage to the to puncture site.
- Properly label the blood collection tubes with the patient’s information.
- Store blood collection tubes for processing.
- Make sure that puncture site is not bleeding anymore when you release the patient or when you leave the patient’s room.
Fingerstick procedure is an alternative method when blood extraction is not feasible.
Phlebotomist can also conduct interviews, take vital signs, and draw and test blood samples to screen donors at blood bank.
The United States Bureau of Labor enlisted phlebotomists as technicians and categorizes them with Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians.
Phlebotomy Licensing and Certification
There are governing agencies that certify individuals who want to practice phlebotomy. In the US examinations are given by American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Medical Technologists (AMT), American Credentialing Agency (ACA), National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), and National Healthcare Association (NHA).
In California, it is mandatory that a phlebotomist be certified before being hired by employers. After taking a phlebotomy course and finished the trainings required, any successful candidate can apply to write the examination.
Where does a Phlebotomist work?
Before engaging to the phlebotomy training, it will be helpful to know where you could be able to find a job. A phlebotomist can find jobs in hospitals, research facilities, private laboratories, reference laboratories and medical and physician’s offices.
Most hospitals would require more than one phlebotomist and give competitive salaries. If one chooses to work in a private laboratory, driving around the city would be an extra task. In addition to your pay rate, private laboratories often pay for mileage cost of your vehicle.
On the other hand, if one chooses to work in a medical or physician office, additional clerical jobs would be assigned aside from taking appointments and assisting patients.
When you become certified and able to gain sufficient experience, becoming a phlebotomy instructor could be another career goal.
How much does a Phlebotomist earn?
Most phlebotomist has the idea that once they get the training and certification, they already have the capability to perform all the functions and duties of an experienced phlebotomist. Employers would put a newly licensed phlebotomist in a probationary pay and period.
Phlebotomist would undergo performance assessment once they finish the probationary period. With a good performance, a phlebotomist could be given a regular pay rate. Salary rate for a phlebotomist could begin from $8.28 – $18.73 an hour.
Annual salary ranges from $ 17,230 to $ 38,950. Depending on the State or Provincial location, rates can begin higher or lower than this. A phlebotomist work hours usually require 40 hours a week and variable shift can be assigned if working in a hospital or private laboratories.
In 2009, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, a phlebotomy technician or phlebotomist earned $12.84 per hour and $26,710 annually.