Phlebotomy involves drawing blood from patients for medical analysis or transfusion. Some patients require regular phlebotomy due to conditions like hemochromatosis or polycythemia. Phlebotomists need to be calm and professional to help patients feel comfortable. Training is available through colleges or trade schools, and certification is required by most US employers. Phlebotomists are responsible for various tasks, including drawing blood, updating medical records, and sending samples to labs.
Phlebotomy is the act of drawing blood from a patient through the use of medical needles. The blood drawn through the needle is then studied by a doctor to determine the patient’s health condition. The blood can also be used in other patients in the form of a blood transfusion. A phlebotomist is a medical professional who draws blood from patients for these specific purposes.
Some people may need to have a regular phlebotomy. For example, people who have an overabundance of iron in their blood have a condition called hemochromatosis. These patients require blood removal on a regular basis. Those with a condition called polycythemia have bodies that produce too many red blood cells. Patients with this condition must also have frequent phlebotomies.
After a phlebotomist has removed a small amount of blood from a patient’s body, the patient can sometimes feel lightheaded or tired. Some patients get scared when a phlebotomist has to draw blood and others cry. To help allay patients’ fears, phlebotomists must possess a calm, professional manner. They need to be able to help patients feel more comfortable as blood is removed.
Individuals who wish to become phlebotomists can attend local colleges or trade schools to receive the necessary training. Sometimes, employers will offer on-the-job training, but applicants with a formal education in this field are preferred. Typical courses include anatomy and physiology, laboratory safety, blood sampling procedures, and courses that teach how cells and blood are affected by infection and disease.
Students usually also take a course in CPR. They will receive hands-on training performing skin punctures and bloodletting into veins. Graduates of an accredited phlebotomy program earn a diploma or certificate.
Most U.S. employers require phlebotomists to be certified by American Medical Technologists (AMT), the American Society for Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT), or the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Each organization offers national testing and certification. Medical professionals who practice phlebotomy must renew their certification on an annual basis. Once a phlebotomist begins field work, she will be responsible for a variety of tasks. Talking to patients about procedures, drawing blood from patients, updating medical records, sterilizing medical equipment, taking a patient’s blood pressure, and sending blood and stool samples to medical laboratories are all part of a phlebotomist’s job duties.
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