Phlebotomy Skills

Phlebotomy Skills

Phlebotomy is one of the routine procedures performed by phlebotomy technicians, which often are referred to as phlebotomists. The phlebotomist's daily routine consists primarily of performing venipunctures, or fingersticks to collected capillary, venous, and sometimes, arterial blood samples into blood collection tubes, blood tube labeling, recording, preservation, and transportation of such for laboratory analysis and testing.

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Proper blood sample collection is a skillful art. Collecting blood specimens can carry an element of risk for everybody involved, from the laboratory personnel, to the phlebotomist, to the patient. Errors in judgment and technique leaves people vulnerable to injuries and serious consequences.

Adequate education and training of the person responsible for the collection of quality specimens is essential! Otherwise, an improperly collected sample will lead to false lab results and errors that can harm the patient, or even cause their death. Almost certainly it will increase the cost of care. Only through skillful and careful blood drawing procedure can a quality blood sample be obtained.

The right technique will...

prevent errors (e.g. false lab results)

prevent injuries (e.g. anticoagulant reflux, nerve injury)

prevent compromised samples (e.g. hemolysis, hemoconcentration, or agglutination)

The phlebotomist must...

properly identifies the patient

gives proper instructions

properly labels the collection tubes

uses the right blood collection devices and tubes

properly handles the collection tubes

properly secures and accesses the vessel

follows the right order of draw

maintains the sample's integrity while drawing

sufficiently fills the collection tubes

properly processes the blood sample

properly inverts the collection tubes

properly records all information about the sample

and properly stores or transports the tubes to maintain specimen quality.

Other areas of concerns are...

diurnal and circadian variations

patient preparation

patient general health and gender

physiologic variables

medications a patient is taking

patient's position when drawing

touniquet placement and venous stasis

puncture of a secondary site

safety and infection control to prevent complications or injury to self and others.

A phlebotomist must understand that each person is different, each situation is unique, know all possible problem areas and complications, and prevent procedural errors from ever happening. Special challenges arise when collecting blood from the antecubital fossa area is not possible because of the presence of indwelling intravenous lines (IV), or an arterial vessel must be accessed for arterial blood gas tests and there is a vascular access device (VAD) in place.

Phlebotomy Technician
Home The Phlebotomist Phlebotmy Skills Specialty Labs Phlebotomy Laws Phlebotomy Instructor Workshops Phlebotomy Programs National Certification Continuing Education Shop Online Announcements FAQ's Phlebotomy Links	Phlebotomy Skills Phlebotomy is one of the routine procedures performed by phlebotomy technicians, which often are referred to as phlebotomists. The phlebotomist's daily routine consists primarily of performing venipunctures, or fingersticks to collected capillary, venous, and sometimes, arterial blood samples into blood collection tubes, blood tube labeling, recording, preservation, and transportation of such for laboratory analysis and testing. Learn More.... Proper blood sample collection is a skillful art. Collecting blood specimens can carry an element of risk for everybody involved, from the laboratory personnel, to the phlebotomist, to the patient. Errors in judgment and technique leaves people vulnerable to injuries and serious consequences. Adequate education and training of the person responsible for the collection of quality specimens is essential! Otherwise, an improperly collected sample will lead to false lab results and errors that can harm the patient, or even cause their death. Almost certainly it will increase the cost of care. Only through skillful and careful blood drawing procedure can a quality blood sample be obtained. The right technique will... prevent errors (e.g. false lab results) prevent injuries (e.g. anticoagulant reflux, nerve injury) prevent compromised samples (e.g. hemolysis, hemoconcentration, or agglutination) The phlebotomist must... properly identifies the patient gives proper instructions properly labels the collection tubes uses the right blood collection devices and tubes properly handles the collection tubes properly secures and accesses the vessel follows the right order of draw maintains the sample's integrity while drawing sufficiently fills the collection tubes properly processes the blood sample properly inverts the collection tubes properly records all information about the sample and properly stores or transports the tubes to maintain specimen quality. Other areas of concerns are... diurnal and circadian variations patient preparation patient general health and gender physiologic variables medications a patient is taking patient's position when drawing touniquet placement and venous stasis puncture of a secondary site safety and infection control to prevent complications or injury to self and others. A phlebotomist must understand that each person is different, each situation is unique, know all possible problem areas and complications, and prevent procedural errors from ever happening. Special challenges arise when collecting blood from the antecubital fossa area is not possible because of the presence of indwelling intravenous lines (IV), or an arterial vessel must be accessed for arterial blood gas tests and there is a vascular access device (VAD) in place.
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