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Read a Phlebotomy definition
Understand a Phlebotomy job description
Understand the Phlebotomy employment outlook
Learn about Phlebotomy skills
Phlebotomy Definition
Definition of Phlebotomy: Phlebotomy is defined as the process of making an incision or puncture in a vein for purposes of removing or collecting blood. A person that is trained to make this incision or needle insertion is called a Phlebotomist or Phlebotomy Technician. The practice of collecting venous blood samples is also called venipuncture. Phlebotomy may also be done as part of patient treatment for certain blood disorders.
Phlebotomy Job Description
What do Phlebotomy Technicians do? Phlebotomy Technicians are trained to draw blood for donation or laboratory tests. They collect blood from finger sticks or with a needle from veins or arteries. A Phlebotomy Technician job description includes assembly of equipment such as needles, gauze, vials, alcohol and tourniquets. They also verify patient information, label specimen vials and submit specimens for further processing or testing. Phlebotomy Technicians work with doctors, nurses and other medical professional team members.
A Phlebotomy Technician finds a vein suitable for blood extraction from the patient. Once a vein is located and punctured with a needle, the needle remains in place while the Phlebotomy Technician collects blood in sample tubes which are vacuum sealed with a rubber stopper. The tubes may or may not include various reagents or additives depending on the specific test ordered on the blood. These can include clot activators, a gel for serum separation, a gel for plasma separation, or additives for reactions.
Phlebotomy Employment
The Phlebotomy employment outlook is expected to be very good. Phlebotomy Technicians are a subset of the Bureau of Labor Statistics classification for Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians. Phlebotomy Technician employment as part of this classification is expected to grow 14 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
This growth is driven in part by an increase in the volume of laboratory tests with increasing population growth and the development of new increasingly powerful diagnostic tests and advances in genomics. This is somewhat offset by automation and simplification of testing.
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Phlebotomy Skills
Phlebotomy skills include being responsible and interacting well with patients. They should have good near vision and good manual dexterity. They should be able to follow simple directions and procedures and handle blood and other bodily fluids without discomfort. Other skills on the Phlebotomy skills checklist include: