Phlebotomy Technician Career Information

The following is information from the American Medical Technologists (AMT) webpage.

Career as a Phlebotomy Technician

The Phlebotomy Technician (phlebotomist) is an integral member of the medical laboratory team whose primary function is the collection of blood samples from patients by venipuncture or microtechniques. The phlebotomy technician facilitates the collection and transportation of laboratory specimens. The technician is often the patient’s only contact with the medical laboratory. The need to assure quality and patient safety mandates strict professional behavior and standards of practice for these phlebotomy practitioners.

Nature of the Job - Phlebotomy Technician

The primary function of a phlebotomy technician is to obtain patient blood specimens by venipuncture or microtechniques. The phlebotomy technician aids in the collection and transportation of other laboratory specimens, and may be involved with patient data entry.

A phlebotomy technician also draws blood for transfusions, donations, and research. Phlebotomy technicians must enjoy and take on challenges and responsibility. Phlebotomy technicians must be accurate, work well under pressure, and communicate effectively while also being able to work with and calm patients if needed.

Safety is key and all safety precautions must be taken to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.

Duties differ by doctor office, hospital, and laboratory.

Some of the duties performed by a Phlebotomy Technician:

• Drawing blood from patients or donors in hospitals, blood banks, clinics, doctor offices, laboratories or a 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
• The phlebotomist 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.)
• The phlebotomy technician labels and stores blood container for processing
• May conduct interview, take vital signs and test blood samples to screen donors at a blood bank
• The phlebotomy technician should be able to analyze information and make appropriate recommendations

Phlebotomy Technician Working Conditions:

Phlebotomy technicians deal with the public on a daily basis and must be neat and well groomed. The working conditions of phlebotomy technicians are in well-lighted and very clean environments.

Phlebotomy Technician Employment/Employment Outlook:

Phlebotomy technicians are in high-demand. Vacancies have increased significantly as many places need to hire three shifts of phlebotomists.