Phlebotomist

A phlebotomist (φλέψ (phleps) = vein, τομός (tomia) = cutting) is a qualified technician trained to draw blood.

Their role

Phlebotomy is the act of drawing blood either for testing or transfusion. It is a skill employed by physicians and many professionals in allied health fields, including medical assistants, paramedics, and clinical laboratory scientists. Certification is legally required in only two states of USA. However most employers prefer to employ certified professionals. Health care is a rapidly expanding industry, and a new professional, the certified phlebotomist, helps to reduce the workload of doctors and nurses by focusing exclusively on blood collection, particularly in hospitals and blood drives.

Depending on the regional characteristics of the organization they work for, phlebotomists may have to travel to collect samples (this is referred to as a domiciliary service). They may travel to nursing homes or outpatient clinics to collect samples.

Phlebotomists collect blood primarily by performing venipuncture and, for collection of minute quantities of blood, fingersticks. Blood may be collected from infants by means of a heel stick. Specially trained phlebotomists collect arterial blood samples from the radial artery of the wrist or brachial artery in the antecubital area (bend in the arm)kateva.

Training and certification

Template:Globalize/USA In the United States, requirements vary by state. However, most states do require a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by at least a six-week phlebotomy certification class. Many states do not have any requirements for phlebotomy personnel.

Education

Phlebotomy used to be a skill picked up on the job, but today, most phlebotomists in the United States train approximately two to four months in a career center or trade school or one year in a study of anatomy, how to interact with patients, legal aspects of blood collection, Standard Precautions, and blood collection techniques. At the end of the course the person needs to appear for a Phlebotomy Certification Exam and pass it successfully. A prospective phlebotomist should have a high school diploma or GED and be able to follow simple directions and procedures and handle blood and other bodily fluids without discomfort. Australian phlebotomists require no specific educational prerequisites in order to undergo training, other than culturally relevant language skills. A medical or laboratory technician background would be advantageous to undertake training. Training ranges from 1 day courses to six week courses.

In the United Kingdom there are no pre-requisite qualifications to becoming a phlebotomist - Many healthcare employers still follow the principle of training on-the-job to obtain this. However, the latest trend now in the UK is to obtain more structured learning and practice through attendance and participation in proper theory classes, dry-lab classes (practising on simulated arms).

Certification and licensing

Agencies that certify all phlebotomy candidates by examination include the American Society for Clinical Pathology's Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Medical Technologists (AMT), the American Credentialing Agency (ACA), the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) also covers phlebotomy on their nationally recognized exam. Certified Medical Assistants (CMA) are commonly hired to be phlebotomists.

The NHA phlebotomy certification includes the EKG technician certification (CET) and phlebotomy technician certification in one general certification.

Other agencies certify phlebotomists without a proctored examination if they can document one or more years of phlebotomy experience. Others allow their employers to issue the examination. Not all certification routes are considered equally valid by all healthcare employers, though, so applicants should choose their certification agency after researching their acceptability among local employers. In California, all phlebotomists must be certified by law, and only after completing a state-approved training program and successful examination issued by NHA, AMT, ASCP-BOC, ACA and NCCT.

Remuneration

In the UK, as of October 2009, phlebotomists can expect to earn £7-£10 per hour while cord blood phlebotomists can earn up to £25 per hour. According to careercruising.com , a Canadian phlebotomist can expect to earn approximately CAD$14 to $20 per hour, or $25 000 to $42 000 per year. In a 2008 salary survey conducted by Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals, the average U.S. salary for phlebotomists was $26,297.

See also

• Bloodletting (medieval)
• Vacutainer
• Blood test
• Medical technologist

External links

• Phlebotomy Training and Certification Information and Resources
• Phlebotomy Certification Information and Resources
• Phlebotomy Training & Resources Information and Resources on Phlebotomy
• Phlebotomy Certification Schools Information and Resources
• Phlebotomy Technician Certification Information