| Phlebotomy is the process of piercing the flesh with | | | | Phlebotomy is safe when done by a well-trained |
| a needle in order to enter a vein and extract blood | | | | professional. The phlebotomist bears in mind factors |
| from the body. This is also known as venipuncture. | | | | such as the bruising of the skin where it is punctured, |
| The terminology comes from the Greek word | | | | inflammation of veins, and possible chances of |
| "phlebo" meaning vein, and "tom" meaning cut. Most | | | | infection at the punctured sites while performing |
| often the blood is used for diagnostic (testing) | | | | venipunctures or skin punctures. The skin puncture is |
| purposes and at times this process can be done to | | | | done using finger sticks wherein small blood samples |
| replace blood loss (transfusion). Regular phlebotomy is | | | | need to be collected. In the case of infants, a heel |
| undergone by patients who have too much iron in | | | | stick is used. At times it may be required to draw |
| their blood or are producing too many red blood cells. | | | | blood from arteries or capillary beds; a specimen |
| Removal of blood decreases the excess level of iron | | | | which is easily done by these trained professionals. |
| in the red blood cells. | | | | Phlebotomists may at times be required to ascertain |
| You may have faced a situation in which you needed | | | | stool and urine sample collection and testing. |
| to donate blood, or perhaps took part in a blood | | | | Phlebotomists do not administer drugs or any |
| group test. You may have realized that you did not | | | | intravenous fluids that require injections. |
| experience any discomfort or pain when the needle | | | | In the United States the phlebotomists are unlicensed |
| was inserted into the vein to draw blood, or even | | | | medical care professionals, except in the state of |
| while it was being removed. The person who | | | | California. In California, licensing is mandatory for |
| administered this procedure to you was, in fact, a | | | | phlebotomists in order to work with any clinical |
| Phlebotomist trained in phlebotomy. | | | | laboratory, hospital, research institution, public health |
| A Phlebotomist is a person who has the ability to find | | | | clinics or blood bank. |
| a vein beneath the skin, inject the needle and extract | | | | Those who have undergone vocational training, |
| blood with ease, even within seconds. They also | | | | graduated in phlebotomy or spent approximately two |
| monitor blood pressure and pulse in situations like | | | | years in the field should enroll in a certification course. |
| blood transfusions or blood donation at the blood | | | | This will help with proficiency in human anatomy, |
| banks. Phlebotomists are integral and vital members | | | | technical skills, interpersonal skills, lab safety rules, as |
| of the healthcare team, as the blood they collect is | | | | well as compliance with CDC & OSHA requirements. |
| used for diagnostic testing which helps the physicians | | | | In addition, many other pre-requisites such as blood |
| to make informed decisions. They also act as life | | | | collection techniques, specimen record management |
| guardians with their services at the blood banks | | | | and data entry maintenance for the purposes of |
| encouraging blood donation campaigns. | | | | report generation, will be covered. |