Phlebotomy services include more than just collecting blood from patients. A phlebotomist has a bunch of other responsibilities and this job is far more complicated and important than one could imagine from a short description. Besides drawing blood from patients, phlebotomists also administrate the blood samples and label them for the laboratory tests.
Working with human blood also implies some risks because phlebotomists can be exposed to blood diseases and can easily get contaminated. They have a great responsibility in what concerns their safety and other’s people safety too. Phlebotomy services imply the fact that phlebotomists collect blood samples from patients under the direct supervision of a doctor or of another person that is licensed in health care. It is compulsory that before doing this the phlebotomist makes sure the environment as well as the tools he uses in the process is sterile.
Phlebotomy services also include the fact that after the sample is collected this is correctly labeled. Information regarding the patient is used for labeling in order for easily identifying the samples. The phlebotomist also has to do some paperwork in order to be able to trace the sample at any point from the moment when it was collected until it reaches the laboratory and then is sent back. The proper disposal of the blood is also in the phlebotomist responsibility. It is highly important that no errors occur in this process because they can have dangerous consequences that can include even contamination with fatal diseases. Phlebotomists that work in hospitals are training new phlebotomists in order to minimize the risks of their job.
Phlebotomists that make home visits have an extra responsibility because they have to safely transport the sample from the patients’ house to the laboratory. Sometimes phlebotomists are also involved in processing blood samples for further tests. This is usually done under the supervision of medical professionals because it also needs a lot of caution. Those working in laboratories have the duty of making sure that the samples are correctly analyzed and that there is no contamination risk.
In order to be able to perform phlebotomy services you have to do a one year program in a technical school or a college. Associate’s degrees in phlebotomy are also available for those interested and they are offered by most of the community colleges. In some states it is compulsory to license or register before becoming a certified phlebotomist.
It is said that in 2012 there will be an increase in the demand for phlebotomy services. For the time being, a phlebotomist can earn between $20,000 and $48,000 a year depending on their experience and on the employer. If the demand in phlebotomy services increase this can lead to employers that ask for pre-certification of the phlebotomist they hire.
Due to the fact that usually phlebotomy services are not required in emergency cases, phlebotomists usually work normal hours. This does not happen in what concerns other medical professions that usually do a lot of extra hours because of emergencies that occur.