Phlebotomists

Phlebotomists typically perform the following tasks: • Dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies. • Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use. • Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods. • Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes. • Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies. • Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests. • Collect specimens at specific time intervals for tests, such as those assessing therapeutic drug levels. • Process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals. • Provide sample analysis results to physicians to assist diagnosis. • Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer. • Document route of specimens from collection to laboratory analysis and diagnosis. • Draw blood from capillaries by dermal puncture, such as heel or finger stick methods. • Conduct hemoglobin tests to ensure donor iron levels are normal. • Transport specimens or fluid samples from collection sites to laboratories. • Collect fluid or tissue samples, using appropriate collection procedures. • Explain fluid or tissue collection procedures to patients. • Train other medical personnel in phlebotomy or laboratory techniques. • Administer subcutaneous or intramuscular injects, in accordance with licensing restrictions. • Draw blood from arteries, using arterial collection techniques. • Monitor blood or plasma donors during and after procedures to ensure health, safety, and comfort.