Tools for a Phlebotomist

Phlebotomists are medical professionals who work with blood. Their main function is to collect blood samples from patients for testing and analysis. They must safely draw the patient's blood and send it, correctly labeled, to the lab where the test will be conducted. The tools a phlebotomist carries include those used for the actual process of drawing blood and those which are used to ensure the process is conducted safely and hygienically.

Protective Clothing

• Phlebotomists wear gloves so they do not come into contact with the patient's blood, which could carry an infection. They also wear goggles to prevent blood spatter entering the eyes and to protect them from aerosol sprays. Gloves are always worn, but goggles are not mandatory.

Antiseptic Wipes

• Phlebotomists carry alcohol antiseptic wipes to clean the patient's skin before they puncture it. If the blood is being collected for a blood culture or to test for alcohol, a povidone-iodine swab stick is used instead. Disinfecting the site is very important, as it will prevent infection.

Sterile Bandage

• A sterile gauze pad is placed directly over the puncture to stop the bleeding. A sterile bandage may be used to cover the wound, if the patient so wished. The phlebotomist will apply pressure to completely stop the bleeding if the patient does not want to leave with a bandage.

Blood Collection Tools

• Phlebotomists use a range of different tools to draw blood. They may use a syringe, although a needle and infusion set are more common. A tourniquet may be used to make the veins stand out so they are easier to puncture. An evacuated tube draws out a specific amount of blood when attached to the needle. This is because the tube contains a vacuum. Evacuated tubes are color coded according to the types of additives they may contain and the tests that will be done on the blood they contain.

  Phlebotomists must adapt their blood collection method to the state of the patient. They may choose to use a syringe, for example, when the vein they are drawing blood from is fragile. Using an evacuation tube could cause such a vein to collapse under the pressure of the vacuum. If an evacuation tube is being used, then it must be the right size. This will depend upon how much blood is needed and how fragile the veins are. A patient, such as a child or an elderly person, who has fragile veins, requires a smaller, less powerful vacuum and therefore a smaller tube.