Phlebotomy Safety

Phlebotomy is the process by which health care professionals collect blood specimens from patients. Certain precautions should be taken to protect the collector--and patient--from potential infection risks.

Risks

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that more than 1,000 accidental needle sticks occur each day. Health care providers have an increased risk of infection because the needles used to collect the specimens often have blood-borne pathogens.

Training

• Health care providers who collect blood specimens should be trained in safe workplace practices so as to limit their exposure to possible pathogens. Proper training about the hazards associated with phlebotomy should be undertaken prior to the collection of samples.

Precautions

• Certain materials need to be present and used prior to the performance of phlebotomies. These include unused safety specimen collection devices, alcohol pads, a container for used sharps, latex safe collection kits and uncracked vacuum tubes and tourniquets. If the person collecting specimens is a roving health care professional, the list of materials should also include covered phlebotomy trays with locking lids and specimen spill kits.

Work Area Safety

• When performing a phlebotomy, precautions should be taken to ensure that the work environment is safe. Patients should be evaluated for combativeness. In addition, latex safety precautions should be determined, the area should be well-lit, and safety supplies and materials should be readily accessible