Phlebotomist
On this page
- What's it like to be a Phlebotomist?
- How to become a Phlebotomist
- Latest Phlebotomist jobs
- Top skills and experience for Phlebotomists
What's it like to be a Phlebotomist?
Phlebotomists are medical professionals that collect blood and fluid samples for analysis and other purposes. By doing this, they help Doctors diagnose patient conditions and better treat them. Phlebotomists extract samples with medical tools such as needles. They need to follow strict health protocols, ensuring that their tools and workstation are thoroughly sanitised before and after use. Phlebotomists also need to be accurate in labelling and storing blood samples to avoid contamination and erroneous medical diagnoses.
Tasks and duties
- Greeting patients and preparing them for blood extraction.
- Extracting blood and other samples with medical tools.
- Determining the proper method for collecting blood samples based on a patient's age and health condition.
- Correctly labelling collected blood samples.
- Sanitising medical tools and workspaces.
Phlebotomists are found in a variety of healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinical laboratories and blood donation centres. They typically work with physicians, laboratory technicians and other healthcare professionals.
How to become a Phlebotomist
You can prepare for a career as a Phlebotomist with a relevant qualification and clinical experience.
Complete a diploma in medical technology or a certificate of phlebotomy. These will provide you with useful skills and knowledge on human anatomy, infection control and specimen handling.
Gain work experience. Those undergoing certification are typically required to complete 50 phlebotomy procedures before graduation.
