Phlebotomy Technician |
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Phlebotomy TechnicianTHE PHLEBOTOMIST: The phlebotomist, also often referred to as phlebotomy technician is trained to collect blood and certain other laboratory samples from pediatric and adult patients for laboratory testing. Phlebotomy technicians usually work under a physician, a medical laboratory scientist, or a lead phlebotomy technician in a medical office, blood donation center, or clinical laboratory. Working directly with patients, phlebotomists divide their time between taking blood and working in a laboratory with a lab technologist testing this blood for disease or other abnormalities. Because phlebotomy technician are often a patient s only contact with a medical laboratory, they need a good bedside manner. The term phlebotomy refers to the ancient practice of bloodletting, which involved the withdrawal of larger amounts of blood in an attempt to cure illnesses and disease. In modern medicine this practice has been largely abandoned but the term phlebotomy is still widely used for the withdrawal of blood from a vein, artery, or the capillary bed into blood specimen collection tubes for laboratory analysis or blood transfusion. Since regulations differ from state to state a phlebotomy technician can be trained on the job, or complete a formal phlebotomy program, which typically last 4 to 8 months. Phlebotomy technicians are not required to be certified except in California, although almost all are. Ask about the home study program and the test for the NHA national Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) credential based on work experience and employment. In 1978, the National Phlebotomy Association established an industry for the healthcare community and has been the only organization concerned with all aspects of educating and certifying the nation’s phlebotomy technicians. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of medical and clinical laboratory technicians in May 2004 were as follows: Phlebotomy technician11.13 10.57 10.50 CA Phlebotomy Regulations Timeline: New Phlebotomy Regulations Effective April 9, 2003 the phlebotomy statutes were revised by the 1999 Migden bill. Phlebotomy Treatment - Therapeutic phlebotomy is the preferred treatment for reducing iron stores in hemochromatosis patients. If begun early in the course of iron loading, phlebotomy can prevent most iron overload complications. Even after the occurrence of complications, however, phlebotomy can decrease symptoms and improve life expectancy for patients with iron overload. Physiologic mechanisms through which phlebotomy works: As blood cells are extracted, bone marrow is stimulated to make new red blood cells (RBCs). RBC production further increases to replace blood removed through phlebotomy. Normalization of iron stores typically involves the weekly removal of blood by phlebotomy until mild hypoferritinemia occurs (e.g., ferritin = 20 ng/mL on one occasion). Resources - American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians |
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