Phlebotomy technicians are critical team members in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and blood donor centers. As new types of tests are developed and laboratory tech positions grow, it’s an especially exciting time to begin a career in this thriving field. Some tasks phlebotomy technicians may perform include:

• Drawing blood from patients and blood donors
• Evaluating patients’ ability to withstand the procedure and helping them feel comfortable
• Explaining the blood-drawing procedure to patients and answering questions
• Performing basic point-of-care testing, such as reading blood glucose levels Preparing blood, urine, and other specimens for testing
• Maintaining medical equipment such as needles, test tubes, and blood vials

The Phlebotomy program provides individuals with the knowledge of venipuncture and other phlebotomy-related terminology. Participants will learn, practice and develop performance skills in a variety of blood collection methods using proper techniques and universal precautions. Topics for learning include:

• vacuum collection devices
• syringes
• capillary skin puncture
• butterfly needles
• blood culture
• specimen collection on adults, children and infants.

There is a program emphasis on infection prevention, proper patient identification, labeling of specimen and quality assurance, specimen handling, processing, and accessioning. Professionalism, ethics, and medical terminology complete the course curriculum.