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Field Description
Phlebotomy technicians are primarily responsible for the collection and preparation of blood samples for laboratory testing. Phlebotomists are mainly employed in hospital and clinic settings, but sometimes work in nursing homes, private home care and the insurance industry or research institutes. The field of phlebotomy continues to expand and is now much more than collecting blood samples. Today’s phlebotomist must be aware of the types of tests requested, the importance of the timing of blood collections in some instances, medication(s) that the patient is taking that could interfere with testing, and the effects of diet on the patient’s specimen. Some phlebotomists may be called upon to perform other duties such as collection of donor blood, performing bleeding time tests (on occasion), performing therapeutic phlebotomies, point-of-care testing and specimen preparation.
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Career Opportunities
Phlebotomy is a rapidly expanding field with excellent career opportunities. Hospitals are the primary employer of phlebotomy technicians. Other areas that employ phlebotomists are clinics, private physicians’ offices, research centers, and other areas where invasive procedures are performed.
Earning Potential
According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology Wage and Vacancy Survey of U.S. Medical Laboratories (March 2009), staff phlebotomists were paid a median average wage of $13 per hour or $27,040 per year. A candidate’s experience and work history are usually the deciding factors for a potential employer. Visit http://www.ascp.org/pdf/Membership-Communications/Wage-and-Vacancy-Survey.aspx for more information.
Professional Organizations
Visit the following Web sites to learn more about phlebotomy:
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