Phlebotomy technicians are part of a health care team working with physicians, laboratory staff, nurses and patients. Sometimes, their responsibility revolves round taking finger-prick hemoglobin test, which does not involve using a needle. Their primary role does not necessarily restrict to collection of blood for laboratory testing. Their responsibilities include venipuncture or capillary collection.
Phlebotomy technicians are also expected to attend to medically related routine laboratory work and some clerical tasks. They may have to perform duties like collecting donor blood, bleeding time tests, therapeutic phlebotomies or specimen preparation. They also work at blood banks encouraging blood donation campaigns. They as well monitor blood pressure and pulse during blood transfusions and blood donations.
Mainly hospitals and clinics employ phlebotomy technicians. Private health care and insurance industry, research institutes and nursing homes also employ these technicians.
Phlebotomy technicians earn between $ 18,000 and $ 26,000 a year and the median salary may be around $ 22,000. Though certification is not an essential requirement for employment, it may help phlebotomist job seekers get higher salary. Many national organizations, including the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Sciences (NAACS), offer certifying examinations.
A high school diploma or an equivalent with specialized training of three months or more either on-the-job or through a formal health care program is needed to become a phlebotomist. There are many universities and schools which offer such training programs. The training includes venipuncture, record keeping and sample safety.
The American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), the American Medical Technologists (AMT), and the American Association of Medical Personnel (AAMP) give certification.
Prospects for phlebotomy technicians are very bright and the demand for them is likely to go up with population growth and invention of new types of medical tests.
