What Phlebotomists Do
Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations.
Duties
Phlebotomists typically do the following:
- Draw blood from patients and blood donors
- Talk with patients and donors to help them feel less nervous about having their blood drawn
- Verify a patient’s or donor’s identity to ensure proper labeling of the blood
- Label the drawn blood for testing or processing
- Enter patient information into a database
- Assemble and maintain medical instruments such as needles, test tubes, and blood vials
- Keep work areas clean and sanitary
Phlebotomists
primarily draw blood, which is then used for different kinds of medical
laboratory testing. In medical and diagnostic laboratories, patient
interaction is sometimes only with the phlebotomist. Because all blood
samples look the same, phlebotomists must carefully identify and label
the sample they have drawn and enter it into a database. Some
phlebotomists draw blood for other purposes, such as at blood drives
where people donate blood. In order to avoid causing infection or other
complications, phlebotomists must keep their work area and instruments
clean and sanitary.
Work Environment
Phlebotomists work mainly in hospitals, medical and diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centers, and doctors’ offices.
Phlebotomists held about 128,300 jobs in 2019. The largest employers of phlebotomists were as follows:
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 37% |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 33 |
| All other ambulatory healthcare services | 14 |
| Offices of physicians | 7 |
| Outpatient care centers | 2 |
Phlebotomists
who collect blood donations sometimes travel to different offices and
sites in order to set up mobile donation centers. They also sometimes
travel to long-term care centers or patients’ homes.
Injuries and Illnesses
Phlebotomists
often stand for long periods, and must be careful when handling blood,
needles, and other medical supplies. Injuries may occur if they are not
careful with medical equipment.
Work Schedules
Most phlebotomists work full time. Phlebotomists who work in hospitals and labs may need to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
How to Become a Phlebotomist
Phlebotomists
typically enter the occupation with a postsecondary nondegree award
from a phlebotomy program. Almost all employers look for phlebotomists
who have earned professional certification.
Education and Training
Phlebotomists
typically enter the occupation with a postsecondary nondegree award
from a phlebotomy program. Programs are available from community
colleges, vocational schools, or technical schools. These programs
usually take less than 1 year to complete and lead to a certificate.
Certification programs involve classroom sessions and laboratory work,
and they include instruction in anatomy, physiology, and medical
terminology.
Some
phlebotomists enter the occupation with a high school diploma and are
trained to be a phlebotomist on the job. No matter their education
level, phlebotomists also receive specific instructions on how to
identify, label, and track blood samples.
Important Qualities
Compassion. Some patients or clients are afraid of having their blood drawn, so phlebotomists should be caring in performing their duties.
Detail oriented. Phlebotomists
must draw the correct vials of blood for the tests ordered, track vials
of blood, and enter data into a database. Attention to detail is
necessary; otherwise, the specimens may be misplaced or lost, or a
patient may be injured.
Dexterity. Phlebotomists work with their hands, and they must be able to use their equipment efficiently and properly.
Hand–eye coordination. Phlebotomists
draw blood from many patients, and they must perform their duties
successfully on the first attempt, or their patients will experience
discomfort.
Physical stamina. Phlebotomists are on their feet for long periods, and must continue to take accurate blood samples throughout their workday.
Pay
The median annual wage for phlebotomists was $34,480 in May 2018.
The
median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation
earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent
earned less than $25,020, and the highest 10 percent earned more than
$49,060.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for phlebotomists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Outpatient care centers | $39,420 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 36,060 |
| Offices of physicians | 33,110 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 33,040 |
| All other ambulatory healthcare services | 32,870 |
Most phlebotomists work full time. Phlebotomists who work in hospitals and labs may need to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Job Outlook
Employment
of phlebotomists is projected to grow 23 percent from 2019 to 2029,
much faster than the average for all occupations. Hospitals, diagnostic
laboratories, blood donor centers, and other locations will need
phlebotomists to perform bloodwork.
Blood
analysis remains an essential function in medical laboratories and
hospitals. Demand for phlebotomists will remain high as doctors and
other healthcare professionals require bloodwork for analysis and
diagnosis.
In
addition to blood analysis, phlebotomists are necessary for blood
collection, either at mobile blood centers or dedicated donation
centers. These phlebotomists may be especially busy during a health
emergency, which can correspond with heightened interest in blood
donations.
