What does a phlebotomist do? This is what you need to know

What does a phlebotomist do

If you are interested in making a career in the healthcare industry, phlebotomy is one of the professions you must consider. But what does a phlebotomist do? The phlebotomist job description may look quite simple at first. As a phlebotomist, you will be required to draw blood for purposes like blood donations and drug tests. However, chances are that you do not know much about this job and just how lucrative it can be. If that is the case, here is some information about the different areas of phlebotomy you can explore and eventually pursue a career in.

Phlebotomy Technician (PBT) Job Description

Phlebotomy Technician (PBT)

In addition to drawing blood quickly and safely, a PBT is entrusted with handling samples or specimen, ensuring quality control during the process, entering data and keeping records, and a few clerical duties like writing requests for blood draw. Now the first step for becoming a successful Phlebotomy technician is to get training or education from accredited colleges or technical schools.
An important requirement to become a PBT is to enroll in phlebotomy courses and get a certification. For that, you must pass a training program and take an exam from a well-recognized agency. Some of the organizations that provide you with a certificate in this field are the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), and National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). With this certificate, the salary of a phlebotomist – which is dependent on the state where they work in and the experience they have – will be about $29,730 per year.

Donor Phlebotomy Technician (DPT) Job Description

Donor Phlebotomy Technician (DPT)The donor phlebotomy technician or DPT is one level higher than the PBT. This professional is responsible for determining donor suitability along with the other duties of a regular technician. To be eligible for this profession, you have to be certified. For that, you should already have a PBT certification along with 25 successful donor collections from an accredited laboratory.
Despite this being a specialized area of phlebotomy, many PBTs venture into it because they want the higher salaries that come with these in-demand positions. However, because this is an extensive field, you will need to be aware of everything concerning the procedure and its risk. When you start working as a DPT, you may even be required to give advice to the patient so that they can avoid the aftermath of donating bags of blood.

Phlebotomy Instructor (PBI) Job Description

Phlebotomy Instructor (PBI)According to the American Academy of Phlebotomy Technicians, a phlebotomy instructor is a professional who is responsible for teaching this type of lab work. Instructors can be employed by hospitals, community colleges and medical companies. They combine industry standards with teaching concepts to deliver a new generation of PBTs.
If you aspire to become a phlebotomy instructor, you must have a certification in phlebotomy. Even though the requirements of this post are mostly set forth by the organization that needs their expertise, you will need a few years as a phlebotomist to ascertain your skills. For example, the American Certification Agency of Healthcare Professionals requires that you work for three years and have an additional one year of experience as an instructor as well.
The salary of a phlebotomy instructor varies and will depend on the courses being taught and the school where they are taught at. On average, you can expect to make up to $36,000 a year, which is a lot higher than what you could have hoped to earn as a phlebotomist technician.
If you are interested in lab works and especially enjoy phlebotomy, become a phlebotomy technician, donor technician or instructor. Sure, it entails hard work and a lot of effort, but it will be profitable in the long run.

You can find additional information here:

What to read next:

Share this now because it can help others like you: