While they aren’t direct patient care providers, phlebotomists and phlebotomy technicians are still essential to modern healthcare. Phlebotomy technician job duties focus on the collection of blood samples collection for a vast array of different medical tests, but some are much more common than others. Let’s take a quick look at each, and then talk about how you can start a career as a phlebotomy technician.
Common Tests Covered in Phlebotomy Technician Training
Many doctors run some tests as part of an annual physical, so these are the types of samples that phlebotomists most commonly draw. These panels include:
- Complete Blood Count: Usually drawn into a tube with a lavender colored cap, the CBC tests red and white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. This test can reveal everything from infections to clotting issues.
- Basic Metabolic Panel: The basic metabolic panel tests blood glucose, electrolytes, calcium, and kidney waste products, giving doctors a quick overview of how some of your most important organs are functioning.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel: The comprehensive metabolic panel covers everything from the basic test and adds in liver function testing.
- Coagulation Panels: These panels show clotting times and protein activity, which can be very important for patients taking blood thinners or those with clotting disorders.
Some other common tests include lipid panels to check cholesterol and triglycerides, or hemoglobin A1c as a test for diabetes.
Why Phlebotomy Matters in Today’s Healthcare Landscape
While a physical exam can reveal a lot about a patient, blood tests can show even more. Phlebotomist technician training allows you to collect samples for testing that reveal heart attack and stroke risk, diabetes, and thousands of other conditions.
From the basic panels usually drawn for a physical to highly specific tests used to diagnose autoimmune disorders or cancer, everything starts with a quality blood draw performed by someone with comprehensive phlebotomy technician training.
The Path to Becoming a Phlebotomy Technician
Phlebotomy technician training is a fast entry path into health care, a rapidly growing industry. To enroll in a certification course, you’ll need to be current on your immunizations and have a high school diploma or GED. With that in hand, you can enroll in the Healthcare Career College Phlebotomy Technician Program.
As part of the program, you’ll gain hands-on clinical experience. During an externship, you’ll need to perform a minimum of 50 successful venipunctures and 10 skin punctures on real patients. Once you’ve completed your clinical training and your classroom theory, you can sit for the national certification exam, which is recognized in most states for licensing.
If you are eager to build a reliable, rewarding career where your daily work directly transforms patient outcomes, there is no better time to get started. Enroll in the HCC phlebotomy technician program today!
Key Takeaways
What types of blood tests do phlebotomy technicians commonly support?
Common tests include Complete Blood Counts (CBCs), Basic and Comprehensive Metabolic Panels, Coagulation Panels, Lipid Panels, and Hemoglobin A1c tests for diabetes screening.
Why are phlebotomy technicians important in healthcare?
They collect the blood samples used to diagnose and monitor conditions such as infections, diabetes, heart disease, clotting disorders, and many other medical conditions.
How do you become a phlebotomy technician?
You need a high school diploma or GED, complete a phlebotomy training program with hands-on clinical experience, and pass a national certification exam.