Phlebotomist's Work Hours

Work Hours

Phlebotomists usually work regular office hours, but they may be required to work on weekends as well. Phlebotomists need to have an up-to-date First Aid Certificate, and they need to have a driver's licence and clean driving record if they are required to travel to collect samples.

Experienced Phlebotomists

Experienced phlebotomists might function as so-called mobile phlebotomists driving to patient locations to perform blood draws, complete paperwork, and transport specimens for testing from there. On their daily rounds they encounter both healthy and sick people, from infants to the elderly. In some cases it may be the phlebotomist who performs certain manual tests or operates automated analyzers to process the blood. This carries a high potential for exposure to blood borne pathogens trough splatter and needle stick injuries.

Safety

Phlebotomists must understand that due to their occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials they may be at risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and other illnesses. The law mandates that employers must give phlebotomists the opportunity to be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine, at no charge to them. OSHA Standard 1910.1030 - Bloodborne Pathogens Regulatory Text.

OSHA has concluded that the best practice for prevention of needle stick injuries following phlebotomy procedures is the use of appropriate safety devices, safe equipment and the use of a sharps disposal container with engineered sharps injury protection attached to the blood tube holder.

*In the United States OSHA frowns on using a straigth needle with a syringe, but a winged infusion set (butterfly) is fine.