Phlebotomists, affectionately known as phlebs, are among the most underappreciated healthcare professionals. Regardless of where they stand on being called “vampires” or “bloodsuckers,” their contributions are routinely undervalued by those who do not understand the importance of their role and the challenges they face on a daily basis. Here are five ways for medical professionals …
Do your fellow lab techs trade stories about your pipetting prowess when you’re not around? Are you considered the king or queen of the tasteless joke? Do you have a knack for getting everybody on the same page for takeout? If so, it’s quite possible that you are a Lab Legend. Here are five more …
College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation is one of the most important recognitions for any medical laboratory. Passing a CAP inspection is no easy feat: it requires considerable documentation, discipline, and process proficiency. In other words, it’s definitely a lot easier to fail your next cap inspection than it is to pass it. Here are …
If you’re spending at least half your waking hours working in a medical lab, then shouldn’t you be comfortable and feel good about how you look? Protective wear has come a long way since the days of oversized starched white lab coats and safety goggles that make lab techs look like insects. Of course, there’s …
No healthcare professionals are more deserving of gratitude than lab techs. A lab tech’s dedication to accuracy and consistency is admirable. They work late nights and long shifts — yes, even on holidays — to help patients get the appropriate treatment for their conditions. If anyone in your family has ever had a biopsy or …
When studies show that a person can put about 1,000lb of pressure on their back just by turning a 100lb person on their side, it’s not surprising to discover that in 2011, patient-handling injuries accounted for one in four healthcare-related worker’s comp claims. Patient-handling worker’s comp claims cost on average $15,600—and that’s not even taking …
Night shift changes a lab tech. Gone are the days of waking with the sun, not drinking coffee at 1a, and having a normal social life. It’s all good, though, because your job is awesome, and you love your coworkers. Still, you can’t help but feel you’ve become part werewolf. Well, you might not grow …
Lab techs aren’t wired like most people. Maybe their unique perspective comes from spending so many hours analyzing microorganisms. Or perhaps they’re born with a special set of skills — the ability to spot irregularities, the inability to be grossed out — that make them so uniquely suited for a job that so many aren’t. …
Needlestick and sharps injuries are a major concern at hospitals, healthcare facilities, and laboratories. An estimated 800,000 injuries occur annually in the United States. A CDC study estimated that in the average hospital, workers incur approximately 30 reported needlestick injuries per 100 beds each year. While the majority of these injuries don’t result in the transmission …
How to Remember the Order of Draw One of the most important sets of information a beginning phlebotomist must memorize is the phlebotomy order of draw. Blood cultures must be drawn in a specific order to avoid cross-contamination and ensure test result accuracy. Process is everything. Remembering correct phlebotomy order of draw can be easy …
