Learning the Essentials of Phlebotomy Equipment

Summary

• Phlebotomy Equipment includes various supplies such as gloves, tourniquets, blood tubes, needles, tape, and gauze, among others.
• Understanding and practicing with different phlebotomy supplies is essential for phlebotomists to effectively and safely draw blood from patients.
• Training on phlebotomy supplies, practicing on a phlebotomy training arm, and eventually taking your training to real-world situations are key steps in becoming comfortable and proficient with using Phlebotomy Equipment.

Learning Phlebotomy Equipment

What equipment does a phlebotomist use?

When beginning your Phlebotomy training, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the wide range of equipment you may use on a day-to-day basis. At a minimum, the Phlebotomy Equipment required when drawing blood includes gloves, alcohol or iodine to cleanse the area, a tourniquet, blood tubes, a tube holder, needles, tape, and gauze.

While the process of drawing blood is similar for each phlebotomist, the equipment the phlebotomist chooses to use may differ depending on the patient’s size and venous access. It is crucial for the phlebotomist to understand the various types of supplies available in order to choose the most appropriate type of needle, disinfectant, blood collection device, blood tubes, and dressing for each patient they encounter.

Phlebotomy Training Infographic

A phlebotomist should be knowledgeable of the wide range of needles, tubes, etc. they will encounter in the field. They should also understand the tools available to support them as they do their job.

Phlebotomy Supplies:

1. Phlebotomy Chair: These chairs are designed with adjustable arm rests that allow the phlebotomist to easily access the patient’s arms.
2. Supplies for Locating a Vein:
   1. Tourniquet: Used to occlude venous blood flow and help phlebotomists discover the vein.
   2. Hot Pack: Used to encourage venous dilation to make veins more exposed.
   3. Vein Finder: An electronic device that utilizes light to locate veins.
3. Skin Disinfectant:
   1. Alcohol Swabs
   2. Chloraprep
   3. Iodine
4. Needle:
   1. Butterfly Needles
   2. BD Eclipse
   3. Multi-Sample Blood Collection Needle
   4. Lancet
5. Blood Collection Device:
   1. Vacutainer System
   2. Syringe
6. Transfer Devices
7. Blood Collection Tubes
   1. Blood Culture Bottle
   2. Vacutainer Tubes
      • Purple
      • Green
      • Gold
      • Blue
   3. Microtainer ® Tube*
   4. Microhematocrit Tube
8. Patient Label
9. Safety:
   1. Preventing Accidental Needle Sticks
   2. Re-Sheathing Devices
   3. Needle Holders
   4. Sharps Container
   5. Biohazard Bags
   6. Gloves
10. Dressing Supplies
    1. Gauze
    2. Tape
    3. Band-Aid

How to Get Comfortable Using Phlebotomy Equipment

With so much Phlebotomy Equipment to understand, it can be overwhelming to think about using the various supplies. Like with learning any new skill, the more you practice using Phlebotomy Equipment, the more comfortable you will feel. In a phlebotomy training program, you’ll practice each step of the phlebotomy process:

1. Choosing the Right Phlebotomy Equipment for the Blood Draw
2. Training on Phlebotomy Supplies
3. Practice on a Phlebotomy Training Arm
4. Take Your Training to the Real-World

When you feel comfortable selecting the appropriate Phlebotomy Equipment, assembling it correctly, and the motor skills of performing a blood draw, you will feel prepared to perform blood draws on real patients.

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