Certification ensures successful completion of an examination by a certifying body and protects the public by setting standards for phlebotomy practice.
Phlebotomy continuing education is necessary to ensure knowledge and skills are up to date and also to meet certification requirements.
Quality assurance (QA) is a system set forth to guarantee quality patient care by evaluating processes. In phlebotomy, quality performance is necessary from the time the order is written until the results are reported to the patient.
Quality control (QC) ensures accuracy by establishing standards for procedures, requiring calibration of equipment, validating results, and maintaining accurate documentation.
Factors that affect laboratory values include extended tourniquet use, incorrect dietary state for tests performed, incorrect volume of blood, incorrect order of the draw, and improper handling of a specimen once collected.
Specimen rejection can occur for a variety of reasons, including improper identification, hemolysis or coagulation, incorrect tube or handling, contamination, QNS, incorrect time or outdated equipment, date and time of collection not marked, or label information does not match the specimen.
Risk management identifies policies and procedures to protect patients, employees, and the employer from loss or injury.
Phlebotomists should work within their scope of practice, following established policies to prevent malpractice. Phlebotomists must follow standard precautions and utilize MSDS information when necessary.
