| California Association Distance Learning Program
|
| California Association Distance Learning Program
|
UPDATED REVIEW OF BLOOD COLLECTION EQUIPMENT
Only the Outline, Objectives and Introduction for the course appear on this page. Full Text, References, Questions and Answer Sheet are available by downloading the Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) version of the course using the link above. The downloaded course file may be viewed or printed. Course credit may be obtained by submitting your answers to the questions with payment to CAMLT and obtaining a passing grade (70% or better). Quiz answers and payment may be submitted using the Online Registration link above or by Faxing or Mailing the answer sheet with payment to the CAMLT office in Fremont, CA.
OBJECTIVES:
INTRODUCTION:
Phlebotomy is the practice of drawing blood. The word phlebotomy is derived
from Greek: phlebo- means vein and –tomy means to make an incision.
Some authorities believe phlebotomy dates back to the last period of the Stone
Age when crude tools were used to puncture vessels to allow excess blood to
drain out of the body. There is evidence of bloodletting in Egypt around 1400
B.C. in a painting in a tomb showing the application of a leech to a patient.
Even in the Middle Ages barber surgeons flourished by performing bloodletting,
wound surgery, cupping, leeching, shaving, extraction of teeth and administering
of enemas. The familiar stripes on the barber pole symbolized red for blood
and white for bandages.
Early phlebotomy equipment consisted basically of a bleeding bowl, leech jar,
cupping glass, evacuating pump and lancets called fleams.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, phlebotomy was considered a major therapeutic
treatment process and anyone willing to claim medical training could perform
phlebotomy. The practice of phlebotomy continues today, however, principles
and methods have dramatically improved. Phlebotomy now has certain characteristics
that balance knowledge and theory with practical expertise.
Today the main purpose of phlebotomy is to obtain blood for diagnostic testing,
to remove blood for transfusion purposes, and in therapy of patients with polycythemia
(a disease involving overproduction of red blood cells) or hemochromatosis (a
rare disease characterized by excess iron deposits throughout the body). It
involves highly developed and rigorously tested procedures and equipment to
ensure the safety and comfort of the patient and the integrity of the sample
collected.
Phlebotomy skills and responsibilities are performed in a variety of healthcare
settings ranging from hospital care units to home health settings. Furthermore,
phlebotomy practice is more widely performed by all types of health care professionals
including nurses, respiratory therapists, emergency medical technicians (EMT’s),
and clinical laboratory professionals.
This continuing education unit will review the primary duties of the phlebotomist
and the equipment necessary to collect a sample from an adult patient, using
safety techniques.
