PHB 150IN - Intro to Laboratory and Phlebotomy

3 Credits, 5 Contact Hours
2 lecture periods 3 lab periods

Theory and practice of basic phlebotomy techniques and procedures. Includes blood collection for patient care, quality assurance standards, medical terminology, anatomy, blood collection procedures, variables, computers and specimen processing, and point of care (POC) testing.

Information: Students must obtain the consent of the instructor before enrolling in this course. IN is the integrated version of the course with the lecture and lab taught simultaneously.

Please see advisor for additional student success course options and/or prior learning assessment.

1. Identify circulatory/vascular anatomy, acceptable sites for sample collection, cellular components
2. Identify common venipuncture challenges 
3. Identify tube additives required for different types of tests and interfering substances, including those produced during the collection process.
4. Define basic medical terms, codes, ethical and legal issues related to phlebotomy, healthcare, laboratory departments, and testing.
5. Demonstrate appropriate use of equipment, collection tubes and order of draw for obtaining specimens using venipuncture, capillary collection, and point of care instruments (POC).
6. Demonstrate professional communication skills applicable to phlebotomy practice.
7. Improve critical thinking and organizational skills by attending class, completing assignments, participating in problem-solving and class discussions
8. Demonstrate good specimen collection technique while utilizing proper safety, HIPAA and regulatory compliance, and professional communication skills applicable to phlebotomy practice.

A. Role of phlebotomist in healthcare setting

B. Policies and procedures

C. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability regulations

D. Ethical and legal issues

II. Quality Assurance Standards

A. Regulatory agencies

B.Standards and indicators

C. Infection control

D. Safety and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

E. Personal wellness

III. Medical Terminology

A. Key terms

B. Abbreviations and codes

IV. Anatomy

A. Human vascular anatomy

B. Identify veins and other blood vessels for blood collection

C. Blood composition and formed elements

D. Identify blood composition and formed elements

V. Blood Collection Procedures

A. Supplies

B. Equipment selection

C. Venipuncture

D. Capillary puncture

E. Blood cultures

VI. Patient preparation and identification

A. Vacuum tube additives

B. Order of draw

C. Proper specimen labeling

D. Special consideration

E. Therapeutic drug levels

F. Specimens for transfusion processing

VII. Variables

A. Pre-analytical errors

B. Restricted vascular access

C. Contamination

D. Special needs patients

E. Infants and small children

F. Problem sites

VIII. Computers and Specimen Processing

A. Laboratory information systems

B. Interfaces

C. Aliquot preparation

D. Delivery and storage

IX. Collection of samples, performing Point of Care (POC) Testing

A. Hemoglobin

B. Glucose

C. Coagulation

X. Alternate collection sites and procedures

A. Butterfly collections – hand, wrist, small veins

B. Adjusting a needle, failure to obtain specimen

C. Problem or difficult patients, restricted vascular access