Phlebotomy Handbook

About our authors Diana Garza received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and completed her Medical Laboratory Science certification requirements at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her interest in laboratory sciences and in teaching led her to a Master of Science in Education at the Peabody School of Vanderbilt University. She received her Doctor of Education in Allied Health Education and Administration through a collaborative graduate program of the Baylor College of Medicine at the University of Houston. Dr. Garza's laboratory and teaching experience continued at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and, for many years, at the Microbiology Laboratory at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where she later became the Administrative Director of the Division of Laboratory Medicine. In 1990, Dr. Garza joined the faculty of Texas Woman's University - Houston Center, where she taught internet-based quality improvement courses and became editor of several journals and continuing education publications. Dr. Garza has served on numerous health care advisory boards, as a board member for many nonprofit health care organizations, and on nationwide committees in the field of laboratory medicine. She continues her writing and editorial pursuits primarily in the field of phlebotomy. Kathleen Becan-McBride received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Houston; completed her medical laboratory science education at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas; and earned national board certification as a medical laboratory scientist. While working at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital Clinical Laboratory, she received a full scholarship to the University of Houston/Baylor College of Medicine collaborative Masters in Allied Health Education and Administration Program. Dr. Becan-McBride completed her Doctorate in Higher Education and Administration while teaching in the Medical Laboratory Science program and Physician Assistant program at University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston and Medical Laboratory Technician program at Houston Community College. She then became a faculty member and Chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science Department at UTHealth. In more recent years at UTHealth, she was Director of Community and Educational Outreach, Director of Workforce and Resource Development, and professor in the Medical School Department of Family and Community Medicine. Dr. Becan-McBride has published 24 books and more than 57 articles. She has served on numerous national and international health care advisory boards, several editorial boards for health care journals, national and international committees and commissions, and educational advisory boards for medical laboratory science educational programs and community outreach programs. She was the elected Chair of the ASCP Board of Certification Board of Governors from 2008 to 2010 and received the ASCP Mastership Award in 2012; ASCP Board of Certification Distinguished Service Award in 2012; and ASCP Mentorship Award in 2016. Dr. Becan-McBride continues her Texas Higher Education Consultant activities in writing, presenting and editing, mainly in the expanding area of blood collection.

PART 1: OVERVIEW, SAFETY PROCEDURES, AND MEDICAL COMMUNICATION
1. Phlebotomy Practice and Quality Assessment
2. Communication, Computer Essentials, and Documentation
3. Professional Ethics, Legal, and Regulatory Issues
4. Infection Control
5. Safety and First Aid

PART 2: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HUMAN BODY
6. Medical Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology of Organ Systems
7. The Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

PART 3: PHLEBOTOMY EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
8. Blood Collection Equipment for Venipuncture and Capillary Specimens
9. Preexamination/Preanalytical Complications Causing Medical Errors in Blood Collection
10. Venipuncture Procedures
11. Capillary or Dermal Blood Specimens
12. Specimen Handling, Transportation, and Processing

PART 4: POINT-OF-CARE TESTING AND SPECIAL PROCEDURES
13. Pediatric and Geriatric Procedures
14. Point-of-Care Collections
15. Blood Cultures, Arterial, Intravenous (IV), and Special Collection Procedures
16. Urinalysis, Body Fluids, and Other Specimens
17. Drug Use, Forensic Toxicology, Workplace Testing, Sports Medicine, and Related Areas

Appendices:
1. NAACLS Entry-Level Phlebotomist Competencies
2. Competency Assessment Tracking Checklist
3. Finding a Job
4. International Organizations
5. The Basics of Vital Signs
Procedure A5-1 Taking Oral Temperature
Procedure A5-2 Taking Aural Temperature
Procedure A5-3 Taking Axillary Temperature
Procedure A5-4 Assessing Peripheral Pulse Rate
Procedure A5-5 Taking Blood Pressure
Procedure A5-6 Assessing Respiration Rate
6. Hand Hygiene in Health Care Settings: Stay Up-to-Date with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA)
7. Common Laboratory Assays, Reference Intervals, and Critical Limits
8. Blood Collection and Allowable Volumes from Pediatric and Neonatal Patients
9. Cautious Use of Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols
10. Formulas, Calculations, and Metric Conversion
11. Military Time (24-Hour Clock)
12. Basic Spanish for Specimen Collection Procedures
13. Answers to Study Questions, Case Studies, and Competency Checklists