What is phlebotomy? — Module 1

Phlebotomy is the practice of drawing blood from patients. The blood may go to the laboratory for clinical management or health assessment, to a transfusion service, to a donation bank, or to a research programme. The term itself comes from the Greek words "phlebo" (vein) and "tomy" (incision).

Photograph of a phlebotomist performing a venepuncture on an adult patient seated in a draw chair, with a labelled blood-collection tray in the foreground. — The phlebotomist is the first person in a long diagnostic pathway. Everything downstream depends on the sample arriving correctly drawn and correctly labelled.

As a phlebotomist, you are a vital member of the healthcare team. Your work directly impacts:

Accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions
Patient safety and comfort
Quality of laboratory results
Prevention of disease transmission