Understanding Arterial Blood Gases

As a phlebotomist, it’s important to know as much about the blood and how it works as possible. This is just as important as being skilled with the needle! Arterial blood gases refer to the oxygen and carbon dioxide present in a person’s arterial blood, as well as the acidity of the blood. By looking at and measuring these gases, the health and functioning of a person’s lungs can be determined. If the lungs aren’t working properly, arterial blood gases will inevitably be in different concentrations than normal.

Look into becoming a phlebotomist, and you can specialize in arterial blood gas collection. The certification information at ASPT can help you become an important part of a medical team that provides care for patients.

You’ll learn to perform an ABG test – this test can tell medical professionals many things about the blood. An ABG test reveals the ability of the lungs to move oxygen into the blood, the amount of oxygen in the blood, the oxygen saturation of the hemoglobin, and the pressure of the oxygen in the blood. With carbon dioxide, a medical professional can see how much carbon dioxide remains in the blood after it has passed through the lungs – effectively measuring the lungs’ capacity to remove it.

Learn more about becoming an arterial blood gas collection professional.

Looking Into: Human Circulatory Diseases

As a phlebotomy technician, you’ll spend the majority of your time helping patients through medical situations that involve the circulatory system. The circulatory system is vital – it’s the means by which the body receives oxygen, nutrients, and other materials needed for normal cellular metabolism. Help your patients protect their heart’s health by being knowledgeable about some common human circulatory diseases.

• Atherosclerosis is characterized by the formation of cholesterol deposits in the arteries, known as arterial plaque. These deposits can interfere with the circulation of blood – thus depriving cells of necessary oxygen.
• Hypertension, or high blood pressure, increases the risk of both stroke and heart attack. It relates to the amount of resistance in blood circulation due to a constriction or narrowing of the arteries.
• Small vessel disease, also known as coronary microvascular disease, occurs when the small arteries of the heart malfunction.
• Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) impacts the larger blood vessels in the body – other than those in the heart and brain.

When you are knowledgeable about human circulatory diseases, you can better help the patients that cross your path each and every day as a phlebotomist.

Certification Important for Phlebotomists

Obtaining phlebotomy certification is essential if you want to work within certain healthcare settings and advance within the field. Hospitals, private clinics, labs and more often require phlebotomists to pass certification courses that last anywhere from eight to 12 months, along with an exam that allows students to receive their certificates.Each state also has different requirement for working phlebotomists, so it is important to check with your state office to make sure you have the proper credentials before seeking employment.

Why is a phlebotomy certification so important when you already have an associate's or higher degree in the health care field? For one, certification ensures that you know the proper techniques for blood draws and other associated skills in a lab setting. Secondly, maintaining your certification requires ongoing training of at least six continuing education (CEU) credits per year. The latter assures that you remain current in the latest information in the phlebotomy field. Another aspect of getting and maintaining certification is that you will have access to premium level positions that lead to greater earning potential. The American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians makes it easy for you to maintain certification. Check our education listings to find courses near you.

Phlebotomists Should Take Annual Continuing Education Courses

Attending and graduating from phlebotomy school is only part of the education needed for obtaining a certification in this field. to keep current in the field, you need to take continuing education courses as the role of phlebotomists is constantly changing. As a phlebotomist, you are often the only member of the laboratory staff that patients see, so your knowledge and manner as well as your expertise is of utmost importance.

Here at the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT), we make it easy for you to keep current on all the latest developments in the field with regular continuing education course offerings that supplement and augment what you learned in phlebotomy school. To maintain your ASPT membership, you must take six annual CEU class hours. ASPT constantly develops new program and classes so its members can remain current on their certifications. New courses also give our members the opportunity to cross train and learn new skills in the field.

The beauty of our program is that we can customize our course offerings, as well as the days and times offered, to fit your organization's needs. Certification examinations are offered after every course and must be validated through the Allied Association of Health Care Services.

The A-B-O on Blood Types

As a phlebotomist, or a phlebotomy training student, blood is kind of your thing. Not in the vampire sense, of course. As in, an artist works in oil paints, a sculpture works in clay and you work with needles and blood all day! So how about a little refresher on all things blood types?

B is for Blood
All blood is created equal and is made of the same basic elements; however, not all blood is alike. In fact, there are...jump in when you know the answer...eight different common blood types. So what makes each one different from the next? A person’s blood type is determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens - substances that can trigger an immune response if they are foreign to the body.

Blood Groups and How They Get Along
There are four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens – A and B – on the surface of red blood cells:

Group A – has only the A antigen on red cells (and B antibody in the plasma)
Group B – has only the B antigen on red cells (and A antibody in the plasma)
Group AB – has both A and B antigens on red cells (but neither A nor B antibody in the plasma)
Group O – has neither A nor B antigens on red cells (but both A and B antibody are in the plasma)

Got all that straight? Now things get a little trickier! In addition to the A and B antigens, there is a third antigen called the Rh factor, which can be either present (+) or absent ( – ).

How Is Blood Type Determined?
It’s inherited. Like eye color, blood type is passed genetically from your parents. Whether your blood group is type A, B, AB or O is based on the blood types of your mother and father.

Most Common Blood Type
Surely you know this one! If you said O positive, you are correct!

Top 5 Reasons to Become a Phlebotomist

Are you considering a career in medicine, or to switch careers to something more fulfilling? Phlebotomy is a wonderful career option for a number of reasons, including the ability to help those in need! If you are hardworking, dedicated and compassionate (you’ll need that in spades for those difficult blood draws!), then this is a great profession for you! Need some more convincing? Here are 4 more reasons why becoming a phlebotomist is a solid life choice!

Start School Immediately –
Through a phlebotomy training program you will you learn medical terminology and anatomy and physiology of the human body, which are essential parts of the job. Once you have completed your program, you’ll be eligible to take the Phlebotomy Technician Certification exam. Many phlebotomists can often start working independently in as little as six months from the start of their training.

Excellent Career Growth –
There is tremendous growth potential in the field of phlebotomy, as well as additional career opportunities in the medical field as a result of your training and knowledge.  A career in phlebotomy can be a fantastic stepping stone to a career in nursing, as a lab technician or as a gateway to medical school.

Competitive Pay –
Starting salary for phlebotomists is often more than $11 per hour. In addition, many larger health care companies offer benefits packages and other perks to recruit graduates straight out of schooling.

Diverse Employment Opportunities –
Healthcare in general, including phlebotomy, continue to see steady growth year after year. Not only is there a demand for phlebotomists, but there is also a wide spectrum of job opportunities such as: laboratories, clinics, hospitals, doctor’s offices, insurance companies, medical centers, elderly care facilities and blood donation centers.

Phlebotomy is not only a great career, but it can be a fantastic stepping stone to a further career in medicine. Start your dream career in the world of healthcare as a phlebotomist today!

Knowledge is Power: Become a Certified Phlebotomist

Learn your phlebotomy ABCs

Why should you become a certified phlebotomist? It may seem like more and more often people are doing this job without becoming certified in the field – so it might not seem worth it. But becoming a certified phlebotomist definitely has its benefits. Certification shows potential employers that you know your job, and you’re apt to have more benefits upon hire. And, on a more personal level, having that level of accomplishment can really boost your self-worth and self-esteem.

Believe it or not, most healthcare facilities require certification of their phlebotomists. This means that those with proper certification will be hired above those that still require it. With a phlebotomy certification, you can work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, laboratories, or even blood banks.

When patients need blood drawn, they want to feel safe. If you have the proper certification, you’ll be able to ease some of their concerns. Being certified allows you to be positive of your skills when you are on the job – and your co-workers and patients will notice it, too.

If you want to become certified in phlebotomy, learn more at the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians at ASPT.org.