Unfortunately for entry-level phlebotomists or those in phlebotomy training, this process can be quite confusing and often difficult to remember.

Order of Draw Table

Due to the many colored-top blood collection tubes, it can often be difficult to remember the correct order. Luckily we’ve composed a simple chart, mnemonic, and infographic to easily help phlebotomists remember the proper order.

By using the following mnemonic you’ll have an easier time remembering the proper order:
Boys Love Roses; Girls Love Daisies, Lilacs, and Gardenias.

This mnemonic is simply one we’ve provided, and can be altered to anything that will help you memorize it easier.

Why is the Order of Draw Important?

Remembering the proper order during a venipuncture procedure on a patient is important for a few reasons:

• Decrease the time it takes to perform the procedure
• Reduce patient discomfort
• Avoid complications for patient
• Prevent misdiagnosis of patient
• Prevent cross-contamination of additives between blood collection tubes

As a result of applying the proper order of collection tubes, you’re providing a safer, more comfortable experience for your patient, which is always the number one priority when drawing blood.  Above all, this also ensures that the patient’s results will come back accurate and result in proper diagnosis and treatment.

What are Inversions?

A phlebotomist inverts each blood sample by rotating the tube vertically by 180 degrees. The infographic below displays what constitutes as one full inversion.

These inversions are necessary to mix the blood specimen with each tube’s additive to ensure that there is no cross-contamination between tubes.

Therefore, cross-contamination of the additives might result in misdiagnosis or mistreatment of the patient.

The post Phlebotomy Order of Draw appeared first on Phlebotomy Info.

The annual median salary for phlebotomist technicians as of May 2021 was $37,380 ($17.97/hour), according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Entry-level phlebotomists made $28,990 ($13.94/hour), while more experienced phlebotomists had an average salary of $48,490 ($23.31/hour).

Average Phlebotomist Wage by State (U.S.)

The information in this table is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics based on the national average salary as of May 2021.
*Due to 2021 data not being available for Hawaii, 2018 data has remained.

Factors That Affect Phlebotomist Pay Rate

Years of experience and qualifications usually dictate your rate of pay, but your state of residence also plays a central role. Some states (California and Nevada, for example) pay their phlebotomists higher initial salaries to offset a higher cost of living. Take into consideration the cost of living where you are, and compare it to the average phlebotomy salary when searching for jobs. It can save a lot of headaches going forward.

The top-paying states currently for phlebotomy technicians are California, Alaska, New York, and Massachusetts.

Phlebotomy Technician Benefits

It’s important to note that in addition to these competitive salaries, most phlebotomists also receive competitive benefit packages that include health, vision, and dental insurance, 403b or 401k retirement packages (which are usually matched by your employer and are comprised of pre-tax deductions), paid time off and sick time, and tuition assistance. Make sure to check with your employer, or prospective employers, about what benefits they offer in addition to the generous phlebotomy salary.

While starting phlebotomist salaries are competitive, it should be noted that Department of Labor projections indicate that phlebotomist salaries will continue to climb over the next 10 years, ensuring that the commitment you make to becoming a phlebotomist will pay off immediately and far into the future.

If you are coming from a higher paying (initially) profession to phlebotomy, this is an important factor to consider. Certain jobs that are high paying now may not exist in the immediate future, or will become lower paying due to market demands. This is not something to worry about when it comes to phlebotomy, however. Phlebotomist jobs are expected to grow over the next decade.

Job Outlook and Future Growth

In addition to the nice compensation, phlebotomists are going to continue to be in-demand in the future. Department of Labor projections indicate an expected 10% growth in the demand for phlebotomists from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.

What this means is that becoming a phlebotomist now will continue to pay off far down the road. When demand for phlebotomists is high, that means that employers will be actively seeking qualified and certified phlebotomists, and will certainly offer even more generous and competitive compensation!

With this projected increase in demand and wages, becoming a phlebotomist is a no-brainer if you are seeking financial independence, stability, and a rewarding career that serves people.

If you’re thinking about becoming a phlebotomist, be sure to check out our how-to guide to start your phlebotomy technician career.

The post How Much Does a Phlebotomist Make? appeared first on Phlebotomy Info.