PLAB Phlebotomy Technician Program

Phlebotomy Technician Program

Please visit http://www.austincc.edu/health/phb/ for application information.

Program Description

The profession of phlebotomy is taught through didactic, student laboratory, and clinical experiences. The student will be trained to perform a variety of blood collection methods using proper techniques and precautions including: vacuum collection devices, syringes, capillary skin puncture, butterfly needles and blood culture specimen collection on adults, children and infants. Emphasis will be placed on infection prevention, proper patient identification, proper labeling of specimens, and quality assurance. Students will be taught specimen handling, processing and accessioning. Students will learn the theory and principles of CLIA waived laboratory tests and perform the tests in the student laboratory. The testing performed will include: manual hematocrits, Urinalysis dipsticks, fecal occult blood, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and pregnancy testing.

Program Objectives

The Phlebotomy Technician Course is designed to provide students with:

The technical skills needed to competently and safely collect and handle blood specimens from a variety of patients.
The interpersonal skills needed to interact with others.
The knowledge base needed to pass national certification exams.
An introduction to health care professions with emphasis on clinical laboratory science.

Program Goals

Upon completion of this program the student will successfully:

Demonstrate knowledge of the health care delivery system and medical terminology.
Demonstrate knowledge of infection control and safety.
Demonstrate basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of body systems.
Associate the major areas / departments of the clinical laboratory with the laboratory tests ordered to evaluate a patient’s pathologic condition / illness.
Demonstrate understanding of the importance of specimen collection in the overall patient care system.
Demonstrate knowledge and use of collection equipment, various types of additives used, special precautions necessary substances and pre-analytical variables that can adversely affect the blood sample and/or interfere in clinical analysis of blood constituents.
Demonstrate proper techniques to perform venipuncture and capillary puncture.
Demonstrate knowledge of preanalytical errors that can significantly alter results.
Demonstrate understanding of requisitioning, specimen transport and specimen processing.
Demonstrate understanding of quality assurance in phlebotomy.
Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts of communications, personal and patient interaction, stress management, professional behavior and legal implications of the work environment.