Phlebotomist
What the work is
Extracts, collects, labels and preserves blood and other specimens from patients for laboratory analysis.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Gathers necessary equipment and supplies for specimen collection
- Explains the procedure to patients and addresses any concerns or questions
- Prepares the collection site and cleans the area with antiseptic
- Selects the appropriate collection method and collects blood or other specimens from patients
- Labels and properly documents collected specimens for accurate identification and tracking
- Ensures proper handling and storage of collected specimens to maintain integrity and prevent contamination
- Adheres to infection control and safety protocols during specimen collection
- Maintains accurate records of collected specimens and related information
- Collaborates with laboratory staff to ensure timely and accurate processing of specimens
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a pathology collection centre in a fictional suburb, seeing patients from early morning until mid-afternoon. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A child who was dreading it says it was not as bad as they thought
- A busy morning where the queue moves, every tube is labelled and nobody waits too long
- A regular patient greets you by name and asks about your weekend
Hard days
- A patient who is very afraid and cannot keep still
- A queue that stretches out of the door at seven in the morning
- A mislabelled form that means you must start again with someone who has already waited
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 311431, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.