Phlebotomists are trained to draw blood from a patient (mostly from veins) for clinical or medical testing, transfusions, donations, or research.

Phlebotomists collect blood primarily by performing venipunctures.

The duties of a phlebotomist may include practicing the required forms of asepsis (cleanliness), performing the skin/vein puncture, withdrawing blood into containers or tubes, and restoring hemostasis (Stability) of the puncture site.

In this role, phlebotomists are also responsible for instructing patients on post-puncture care, ordering tests per the doctor’s requisition, affixing tubes with electronically printed labels, and delivering specimens to a laboratory.