Blood Bank Technicians perform activities such as collecting blood from patients, screening blood samples, monitoring vital signs, storing blood draws, preparing transfusion components such as plasma and updating blood bank records.

Specialists in blood bank technology perform both routine and specialized tests in blood donor centers, transfusion services, reference laboratories and research facilities.

Although medical technologists and medical laboratory technicians also perform various blood tests, the blood bank technology specialist’s training enables him or her to perform specialized tests, such as those dealing with the study of blood and its immunities (immunohematology).

Their duties includes drawing and processing blood, testing for blood group antigens, compatibility and antibody recognition, inspecting abnormalities, supporting physicians in transfusion treatment, selecting blood donors, executing pre transfusion viral screening and various other confirmatory tests, and much more.

ANZSCO ID: 311213

Knowledge, skills and attributes

• Communicate clearly

• Reason and problem solve

• Use mathematics and science

• Manage oneself, people, time and things

• Work with people

• Work with thinks

• Perceive and visualise

(Source: iHireMedTechs)

Duties and Tasks

• Collects and separates plasma, platelets, and packed red blood cells

• Performs type & screens, cross matches, DU, fetal screens and cord blood study

• Performs Antibody workup includes antibody identification and titer, warm and cold agglutinins, Eluate testing.

• Identifies blood types and antibodies and resolves ABO and RH typing discrepancies and transfusion reaction investigation.

• Investigates abnormalities such as hemolytic diseases of the newborn, hemolytic anemias and adverse reactions to transfusion

• Supports physicians in transfusion therapy for patients with coagulopathies (diseases affecting blood clotting), for example, or candidates for organ and cellular transplantation/therapy

• Performs correct patient antigen phenotyping, antigen type units, sicklescreen units.

• Certifies result accuracy by maintaining proper documentation and storage of quality control reagents

• Aids massive transfusions protocol for trauma patients

• Investigates harmful responses of the body to blood transfusion

• Supervises the collection, separation, delivery and storage of blood components

• Supports physicians and nurses in blood transfusion therapy

• Reviews production reports and documentation to ensure product acceptability

• Writes and reviews Standard Operating Procedures

• Performs Validations

• Trains new employees

• Works interchangeably between the Components Laboratory, Components Release Laboratory, Quality Control Laboratory, and Reference Laboratory

• Can conduct mobile blood drives of local businesses

(Source: ExploreHealthCareers)

Working conditions

Blood bank technicians work in a lab under the guidance of a medical or clinical laboratory technologist or manager. Technicians collect, label and prepare blood, plasma and other components for transfusions. In addition, blood bank technicians consistently interact with the public, conducting interviews and testing samples to screen potential donors.

Employment settings in the medical field vary greatly, so blood bank technicians may work consistent hours, or schedules could rotate each week with a certain number of required holiday and weekend shifts. Some technicians might be on call, in case of emergency, in addition to regularly scheduled hours.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a Blood Bank Technician you usually have to complete a VET qualification. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information.

Generally, Blood Bank Technicians collect, label and prepare blood and other blood components such as plasma under the direct supervision of a medically trained manager. The blood they collect is used for transfusions, so they also perform a range of screening activities to ensure that the donations are safe for medical use. This usually involves interviewing potential donors and screening samples to ensure that the blood is healthy.

Once they have drawn the blood, the Blood Bank Technician perform a range of tasks that prepares the blood for future use. This includes separating the blood into its components, testing for communicable diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis, and testing the blood for compatibility, antibodies and group antigens.

 

 

 

Phlebotomy is a process of puncturing the vein (also known as venipuncture) in order to get a blood sample for performing a medical test. Blood letting can also be performed for blood donation purposes.

A phlebotomy technician draws quality blood samples from patients or blood donors and prepares those specimens for medical testing. Many patients have phobias when it comes to blood and needles, and giving blood can be the most difficult part of an office visit. The phlebotomy technician must create an atmosphere of trust and confidence with patients while drawing blood specimens in a skillful, safe and reliable manner.

Phlebotomy technicians, or simply phlebotomists, are professionals who draw blood from patients. They take these blood samples to pass to laboratory and further check for health issues, like diseases, bacteria, cholesterol, etc. In the meantime, phlebotomists can work in all kinds of medical facilities, from hospitals to private laboratories.

ANZSCO ID: 311216

Alternative names: Phlebotomy technician

 

Knowledge, skills and attributes

Phlebotomy technicians must like challenge and responsibility. They must also be accurate, work well under pressure and communicate effectively. Because they work directly with patients, they must notice and relay any important information gained during interactions to doctors, nurses and laboratory professionals.

To become a phlebotomist, you would need:

• good written and spoken communication skills

• a sympatheic and calming nature

• a steady hand

• practical skills

• accuracy and attention to detail

• the ability to follow instructions and procedures accurately

• the ability to work under pressure.

(Source: All Allied Health Schools)

Duties and Tasks

As a phlebotomist, you are responsible for drawing blood from patients and delivering this blood to local laboratories for testing. Expect to draw blood from babies, children, young adults and elderly patients on a daily basis.

• Greet donors.

• Records donors' personal details, including their weight, age, blood type and contact details.

• Explains the procedure to donors and checks their personal details. 

• Takes a finger-prick test to check the donor's haemoglobin (red blood cells) and ensure that iron levels in the blood are normal.

• Deal with people of all ages and with all types of illnesses

• Collect blood samples from patients

• Apply pressure or bandages after blood is drawn

• Decipher the best method for drawing blood depending on the specific patient

• Use hypodermic needles to draw blood

• Label all samples accurately

• Practice proper patient identification, especially when working on hospital floors

• Follow exact procedures to ensure no contamination or mix ups with samples

• Label vials with patient names and dates

• Deliver samples within set timescales

• Follow strict hygiene regulations

• Keep accurate computerised records

• Be friendly, courteous and sympathetic when it comes to working with patients

• Keep their phlebotomy cart or station well-organized at all times

• Practice infection control standards at all times when working with patients and equipment

Working conditions

As a phlebotomist you would usually work a standard number of hours per week but depending on your role, you may work weekends or evenings on a shift basis. Part-time work should be readily available.

Phlebotomists work mainly in hospitals, medical and diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centres, medical centres and doctors’ offices. You would be required to have certain immunisations and follow strict handling guidelines.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a phlebotomist you usually have to complete a VET qualification in laboratory technology or laboratory operations. You may be able to study through distance education.

The role does not require any formal qualifications but a Certificate III in Specimen Collection is highly regarded.

Hands-on training will include these blood-drawing procedures:

• Basic venipuncture techniques

• Butterfly techniques commonly used for the elderly and children with small veins

• Fingerstick methods for people with damaged or hard-to-find veins

• Healstick or capillary puncture for newborns
  

Employment Opportunities

As doctors use more blood tests to diagnose illness and disease, hospitals, diagnostic laboratories and medical centres will need phlebotomists to collect samples and arrange tests.

 

Cytotechnologists are laboratory professionals who study slides of cells under a microscope to search for abnormalities and cellular anomalies. Using a microscope, they examine slides of human cells for any indication that a cell is abnormal and/or diseased (i.e., cancerous or precancerous lesions, infectious agents or inflammatory processes). Cytotechnologists often play a crucial role in helping patients to recover from illness by identifying a disease while it is still at a treatable stage.

Cell specimens are obtained from various body sites, such as the female reproductive tract, the lung, etc., and then placed on slides using special techniques. Cytotechnologists examine the slides microscopically, mark cellular changes that indicate disease and submit a report to the pathologist for final evaluation.

Using the findings of cytotechnologists, pathologists can diagnose and treat disease — in many cases, long before it could be detected otherwise. For instance, in recent years, fine needles are being used to aspirate lesions, even those that are deeply seated in the body. This has greatly enhanced the ability to find and diagnose tumors located in previously inaccessible sites.

ANZSCO ID: 311213

Alternative names: Cytotechnician,

 

Knowledge, skills and attributes      

Cytotechnologists examine and diagnosis cells under microscopes while working in a team-oriented laboratory environment. Employers hire cytotechnologists who have all the skills needed to perform the daily tasks required of this job:

• Communication skills – cytotechnologists use good verbal communication skills to work in a collaborative laboratory environment and written communication skills to write reports detailing their findings

• Attention to detail – cytotechnologists examine slides, noticing even the smallest deviations

• Analytical ability – cytotechnologists diagnose abnormalities found in cells

• Physical ability – cytotechnologists spend hours standing

• Mechanical skills – cytotechnologists use mechanical skills and good manual dexterity to work with microscopes, placing slides and making adjustments as needed

• Computer skills – cytotechnologists access digital files and key information into digital documents     

 

Southern Ohio Medical Center Odd Jobs - Cytotechnologist
https://youtu.be/oEEf61Jox40

 

Duties and Tasks

Daily duties performed by cytotechnologists vary based on the types of cells they’re studying, the number of slides they prepare, and the number of specimens coming into the laboratory where they work. However, there are several core job tasks associated with this career that are universal in all lab environments:

• Prepare Slides: Cytotechnologists prepare slides of cells for examination by staining and mounting specimens. Prepare and analyze samples, such as Papanicolaou (PAP) smear body fluids and fine needle aspirations (FNAs), to detect abnormal conditions.

• Examine Slides: Cytotechnologists examine slides of human cells under microscopes - examine cell samples to detect abnormalities in the colour, shape, or size of cellular components and patterns.

• Classify Slides: Cytotechnologists classify all examined slides and prepare a preliminary diagnosis of each.

• Write Reports: Cytotechnologists write reports on abnormalities found in examined cells. Provide patient clinical data or microscopic findings to assist pathologists in the preparation of pathology reports.

• Prepare Slide Materials: Cytotechnologists prepare stains, solutions, and reagents to be used for slides.

• Assist in Collection: Cytotechnologists can assist in the collection of cells to be used for examination.

• Maintain Safety: Cytotechnologists adhere to all lab safety protocols to avoid contamination of specimens and minimize the risk of workplace incidents. Maintain effective laboratory operations by adhering to standards of specimen collection, preparation, or laboratory safety.

• Write Daily Log: Cytotechnologists keep a daily log of specimens examined and document all findings in the log. Document specimens by verifying patients’ and specimens’ information.

• Perform Maintenance

Working conditions

Most cytotechnologists work in hospitals or commercial laboratories. With experience, they also may work in private industry or in supervisory, research and teaching positions. Cytotechnologists may work independently (when evaluating and reporting on normal cells) or in close collaboration with a pathologist (when examining cells for indications of disease).

Laboratories and medical facilities hire cytotechnologists to work full-time, flexible hours during all shifts, including evenings and weekends in some cases, depending on the hours maintained by the facility. Cytotechnologists function within a collaborative team environment and work with little supervision, primarily reporting to a laboratory supervisor. Cytotechnologists work exclusively within lab environments and are not usually required to travel to perform their normal job duties.

   
Tools and technologies

Cytotechnologists regularly work with the following tools and equipment:

• Slides

• Microscopes

• Lab tools (tongs, test tubes)

• Safety equipment (gloves, safety glasses, shoe covers, aprons)

Education and training/entrance requirements

Employers look for cytotechnologists who have a bachelor’s degree in cytopathology technology, biology, or a related medical field.

As well, labs may provide cytotechnologists with brief orientation training to show them the specific procedures used by the lab in regard to preparing, examining, and logging specimens. This orientation is brief, usually lasting no more than two weeks in most lab environments.
   

Employment Opportunities

As new screening and identification techniques for cancer are developed, cytotechnologists will continue to play an invaluable role in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Cytotechnologist with microscope
(Source: Balance Careers)

 

 

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Materials sourced from
CareersOnline [Medical Laboratory Technician; ]
CareerHQ [Pathology Collector/Phlebotomist; Medical Laboratory Technician; ]
Good Universities Guide [Medical Laboratory Technician; ]
ExploreHealthCareers [Blood Bank Technology Specialists; Cytotechnologist; ]
JobHero [Blood Bank Technician; Cytotechnologist; ]
AlliedHealth [Phlebotomist; ]
Phlebotomist Scout [Phlebotomist Job Description; ]
OwlGuru [Cytotechnologists; ]
Illinois Work Net Center [Blood Bank Technologist; ]
Your Career [Medical Laboratory Technician; Pathology Collector; ]

 

 

 

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