How a phlebotomist can use AI, task by task

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Specimen: [tissue, cells, slides]
Method: [staining, mounting, culture]

List prep steps, QC checks and common errors. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Specimen: [blood, urine, tissue, swab]
Protocol: [your facility's steps]

Make a checklist: identification, collection, labelling, storage and transport. No patient details. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Waste type: [sharps, bodily fluids, infectious]
Rules: [facility policy, regulations]

Make a handling and disposal checklist with PPE. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Equipment: [oxygen, x-ray, supplies]
Procedure: [describe]

List set-up and safety checks. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Waste type: [sharps, bodily fluids, infectious]
Rules: [facility policy, regulations]

Make a handling and disposal checklist with PPE. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to collect specimens at specific time intervals for tests, such as those assessing therapeutic drug levels.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Specimen: [blood, urine, tissue, swab]
Protocol: [your facility's steps]

Make a checklist: identification, collection, labelling, storage and transport. No patient details. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Samples: [specimens, slides, lab samples]
Analysis: [what's next]

List prep, labelling and storage steps. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to monitor blood or plasma donors during and after procedures to ensure health, safety, and comfort.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Setting: [ward, unit, home care]
What I observe: [symptoms, behaviour]

List early warning signs, how to report them, and a short observation note template. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Test: [describe]
Purpose: [what it shows]

Write a patient explanation, prep checklist and warning signs. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to transport specimens or fluid samples from collection sites to laboratories.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Items: [specimens, pharmacy items]
Rules: [labelling, temperature, documentation]

List handling and handoff steps. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to provide sample analysis results to physicians to assist diagnosis.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Results: [test type, general values]
Recipient: [physician]

Prepare a clear, concise report including critical values first. Suggest ways to open, phrases to avoid, and how to handle it if things get tense. Then play the other person so I can practice.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to explain fluid or tissue collection procedures to patients.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Instructions: [post-op, medical instructions]
Who: [patient, family]

Write plain-language instructions and a teach-back script. Then play the patient. Suggest ways to open, phrases to avoid, and how to handle it if things get tense. Then play the other person so I can practice.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to draw blood from capillaries by dermal puncture, such as heel or finger stick methods.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Specimen: [blood, urine, tissue, swab]
Protocol: [your facility's steps]

Make a checklist: identification, collection, labelling, storage and transport. No patient details. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to collect fluid or tissue samples, using appropriate collection procedures.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Specimen: [blood, urine, tissue, swab]
Protocol: [your facility's steps]

Make a checklist: identification, collection, labelling, storage and transport. No patient details. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to conduct hemoglobin tests to ensure donor iron levels are normal.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Test: [describe]
Purpose: [what it shows]

Write a patient explanation, prep checklist and warning signs. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to calibrate or maintain machines, such as those used for plasma collection.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Equipment: [low vision devices, exercise equipment]
Tasks: [cleaning, checks]

List maintenance routine. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to serve refreshments to donors to ensure absorption of sugar into their systems.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Patients: [general needs, diets]
Setting: [home, facility]

List feeding assistance steps, positioning and choking precautions. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a phlebotomist. Part of my job is to draw blood from arteries, using arterial collection techniques.

Context: The work draws on customer and personal service, administrative and education and training.
Specimen: [blood, urine, tissue, swab]
Protocol: [your facility's steps]

Make a checklist: identification, collection, labelling, storage and transport. No patient details. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.