Phlebotomy Hub
Phlebotomy Clinical Skills
Every clinical skill tested on the National Healthcareer Association Phlebotomy exam blueprint. Each skill ships with the step list, the critical steps (the ones the grader is watching), and the common mistakes candidates make on the walkthrough.
These 17 skills appear on virtually every Phlebotomy exam form. Walk through them first when you start studying — they're worth the most points and the test makers can't make the exam without them.
phlebotomy capillary
Capillary Puncture — Fingerstick (Adult)
Capillary puncture from the lateral fingertip.
Capillary Puncture — Heelstick (Infant)
Heelstick for infants — medial or lateral plantar surface only.
Capillary Puncture — Earlobe (Arterialized)
Arterialized blood from the warmed earlobe.
phlebotomy processing
Specimen Handling and Integrity
Maintain specimen integrity from draw to lab.
Specimen Centrifugation
Centrifuge specimens per test requirements.
Specimen Aliquoting
Transfer serum/plasma to secondary containers.
Specimen Storage and Transport
Store and transport per test requirements.
Point-of-Care Testing (Glucose, Hgb, INR)
Perform point-of-care testing with quality control verification.
phlebotomy special
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Collection — Radial Artery
Radial ABG with mandatory Allen's test.
Pediatric Venipuncture
Pediatric draws with butterfly needles and parental presence.
Geriatric Venipuncture
Geriatric draws with fragile-vein technique.
Difficult Draw Management
Manage difficult draws with vein finders and protocol.
phlebotomy venipuncture
Routine Venipuncture (Vacuum Tube)
Perform a standard venipuncture using the evacuated tube system.
Butterfly Needle Collection (Winged Infusion Set)
Use a butterfly needle for fragile or hand veins.
Hand or Wrist Venipuncture
Draw from hand or wrist veins as a last resort.
Antecubital Vein Selection and Draw
Choose the right antecubital vein.
Blood Culture Collection
Collect blood cultures with strict antiseptic prep.
Syringe Draw (Vacuum-Tube Bypass)
Use a syringe draw for fragile veins.