Elements and Performance Criteria

Blood collection is in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and relates to:
Venepuncture on adults, adolescents, paediatrics and born-at-term neonates
Capillary collection from adults, adolescents, paediatrics and born-at-term neonates, but not including premature neonates
Other blood collections as specified by organisational policy

Complex blood collection techniques (not covered by this unit) include blood collection:
From premature neonates
Via peripherally inserted central catheter
Arterial collections via lines or artery
Other blood collections as specified by organisational policy

Blood sample requests will come from:
Registered medical practitioner,
Nominated nursing staff eg nurse practitioner

Personal protective equipment includes:
Gloves
Gowns
Masks
Goggles and safety glasses

Venues for Collection may include:
Centres/clinics
Home visits - invalid, elderly or disabled patients
Hospitals
Other facilities including aged care and mental health facilities

Blood collection procedures may include:
Skin puncture
Venepuncture

Equipment and disposables include:
Tourniquets
Collection tubes
Vacuum flasks
Range of syringes and needles
Multi-sample needle and holder
Winged infusion set ("butterfly")
Evacuated blood collection equipment
Lancets
Sharps containers
Steri-wipes
Dressings
Local anaesthetic skin cream

Correct storage requirements of specimens may include:
Use of ice or dry ice
Maintenance of warm temperature
Timely transfer to storage
Protection from light

Critical aspects of assessment must include:
Knowledge of boundaries of responsibilities and ability to refer problems to supervisor
Complies with organisational policies and procedures including OHS and infection control
Correct techniques for blood collection through venepuncture or skin puncture
Demonstrated knowledge of clinical risks of blood collection procedures
Selection of environmental management
Transferring technique to avoid contamination
Selection of appropriate transit procedure and documentation, or selection of appropriate storage

Relationship with other units:
This unit may be assessed in conjunction with:
HLTPAT8A Identify and respond to clinical risks associated with pathology specimen collection
However holistic assessment practice with other general health services units of competency is encouraged.

Essential knowledge must include:
Basic knowledge of human anatomy and physiology in relation to the vascular, arterial and nervous system and relevant to the variety of blood collection procedures and collection sites
Ability to explain the use of collection tube additives, including EDTA, sodium citrate, lithium/sodium heparin, fluoride oxalate, separation gel
Function of needles and syringes, tourniquets, cleansing solutions and swabs and evacuated systems
Factors which may affect the chemical analysis of blood
Test requested and any special requirements, eg appropriate times to collect, impact of drugs, timing of last dose, required fasting times, protecting the integrity of the specimen
Specimen storage procedures
Obligations with respect to confidentiality of patient/client information
Medical Terminology relevant to blood collection
Ethics relevant to blood collection

Essential skills must include:
Work cooperatively in a team environment
Ability to work without close supervision
Exhibit an appropriate level of care reflecting courtesy, responsiveness and helpfulness
Operate applicable laboratory information system
Demonstrate the procedure for patient identification
Assessment skills for determination of appropriate blood collection site and procedure
Demonstrate the function of needles and syringes, tourniquets, cleansing solutions and swabs, evacuated systems, and other equipment and disposables
Demonstrate the use of all blood collection equipment appropriate to a range of collection sites and procedures
Select equipment and prepare blood collection tubes for a specific, or a series of, pathology test(s), excluding arterial punctures, arterial/venous fistula, or shunt punctures or disconnection's
Correct labelling of blood collection tubes
Anatomy and physiology relevant to blood collection
First Aid management relevant to risks of blood collection
Application of standard and additional precautions
Demonstrate procedures to be implemented to resolve complications resulting from venepuncture
Relevant OHS procedures

Resource implications:
A real or simulated workplace environment to mimic the relations and communications between patient reception, blood collection, specimen reception and the laboratory
Use of an artificial/training arm or mannequin as required
All necessary blood collection equipment and tubes
An approved laboratory procedure manual

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
Verbal and/or diagrammatic explanations
Practical exercises and tasks
Question and answer (verbal)
Short written exercises, including multiple choice
Client feedback
Recollection rates

Context of assessment:
This unit is most appropriately assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment under the normal range of work conditions.

Assessment should be conducted on more than one occasion to cover a variety of circumstances and to establish consistency.