Phlebotomy
Phlebotomy Services are committed to providing excellence in patient care, in partnership with other CHOP departments, by providing quality, timely and distinction in patient satisfaction. We treat everyone we serve with compassion and kindness. Furthermore, we support research, education and public service programs that enrich the quality of life.
The phlebotomy staff is composed of carefully trained individuals with extensive experience drawing blood from children of all ages, including infants and children with multiple medical needs whose veins may be “difficult”. The staff strives to obtain specimens with the minimum discomfort and anxiety for the patient and family, and with the minimum volume of blood taken to perform the necessary tests.
Critical aspects of the quality of phlebotomy services are monitored carefully. These include accuracy in specimen labeling, accuracy in test ordering, and specimen integrity.Important aspects of customer service are also monitored, such as waiting time at outpatient stations.
Available Services
Inpatient phlebotomy rounds
Teams of phlebotomists make 4 scheduled rounds each day to collect blood samples for ordered tests for all inpatient locations, including intensive care units. Teams consist of 9 phlebotomists for the morning rounds starting at 6 a.m., 3 phlebotomists for rounds starting at 11 a.m, and 4 phlebotomists for the round starting at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Outpatient blood draw stations
3rd Floor Main Building
- Main phlebotomy station
- Administrative offices
- Two phlebotomy chairs with two reclining chairs
- Four staff members
- Close to PARC registration area
- Sweat test facility
3rd Floor Wood
- Five phlebotomy chairs with one reclining chair
- Eight to ten staff members
- Oral Glucose tolerance testing available
4th Floor Wood
- Three phlebotomy chairs with one reclining chair
- Four staff members
- Linked with the Hematology and Oncology clinics and the 4 Wood Satellite laboratory where complete blood counts and other hematologic testing is performed
3535 Market Street
- Three phlebotomy chairs with one reclining chair
- Two to three staff members
Sweat Testing
Accredited as part of comprehensive Cystic Fibrosis Center
- Gold Standard method - Pilocarpine iontophoresis
- Dedicated chloride free facility and trained personnel
- Collections analyzed daily on site for rapid results
- Forty years of experience with this test
- Almost 1,000 tests performed per year
- Instructions for ordering and preparing for a sweat test.
Oral Glucose tolerance test
Available on a limited basis for Endocrinology patients.
Specimen Collection Procedures
We perform the following specimen collection procedures:
- Confirmation and documentation of fasting status
- Timed specimens can usually be accommodated
- Capillary blood collection
- Heel sticks limited to infants
- Finger pricks
- Urine specimens – clean catch, not by catheter
- Sweat tests
- Specimen collection for outside laboratories
- Specimen collection for approved research protocols.
Services that we do not provide
- Accessing or drawing from ports, indwelling catheters or lines, PICC lines, dialysis catheters, or fistulas
- Placement of or drawing blood from peripheral IVs
- Arterial sticks
- Oral glucose tolerance tests except for Endocrine patients
- Paternity testing
- Specimens for forensic testing or legal evidence.
- Collection of specimens other than blood, urine, and sweat
- Acceptance or accessioning of specimens obtained at home or at other facilities