ABSTRACT
Venepuncture is a task that is often one of the first to be taken on by a HCA, and
many will be extremely proficient in the procedure. It is, however, another one of
those tasks where it is so essential to get it right in order to achieve the best and most
accurate sample possible. This may sound obvious but it is surprising how many
errors “competent” phlebotomists can make that can have significant implications
for the patient. This chapter will provide some of the necessary underpinning
knowledge in the physiological process and will outline the correct procedure to
achieve accurate sampling.
