Patient & Phlebotomist Safety

At Bloods & Beyond, your safety – and our phlebotomists’ – is our top priority. We follow strict infection control and safety procedures to ensure every blood collection is carried out in a clean, safe, and hygienic environment, whether at home, in clinics, or in the workplace.

🪪 ID and Identification

Our phlebotomists use digital ID cards. When they arrive, feel free to ask to see their ID — it will be displayed on their phone and includes:

  • Their photo
  • Full name (which will match your appointment confirmation)
  • Job title (Mobile Phlebotomist)
  • Phone number (which should match the number they’ve contacted you from)

There’s also a QR code you can scan to call our office directly if you have any concerns.

🧼 Infection Control Procedures

🧴 Handwashing

All phlebotomists must wash their hands before each blood draw. They’ll ask if there is a suitable sink they can use. If possible, please provide a clean hand towel or kitchen roll for drying. If facilities aren’t available, they will use their own alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

😷 Masks

Phlebotomists do not wear masks as standard, but they carry masks with them and are happy to wear one if you prefer.

  • If the phlebotomist has mild cold symptoms, they will wear a mask.
  • If you have a slight cold or are feeling unwell, please let the phlebotomist know and consider wearing a mask too.

🧠 Studies suggest that if one person wears a mask, the chance of airborne transmission can drop by ~50%. If both people wear masks, this risk may drop to around 2%.

🧤 Gloves

Gloves are Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), used primarily to protect the phlebotomist.

  • Clean, washed hands are safer for the patient than gloved hands alone.
  • Many experienced phlebotomists choose not to wear gloves to improve their ability to feel for veins, especially for difficult draws.
  • All phlebotomists carry gloves and will happily wear them if requested.

🧽 Site Sterilisation

Some phlebotomists will clean the site with an alcohol swab; others may not. This varies by training and NHS Trust policy.

  • The reason? Alcohol needs to fully dry to be effective — and this step is often rushed.
  • Some Trusts have removed this step due to concerns about alcohol contamination outweighing the benefits.

All our phlebotomists carry pre-injection swabs and will clean the site if you prefer — just ask.

🧪 Equipment Use

  • Most equipment is single-use only — including needles, blood tubes, and gauze.
  • Items like tourniquets and trays are reused and disinfected between patients.
  • In rare cases, if the vein is missed by a small margin, a phlebotomist may reinsert the same needle immediately – but only if they judge it to be safer and more comfortable for you than reattempting with a new one or probing under the skin.
    While this approach is not in line with strict national guidance, it is occasionally used – with your consent – based on clinical judgement and in line with our infection control and hygiene procedures.
    If a second attempt is needed at a different site, the needle will always be safely disposed of and a fresh, sterile one used.

🚮 Waste Disposal

  • All phlebotomists carry a sharps bin for used needles. Some bring it inside, others may leave it in the car and carry safety-locked needles out.
  • Most of our needles have built-in safety mechanisms, making them safe to transport short distances.
  • Any minor waste (e.g. cotton wool with a drop of blood) can be disposed of in your household bin — there’s no need for a clinical waste bin.

💡 Think of it like a nosebleed — you wouldn’t need special waste facilities for a small amount of blood.

🛡️Phlebotomist Safety

🧍‍♀️Lone Worker Safety

We take our team’s safety seriously. Every phlebotomist uses a lone worker app to check in at the start of your appointment.

  • If they don’t check out within 20 minutes, our office will call them.
  • If they’re unresponsive, we’ll escalate and call the police to ensure their safety.
  • If you live in an area with poor mobile reception, they may ask to use your Wi-Fi to ensure their app works correctly.

💉 Needle Stick Injury

Phlebotomists are encouraged (but not required) to receive Hepatitis B vaccination, which protects them from certain bloodborne infections.

If a needle stick injury occurs with a used needle:

  • The phlebotomist will run the wound under water for 60 seconds.
  • They’ll go immediately to A&E, where they will be assessed by Occupational Health.
  • They may ask to take a second blood sample from you – with your consent – to assist in ruling out any transmission risk.

🐾 Pets

We love animals too, but please keep pets in another room during your appointment. Even the calmest pets can become curious or cause a distraction during a blood draw.

🦠 Infection Prevention Is Everyone’s Responsibility

To keep everyone safe, we kindly ask:

  • Please let us know in advance if you’re feeling unwell.
  • Follow any instructions from your phlebotomist (e.g. preparing a clean space, or wearing a mask).
  • Ask questions at any time — we’re here to help.

📋 Trained and Compliant

All of our phlebotomists are trained in infection prevention and control as part of their induction and receive regular refresher updates.

We follow guidance from:

  • CQC and community healthcare infection control standards
  • The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
  • NHS best practices

✅ Auditing & Feedback

We may send you a short form after your appointment to:

✅ Get your feedback about the visit
✅ Confirm that your phlebotomist maintained the safety and infection control standards we expect

Your input helps us ensure high standards and address any issues quickly. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe 💙