Last week in our phlebotomy community, much of the conversation revolved around the evolving job market, particularly the increasing availability of remote positions. Members also shared tips on improving efficiency in the lab, with a focus on reducing serum turnaround times. There was a lively debate on whether cover letters remain relevant in job applications, along with discussions on managing the morning rush and calming nervous patients.
This Week’s Hot Topics
Weekly Phlebotomy Jobs: Remote phlebotomy roles on the rise
The job landscape is shifting, with more remote roles becoming available. This discussion delves into the pros and cons of working from home as a phlebotomist. Read more here
Fastest serum turnaround trick
Phlebotomists are sharing their best tips for speeding up serum processing, which could make your lab work more efficient. Read more here
Would You Take This Job? – Phlebotomist
A thought-provoking thread about evaluating job offers and what factors to consider before accepting a new position. Read more here
When the purple-top makes a break for it
Ever had a tube go AWOL? This light-hearted thread discusses mishaps and how to handle them. Read more here
Are cover letters still worth it
A great discussion on the changing role of cover letters and whether they still hold value in today’s job market. Read more here
Thanks for staying updated with us. Keep sharing your experiences and insights—your contributions help everyone grow and learn.
We shaved serum TAT by moving STAT serum to RST tubes and setting a 5‑minute “spin now” timer instead of batching; it reliably saved about 15 minutes on our evening run. For the remote wave, I’ve done part-time QA chart review from home; it’s convenient, but pay was a bit lower and dual monitors are the phleb equivalent of a second tourniquet.
I’ve had luck cutting serum TAT by staging a 6‑place mini‑centrifuge in accessioning — if a STAT serum hits the bench, we ‘spin first, route later’ and print the aliquot labels while it’s running; it saves about 10 minutes consistently. Just make sure you validate rpm/RCF and limit it to non-hemolyzed, properly filled tubes, @RileyS.