Seven Common Phlebotomy Mistakes

The errors that most often lead to haemolysed samples, rejected tubes and unhappy patients.

3 May 2026 · 5 min read

Technique errors

Tourniquet left on beyond a minute, probing for a vein, excessive syringe suction and inadequate tube mixing all cause haemolysis.

Labelling away from the patient, under-filling citrate tubes and skipping the discard tube are audit failures waiting to happen.

Reflective practice after a rejected sample, not repetition of habit, is what turns competence into expertise.

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Turn this knowledge into supervised, certified practice.

When the antecubital fossa offers nothing, technique and patience beat force every time.

Both are correct tools. The skill is matching the device to the vein and the sample requirement.

Understanding what you are collecting makes you a better phlebotomist and a more reassuring one.