The Story of Phlebotomy: A Historical Perspective

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Authors: Garland E. Pendergraph, PhD, JD, MLS(ASCP)SM, HCLD/CC(ABB) and M. Gail Stotler, BSN, RN
Reviewer: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, PBT(ASCP)CM

This course will take the reader through the journey of phlebotomy from the ancient times to today. The course covers the importance of bloodletting in the ancient world and the middle ages and describes some of the instruments and techniques used. The authors present how modern science and safety awareness has transformed phlebotomy in the last couple of centuries as well as discuss what the future may present for the field.

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Identify the origin and basic elements of the term phlebotomy.
  • Recall the importance of bloodletting in the ancient world.
  • Describe the early bloodletting devices and their importance in the ancient world and the middle ages.
  • Outline the reasons why bloodletting fell out of favor in the modern age.
  • List the major improvements to blood collection devices and procedures that came about in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Course Outline

  • Phlebotomy
      • Introduction
      • Introduction, continued
      • The Ancient World
      • The Ancient World - the Four Humors in Relation to the Four Elements
      • The Ancient World - Galen's Influence on Medical Practice
      • The Middle Ages
      • The Middle Ages - Leeching and Cupping
      • The Middle Ages - the Development of Barber-Surgeons
      • The Middle Ages - Differentiation Between Barber-Surgeons
      • The Middle Ages - Debate on How Much Blood to Remove
      • The Middle Ages - Calculating Devices and Calendars for Bloodletting
      • 1600s Through 1800s
      • 1600s Through 1800s, continued
      • 1600s Through 1800s - Bloodletting Falls in Disfavor
      • 1600s Through 1800s - Bloodletting Still Used in Spite of Opposition
      • 1600s Through1800s - Famous Fatal Bleedings
      • 20th Century to Present – Different Objectives – Different Tools
      • 20th Century to Present – Different Tools Venipuncture
      • 20th Century to Present – Different Tools Venipuncture - Luer Locks
      • 20th Century to Present – Different Tools Venipuncture - Evacuated Tube System
      • 20th Century to Present – Different Tools Venipuncture – The Vacuum Tube of Keidel
      • 20th Century to Present – Different Tools Venipuncture – the First Evacuated Blood Collection Tube
      • 20th Century to Present – An Ever Changing Technology – Venipuncture Innovations
      • 20th Century to Present – An Ever Changing Technology – Automated Venipuncture
      • 20th Century to Present – An Ever Changing Technology - Capillary Puncture
      • 20th Century to Present – An Ever Changing Technology – Examples of Early Lancets
      • 20th Century to Present – An Ever Changing Technology - Capillary Puncture, continued
      • 20th Century to Present – An Ever Changing Technology - Capillary Puncture, continued
      • Should the Use of Tourniquets Be a Thing of the Past?
      • Blood Culture Contamination—Possibly Near 0% in the Future?
      • Phlebotomy Standards are not Static—CLSI Releases its 7th Edition of GP41, Collection of Diagnostic Venous Blood Specimens
      • 21st Century Forward – A Never Ending Story
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction:  Basic
Intended Audience: Phlebotomists, Medical laboratory scientists, medical technologists, and technicians. This course is also appropriate for medical laboratory science students and pathology residents.
Course Information: This course will take the reader through the journey of phlebotomy from the ancient times to today. The course covers the importance of bloodletting in the ancient world and the middle ages and describes some of the instruments and techniques used. The authors present how modern science and safety awareness has transformed phlebotomy in the last couple of centuries as well as discuss what the future may present for the field. 
Author Information: Garland E. Pendergraph, PhD, JD, MLS(ASCP)SM, HCLD/CC(ABB) received his MSPH from the University of Kentucky, his PhD in medical parasitology/entomology and mycology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and his law degree with a concentration in health care law from Concord Law School, Purdue University. He also did a Fellowship in Tropical Medicine at Louisiana State University School of Medicine. He is the author of a textbook in phlebotomy, a number of scientific articles, plus internet training programs. He is licensed as a laboratory director in the State of Georgia.
Author Information: M. Gail Stotler, BSN, RN received her BA in biology and her BS in Nursing from St. Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri. Following her BA in biology she did graduate studies in anatomy at SLU. Ms. Stotler has several publications on phlebotomy. Presently she is CEO the company The Nurses Station where she is the lead instructor in vein access technologies. She is a licensed RN in the states of Missouri and Illinois.
Reviewer Information: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, PBT(ASCP)CM has over 20 years of experience as a medical laboratory scientist, section supervisor, and laboratory manager. He is the former Director of Clinical Laboratory Technology and Phlebotomy Programs at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. He is currently a Program Director at MediaLab, Inc. Alexandru holds BS degrees in Biology and Medical Technology from Clark Atlanta University and an MBA from the University of Georgia.

This course is part of:
Blood letting machine
Physician letting blood from a patient - France late 13th Century
The four humors relation to the four elements
Galen (129-200) CE
Folding aluminum fleam
Cupping
Barber pole
venipuncture