Five hundred million pathology tests are performed every year in Australia. Results from pathology tests, including blood tests and biopsies, give doctors critical information to correctly diagnose and treat patients.
Pathology collectors, also known as phlebotomists, are health care professionals from the pathology industry. They collect samples for testing, such as blood, urine or saliva.
If you’re thinking about working in health care, here are 5 reasons to pursue a career in pathology collection:
1. Caring for others
If you’re a people person with a sympathetic and calming nature, you might enjoy the human interaction and connection you create by supporting people during their health care journey. You will see a variety of patients, ranging from young children to senior citizens. Not everyone likes the thought of a needle either, so having interpersonal skills will really help to calm someone down during their test.
2. Flexible hours
Pathology collectors enjoy some of the most civilised work hours of any health speciality, often working part-time. Many collection centres open and close early, to ensure the samples are couriered back to the laboratory in time.
3. Experience in a clinical environment
If you’re looking to complement your clinical skills for other health related roles, such as nursing or aged care, pathology is a great place to get your foot in the health care industry door.
4. Contributing to the pathology industry supports medical research, diagnosis and treatment
Pathology collectors are an important member of Australia’s health care industry. Collectors need to know which tubes to collect for all tests, as well as any special conditions, such as keeping the sample at body temperature after collection, freezing it or even whether the patient needs to have fasted prior to the blood draw. It is vital that patient details are checked to ensure samples aren’t mixed up and to avoid recollections. Beyond collectors is a vast network of other staff, without whom laboratories could not function. From couriers delivering samples to laboratories through to reception staff phoning critical results to doctors, the delivery of fast and accurate results relies on an army of skilled and dedicated professionals.
5. Variety of settings
You will find pathology collectors in collection centres, GP clinics, hospitals and COVID-19 drive through centres, in metropolitan areas and regionally.
The HLT37215 Certificate III in Pathology Collection could lead you to a rewarding career in a fascinating field. If you’re interested in studying, LTT offers this nationally recognised qualification at our Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney training centres.