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Bloodletting (or blood-letting) is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to prevent or cure illness and disease. Bloodletting, whether by a physician or by leeches , was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily fluids were regarded as " humours " that had to remain in proper balance to maintain health.
A phlebotomy draw station is a place where blood is drawn from patients for laboratory testing, transfusions, donations, or research purposes. The blood is typically drawn via venipuncture or a finger stick by a healthcare professional such as a phlebotomist, nurse, or medical assistant. [21]
The name is most likely derived from phlebotome: phlebos, Greek for blood vessel and tome, meaning to cut. [2] These instruments are the progression from the early use of fish teeth, sharpened stones, and thorns used to penetrate blood vessels. The earliest known examples are made of bronze with a myrtle-leaf shape to the blade.
Phlebotomy licensure is the process by which various regulatory bodies regulate the practice of phlebotomy within its jurisdiction through licensure. In many countries a license is not required, or is obtained through other broader qualifications (such as a medical license), while in others, professional phlebotomists are separately licensed.
Breathing a Vein, a caricature of bloodletting by venesection by James Gillray, 1804 [1]. Heroic medicine, also referred to as heroic depletion theory, was a therapeutic method advocating for rigorous treatment of bloodletting, purging, and sweating to shock the body back to health after an illness caused by a humoral imbalance.
The blood culture bottle contains transport media to preserve any microorganisms present while they are being transported to the laboratory for cultures. Because it is unknown whether the pathogens are anaerobic (living without oxygen) or aerobic (living with oxygen), blood is collected to test for both.
The phlebotomist was also accused of mislabeling blood to cover-up mistakes, of reusing the same pipette for both blood and urine samples and of rarely wearing rubber gloves while working. [19] [20] [21] The laboratory conducted an internal review of its phlebotomy practices at its 800 sites across the United States and found no deficiencies. [22]
Franz Anton Maulbertsch's The Quack (c. 1785) shows barber surgeons at work. Bloodletting set of a barber surgeon, beginning of 19th century, Märkisches Museum Berlin. The barber surgeon, one of the most common European medical practitioners of the Middle Ages, was generally charged with caring for soldiers during and after battle.