Phlebotomists
Official O*NET title: Phlebotomists (31-9097.00)
Also called: lab liaison technician, mobile examiner, patient service technician, phlebotomist lab assistant, phlebotomy technician
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Document route of specimens from collection to laboratory analysis and diagnosis
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing phlebotomists work
1 of 18 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use yet) — 6%. 1 newer task is not in the data yet and left out.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Document route of specimens from collection to laboratory analysis and diagnosis (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Confirm the identities of patients by verifying their personal information (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Dispose of contaminated sharps, following applicable laws, standards, and policies (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, following applicable laws, standards, or policies (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Collect specimens at specific time intervals for tests (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct standards tests (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Provide sample analysis results to physicians to assist diagnosis (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Monitor blood or plasma donors during and after procedures to make sure health, safety, and comfort (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Explain fluid or tissue collection procedures to patients (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Transport specimens or fluid samples from collection sites to laboratories (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Draw blood from capillaries by dermal puncture (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct hemoglobin tests to make sure donor iron levels are normal (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Train other medical staff in phlebotomy or laboratory techniques (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Serve refreshments to donors to make sure absorption of sugar into their systems (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Draw blood from arteries, using arterial collection techniques — no recorded AI use
- Collect fluid or tissue samples, using appropriate collection procedures — no recorded AI use
- Determine donor suitability, according to interview results, vital signs, and medical history — no recorded AI use
- Calibrate or maintain machines — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Document route of specimens from collection to laboratory analysis and diagnosis”. Try the prompt for: “Explain fluid or tissue collection procedures to patients”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and phlebotomists
Will AI replace phlebotomists?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 1 of the 19 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use yet). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 21 of the 23 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which phlebotomist tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: document route of specimens from collection to laboratory analysis and diagnosis.
Which phlebotomist tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes; dispose of contaminated sharps, following applicable laws, standards, and policies; dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, following applicable laws, standards, or policies. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 4% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a phlebotomist start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Phlebotomists ranks #540 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #78 of 80 in Healthcare. It’s in our top 50 jobs AI is least likely to replace.
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