What is the difference between a phlebotomist and a hematologist

There are quite a few different tests to be performed on each sample of blood. While some are tests used for large scale blood donation, other tests are used by doctors and physicians to determine which illness is plaguing their patients. With chemistry tests, the blood is tested for chemicals that indicate disease.

It can be a test to monitor blood sugar for diabetes or tests to indicate if a person is using illegal drugs. Hematology has more to do with the blood itself, not what is found along with it. Phlebotomy courses focus more on these tests since most of those who go on to graduate will study things like cell count and protein levels of plasma.

Both immunology and molecular diagnostics tests are lumped together here. These tests are more complex and are often used to see if the immune system is functioning properly. Phlebotomy courses only graze the surface of these tests, as the tests cover things like DNA and RNA analysis to determine disease risk, as well as tests to uncover autoimmune diseases.

Hematologists are specialists in diseases and other problems related to the blood. Some hematologists specialize in blood cancers and are called hematologist-oncologists. Hematologists often have access to research programs called clinical trials and can help patients gain access to experimental treatment for blood disorders or cancers. All physicians spend many years in the educational process.

A typical educational course is four years of college, four of medical school and a minimum of three in residency. Hematology is actually a subspecialty of internal medicine, and a hematologist must first become board-certified in that specialty before going on to additional training in hematology, which usually takes two years. Like other physicians, hematologists must be licensed in the state where they practice and most also become board-certified in hematology.

Although hematology is the study of human blood in both health and disease, hematologists usually focus on the disease-related aspects. Blood disorders and disease could include problems with red or white blood cells, the blood vessels, bone marrow, lymph nodes or spleen. Hematology also encompasses bleeding and clotting disorders such as hemophilia or venous thrombosis.

Although many blood problems can be treated by a general practitioner or internist, the hematologist is called in for consultation for complex or unusual problems. A hematologist might consult with other doctors whose patients have blood cell abnormalities such as sickle cell or aplastic anemia, or treat patients who have had a pulmonary embolism -- a blood clot in the lungs.