Hank Investigates: Blood Work

Every worried patient has a question, "Do I have cancer? Diabetes? Heart disease? Am I getting well? Or getting worse?"

So countless times a day, physicians order blood tests to find the answers.

Drawing the blood is usually done by a phlebotomist and it’s a high-stakes procedure with needles, blood, complicated test orders and patients health in the balance.

Anne Collins, Mass. Division of Professional Licensure
"Patients are vulnerable when they're having their blood drawn."

But who's actually holding that needle for your blood work? Our investigation finds in Massachusetts state licensing officials have no idea.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"Do you know who they are? Where they're working? What training they had?"

Anne Collins, Mass. Division of Professional Licensure
"Absolutely not."

In fact, we found phlebotomy is the one medical profession with no minimum training standards and no state licensing. Doctors are licensed and nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, chiropractors and podiatrists, but individual phelebotomists have no state oversight.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"Where does that leave patients?"

Anne Collins, Mass. Division of Professional Licensure
"I think that there's a risk to patients if a phlebotomist is not properly trained."

Marleen spent a year of uncertainty as a result. After a cholesterol check at a local health screening, she was told the phlebotomist made a dangerous error.

Marleen
"I was in shock."

Marleen had been tested with a dirty needle.

Marleen
"It’s very frightening."

In an instant Marleen went from healthy to high risk, suffering through a year of hepatitis prevention shots and HIV tests.

Marleen
"I dont think the system is safe at all."

In California, this phlebotomist, convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, repeatedly re-used needles on her patients. Thousands of people were tested for HIV and hepatitis. Soon after California passed sweeping reform, requiring individual phlebotomists to be certified and tested.

But in Massachusetts each doctor’s office, lab and hospital is left to set up its own line of defense and experts know what could happen if they hire the wrong person.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"Someone could get hurt, someone could get injured, someone could have the wrong test done?"

Anne Collins, Mass. Division of Professional Licensure
"If someone does not know what they are doing, yes."

And do they know? We found though the state licenses private phlebotomy trade schools, that doesn't mean they're teaching students anything.

Roosevelt McMillan
"Somebody’s life could be at stake right now."

Roosevelt McMillan -- this certificate says he's a phlebotomist, McMillian says that’s not true.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"Do you know what you're doing?"

Roosevelt McMillan
"I don't."

That’s because his phlebotomy school closed after he took only two hours of classes.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"Did you ever take a written exam?"

Roosevelt McMillan
"No written exam."

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"Did you ever draw blood from a person?"

Roosevelt McMillan
"One time."

But when McMillan asked for a tuition refund, the school gave him a diploma instead.

Roosevelt McMillan
"This piece of paper is a lie."

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"How can they get away with handing out certificates like these?"

State education officials admitted Roosevelt's school actually had a state license, but they also admit there is no state investigation or examination of such a school’s curriculum.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"Does the department really know what's being taught in those schools?"

Bob Bickerton, Mass. Dept. of Education
"Unless a problem arises where we actually need to go to the program and investigate that problem, we don't."

In fact, we found one school offering a 200-hour course, another offering 17 hours.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
"How can these both be licensed?"

Bob Bickerton, Mass. Dept. of Education
"No, there are not specific requirements in either the law or regulations for specifically what would be taught in a phlebotomy class."

And with no state agency to track oversee or discipline, phlebotomists, after they enter workplace, that person in the white coat, as Marleen discovered, could be a pro or could be a problem.

Marleen
"If it happened to me it could happen to anyone."