Clinical laboratories: blood withdrawal.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of clinical laboratories and clinical laboratory personnel and health professionals by the State Department of Public Health and makes a violation of these provisions a crime. Existing law authorizes an unlicensed person employed by a licensed clinical laboratory to perform venipuncture or skin puncture for the purpose of withdrawing blood or for clinical laboratory test purposes upon specific authorization from a licensed physician and surgeon, if that unlicensed person meets certain requirements. Existing law requires an unlicensed person performing these duties to possess a valid and current certification as a certified phlebotomy technician issued by the department. This bill would authorize a certified phlebotomy technician to collect blood through a peripheral venous catheter under specified conditions, including that the blood collection procedure is performed under the general supervision of a physician and surgeon and the blood collection procedure is performed using a device or devices approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.