Looks like I'll be finding another location for future bloodwork.
Made an appointment for 9am. In my experience, having an appointment with LabCorp at other locations has ensured that I am seen at 9am. I was not seen until 9:30am. I'm not sure if everyone else also had an appointment or not, but it felt like I was just "in line" as they took everyone seated outside the blood draw area ahead of me. This has never been my experience in the past when I've had an appointment and just seems unlikely.
I tried the self check in, scan your barcode process, that they required instead of a person helping me. I tried twice and the machine kept spinning and telling me there was an earlier appointment available, which I find laughable considering they saw me half an hour after my actual appointment time.
I am a hard blood draw. I always make sure the phlebotomist knows that and that there is no "good vein" or one "they" usually use. I do know that unless someone is a top notch phlebotomist, I've been told that they should use a "butterfly" needle.
I went through this process with my phlebotomist, who was very nice, but it quickly became apparent I was beyond her skill set. She said rather than dig around in my arm and veins (which I've had happen a LOT in my lifetime to the point of almost tears and lots of pain), she was going to get someone else. I appreciated that very much.
The person who appeared was the person who checked me in. I was kind of taken aback, but perhaps the supervisor or lead doesn't primarily do blood draws but instead gets to do the "desk job" but it seemed odd. I told her my spiel about no good veins, butterflies work best, etc.
She told me that they're not supposed to use butterflies because they're hard to get. I've been told by phlebotomist in the past that the chain blood draw places don't like their people to use butterflies because they cost about one dollar. While a shortage could have been the case this time, I'm guessing it's more likely cost or a combination of the two.
She also told me (which I KNEW) that the gauge of a regular needle and a butterfly is the same. I told her I knew that, which she seemed surprised that I knew....and rethought her "education" of me and said "people like to use them because they see a 'flash' when they hit the vein". I told her I knew that, too. It's not my first rodeo and I'm the one with the ballerina sized veins.
If I'm a hard draw and have had my arm dug in, in the past, to the point of yelling out loud and in tears on a few occasions, and know some facts that could help make it better for both myself and the phlebotomist, I'd hope they'd take that information to help the process.
Fortunately, my blood was drawn and I was out the door an hour after my appointment time. I definitely will not return here the next time I need a blood draw. read more
