Most phlebotomy programs require a mix of personal protective equipment, clinical tools, study materials, and professional attire. Your school will likely provide a specific supply list, but the core items are consistent across programs. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare.
Scrubs and Professional Attire
Nearly every phlebotomy program requires you to wear scrubs during lab sessions and clinical rotations. The specific color depends on your school. Common choices include teal, light blue, burgundy, and sometimes white. Your program orientation materials will tell you which color to buy, so wait before purchasing if you’re not sure.
Beyond the scrubs themselves, you’ll need closed-toe shoes. Most programs require non-porous, fluid-resistant footwear since blood and other fluids are part of daily work. Leather or synthetic nursing shoes and medical clogs are popular choices. Avoid canvas sneakers or anything with mesh uppers that could absorb a spill. A watch with a second hand (or a digital watch that displays seconds) is also commonly required for timing procedures and monitoring patients.
Personal Protective Equipment
Gloves are the single most important piece of PPE for phlebotomy. OSHA requires gloves at minimum during any routine blood draw to prevent contact with blood. Most programs ask students to supply their own box of nitrile gloves, which are latex-free and reduce allergy risks for both you and patients. Buy the correct size: gloves that are too loose reduce your dexterity, and you need fine motor control when handling needles.
Lab coats or protective gowns aren’t always required for routine venipuncture. OSHA notes that lab coats, while commonly worn as part of a phlebotomist’s uniform, aren’t typically needed as PPE during standard blood draws. That said, many training programs still require them during lab practice when students are learning and spills are more likely. Safety glasses or face shields may also be on your list if your program covers procedures with a higher splash risk.
Needles and Collection Devices
Your program will either include a training kit in your tuition or give you a list of supplies to purchase separately. Either way, you’ll work with several types of needles and holders throughout the course.
- Multi-sample blood collection needles: These are the standard workhorses of phlebotomy. They have two needle ends screwed into a holder. One end enters the vein, and the other punctures the vacuum tube you push into the holder. This lets you fill multiple tubes from a single stick.
- Needle holders (tube adapters): These plastic barrel-shaped devices stabilize the needle and hold the vacuum tube in place during the draw, so you can swap tubes without repositioning the needle in the vein.
- Butterfly needles: Also called winged infusion sets, these are smaller needles with flexible plastic “wings” connected to thin tubing. They range from 18 to 27 gauge and are used for patients with small or fragile veins, like elderly patients or children. The tubing connects to a vacuum tube holder or syringe.
- Safety-engineered needles: Devices like the BD Eclipse have a built-in safety shield that covers the needle tip after use. You’ll practice with these because healthcare facilities are required to use safety-engineered sharps.
Standard venipuncture needles for adults are typically 21 or 22 gauge. Your program will likely have you practice with both sizes so you can learn the difference in flow rate and how each feels during insertion.
Vacuum Collection Tubes
A major part of phlebotomy training is learning which tube to use for which lab test. Each tube has a different colored stopper that tells you what additive is inside, and you’ll need to memorize these. The standard tubes you’ll work with include:
- Blue-top tubes: Contain sodium citrate, used for coagulation studies.
- Red, gold, or red-speckled tops: Serum tubes, some with clot activators or gel separators. Used for chemistry panels and many routine tests.
- Green-top tubes (dark, light, or speckled): Contain heparin. Used for chemistry tests that require plasma rather than serum.
- Lavender, pink, or pearl-top tubes: Contain EDTA, an additive that prevents clotting. Used for complete blood counts and blood bank testing.
- Gray-top tubes: Contain a glycolytic inhibitor that preserves glucose levels. Used for blood sugar testing.
You’ll also learn the correct order of draw, which is the specific sequence for filling tubes when collecting multiple samples. Drawing tubes out of order can contaminate samples with additives from the previous tube, leading to inaccurate results. Blood culture bottles always come first, followed by blue, red/gold, green, lavender, and gray.
Tourniquets and Other Accessories
You’ll need tourniquets for nearly every venipuncture you perform. Disposable latex-free rubber tourniquets are the current standard in most clinical settings, and programs often ask students to have a supply of their own. Reusable elastic tourniquets with buckle or Velcro closures are also used in some training labs. Having both types available lets you practice with what you’ll encounter on the job.
Other small supplies you’ll use regularly: alcohol prep pads for cleaning the puncture site, gauze pads or cotton balls for post-draw pressure, adhesive bandages or medical tape, sharps disposal containers, and pen or permanent markers for labeling tubes. Some programs supply these consumables, while others expect you to bring your own practice kit. A small penlight can also be helpful for locating veins in dim conditions.
Practice Arms and Training Aids
Before you draw blood from a real person, you’ll practice on a phlebotomy training arm. These are synthetic models with replaceable veins and simulated blood flow. Most programs provide these in the classroom, but some students purchase their own for extra practice at home. If your program doesn’t include one, expect to spend roughly $30 to $80 for a basic model. A practice arm with refillable veins and tubing lets you repeat the full venipuncture process, from tourniquet placement to tube filling, until the muscle memory is solid.
Textbooks and Study Materials
Your program will assign a phlebotomy textbook that covers anatomy, venipuncture technique, safety protocols, specimen handling, and lab procedures. The specific title depends on your school’s curriculum, but most align with the content tested on national certification exams.
If you plan to sit for certification after completing your program, the NHA (National Healthcareer Association) offers a Certified Phlebotomy Technician study guide and practice test that maps directly to their CPT exam. These are available in both online and printed formats. Other certifying bodies like the ASCP and AMT have their own recommended prep materials. Check which certification your program prepares you for before buying extra study guides, since the exam content varies between organizations.
A set of colored flashcards for memorizing tube colors, additives, and order of draw is one of the most useful self-study tools. Many students make their own, but pre-made sets are available online. A pocket-sized reference card listing tube colors and their uses is also worth having during clinical rotations when you need a quick reminder.
What Your Program Typically Provides
Tuition at most phlebotomy programs covers access to sharps containers, biohazard disposal, practice arms in the lab, and sometimes a starter supply kit with needles, tubes, and holders. Some programs bundle scrubs and a textbook into the cost as well. Before you buy anything, check your enrollment packet carefully. Purchasing duplicates of supplies your school already provides is a common and avoidable mistake. If your program gives you a specific vendor or kit to order from, use it, since the supplies will match exactly what your instructors demonstrate with in class.