When should a phlebotomist change gloves?

A phlebotomist should change gloves after each patient interaction to maintain a sterile environment and prevent the risk of cross-contamination. This practice is essential in healthcare settings to protect both the patient and the healthcare worker from the potential spread of infectious diseases. By changing gloves between patients, the chances of transmitting pathogens from one patient to another are significantly reduced.

While other options suggest changing gloves at different intervals—like hourly or only when visibly soiled—these do not align with the best practices of infection control. Changing gloves only when soiled or hourly could leave opportunities for contamination and compromise patient safety. Gloves should be treated as one-time-use items in the context of patient care to ensure that each patient interaction is as safe as possible. Therefore, changing gloves after each patient interaction is the standard procedure in phlebotomy.