How to Maintain and Clean Your Phlebotomy Chair for Longevity

New medical furniture is often a big investment for your practice, so it’s only natural that you want to take good care of it. Of course, this is easier said than done in a medical practice where equipment and furniture are used daily.

This is especially true for equipment like phlebotomy draw chairs. This medical furniture can be used dozens of times a day where the chances of blood contamination are higher than your average physical or appointment.

Let’s take a closer look at the importance of maintaining and cleaning your phlebotomy chair along with tips for extending its longevity.

What is a Phlebotomy Chair?

A blood draw chair isn’t your average piece of furniture. It’s a specialized chair that allows medical professionals to efficiently and comfortably draw blood. They often have two adjustable flip armrests that allow a patient to sit comfortably during a blood draw and provide easy access for staff to take blood samples.

A blood drawing chair is one of the most important pieces of equipment for a phlebotomist. They’re also staples at labs, general practices, and blood drives.

Choosing the right phlebotomy chair can go a long way in making a blood draw procedure safer and more comfortable for everyone involved.

Qualities to Look for in a Phlebotomy Chair

Here are a handful of qualities to look for when choosing a phlebotomy chair for your practice:

• Comfort: Giving a blood sample can be a stressful experience for many patients. Having a comfortable, padded phlebotomy chair can help make the procedure a little easier. Look for padded chairs with additional padded armrests and an extra wide seat to accommodate larger patients or to make it easier for patients to hold their child on their lap.

• Durability: You want your phlebotomy draw chair to last. Choose options made with heavy-duty steel frames and durable vinyl or plastic that will hold up to daily wear and tear.

• Easy to Clean: Choosing a blood drawing chair that’s easy to clean can help make your practice safer and more efficient. Simple design elements, like a one-piece seat, can make it much easier to completely disinfect the chair between use. Chairs with creases, nooks, and crannies would be a pain to clean.

The Importance of Keeping Blood Draw Chairs Clean

When you run a medical practice, you understand the importance of cleanliness. Keeping spaces and equipment clean and disinfected is paramount to the safety of your patients and staff.

This is especially true for phlebotomy chairs where blood is routinely collected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise that healthcare professionals and employers should take advantage of available engineering controls and work practices to prevent exposure to blood and other body fluids.

Properly maintaining and cleaning your phlebotomy draw chairs is important for keeping everyone safe as well as extending their longevity.

Tips for Cleaning and Maintaining Your Phlebotomy Chair

Now that you understand the importance of keeping your blood draw chairs clean, it’s time to learn how to do so. It’s important to note that all disinfectants contain chemicals that degrade upholstery to some degree. That’s why knowing how often you should clean your phlebotomy chair and the correct cleaning agents can make all the difference in a long product life.

Follow CDC Guidelines

Unsure about how often you should clean your phlebotomy chair? The CDC provides a helpful Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities that covers everything from cleaning patient care devices to disinfecting environmental surfaces.

Utilize this guide to help keep your entire medical practice clean.

Disinfect Your Chair Before Every Use

It’s best practice to disinfect a phlebotomy chair before every use. Not only does this help prevent exposure to blood pathogens and bodily fluids, but is also especially important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opt for EPA-registered intermediate-level disinfectant wipes that are thick, strong, and ready to use when you need them. Disinfectant wipes are pliable to get into crevices and corners of equipment and meet CDC, OSHA, and infection control guidelines.

Disinfecting your phlebotomy chair between uses doesn’t have to be tedious. Sani-Cloth® AF3 Germicidal Disposable Wipes are effective against 45 microorganisms and work in only 3 minutes. Plus, they’re alcohol-free which is more gentle on surfaces and better for patients and staff with respiratory or skin sensitivities.

Practice Weekly Cleaning

In addition to disinfecting and the necessary spot cleaning, it’s also recommended to clean upholstery once a week. The experts at Midmark recommend you wash your upholstery weekly using mild liquid soap and water mixture. Rinse with clear water and dry completely to remove the disinfection cleaner build-up to extend the life of your phlebotomy chair.

Never let cleaning products pool on the surface of upholstery and consider wiping all surfaces with a clean, damp cloth daily to prevent build-up that can lead to discoloration and cracking.

Looking for a new phlebotomy chair for your practice? Browse our selection of blood draw chairs from leading manufacturers like Clinton Industries and more at ExamTablesDirect!