Author: Ferdie Rodriguez

I used to work in a lab where at that time, we did not have any plastic wide-mouthed containers for stool samples. So, patients can submit stool specimens using any containers they can find. There was one specimen where the container was a clear, transparent, 32-oz Mason jar, and where you can literally see all the… Continue reading Container Matters

I went to draw blood on a combative female patient. Although the patient was restrained, I still needed some help holding the patient while I draw the blood. Three (3) cops and 2 nurses helped me—that’s how combative the patient was. I kid you not, while I was drawing the patient, the patient asked me:… Continue reading Take The Cobwebs Out of What??

I was in the middle of drawing blood on a patient, when suddenly I felt the urge to fart. Normally, I stand with my legs a little bit apart when drawing a patient. So, in order to prevent the humiliating release of that unwanted internal air, I had to change the angle of my legs… Continue reading Close Call

When you’ve worked as a Lab Tech for a long time, you develop this perspective that is a whole lot different than any other non-lab people’s perspective. As for me, when I hear the word “stool”, I don’t think of a chair or a bar stool that you sit on. The first thing that comes… Continue reading First Thing That Comes To Mind

When you’re new on the job, you are likely to focus on what you need to do, and kinda tend to not notice the small details around you. One day, I went to draw blood on a patient. I was new at that facility, and was basically just focused on what I had to do—including… Continue reading Make a Fist, Please…

I went to the employee restroom to pee, because someone was already using the lab restroom. When I went in, it was pretty obvious that someone had pooped in there, and the smell was just lingering. I actually had to hold my breath while peeing; and had to hurry and washed my hands as fast… Continue reading Wrongfully Accused

I don’t know about other schools, but the MedTech school I went to had a certain way of doing things. When we started learning about phlebotomy, we didn’t have a dummy at all to practice on—we had to practice on our classmates (all human and can feel pain). ? However, what’s more interesting, is when… Continue reading Semen Analysis at School

I don’t remember exactly the details of what I was doing, nor why I was doing the procedure the way I did it. It happened when I was still a lab tech intern—about 17 years ago. For some reason, I wasn’t wearing any gloves. I was holding a test tube with a sputum at the… Continue reading Gross Encounter