Phlebotomy Chair Maintenance: Cleaning Guidelines for Longevity

TL;DR

• What is a Phlebotomy Chair?A quick overview of what blood draw chairs are and why they matter in clinical settings.
• Top Features to Look ForHere’s what to prioritize when choosing one.
• Why Cleanliness MattersUnderstanding the value of routine disinfection
• 5 Cleaning & Maintenance TipsLearn how to extend your chair’s lifespan and ensure safe use at all times.

New medical furniture is a big investment for your practice. It’s only natural that you want to take good care of yours. However, in a medical practice where equipment and furniture are used daily, so consistent maintenance is required.

This is especially true for equipment like phlebotomy draw chairs. You can use this medical furniture as many as dozens of times a day. Therefore, the chances of blood contamination are higher than average.

In this blog post, we’ll cover the basic routine maintenance for phlebotomy chairs, along with tips for extending their longevity.

What is a Phlebotomy Chair?

A phlebotomy chair, also known as a blood draw chair, allows medical professionals to efficiently and comfortably collect blood from the patient. They often have two adjustable flip armrests for this purpose.

This specialized chair is one of the most important pieces of equipment for a phlebotomist. It’s also a staple 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.

Three 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. These are:

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

• Comfort: Giving a blood sample is a stressful experience for many patients. With a comfortable, padded phlebotomy chair, the procedure can get easier. Extra-wide seats and padded armrests will help accommodate larger patients or make it easier for patients to hold their child on their lap.
• Durability: Phlebotomy draw chairs aren’t cheap, so you want one that’s built to last. Look for 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 improve your practice's safety and efficiency. A simple design element, like a one-piece seat, can make it easier to disinfect the chair between uses completely. Creases, nooks, and crannies are harder to manage.

The Importance of Keeping Blood Draw Chairs Clean

Managing a medical practice requires a high degree of cleanliness. It’s your responsibility to keep spaces and equipment, like your phlebotomy chairs, clean and disinfected to prevent the spread of infections and guarantee the safety of your patients and staff.

The Center 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.

Let’s dive into how you can keep your phlebotomy chair well-sanitized after every use.

Our Top Five Phlebotomy Chair Cleaning Tips

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 prolonging its life.

1. Follow CDC Guidelines

How often should you 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.

This guide can help keep your entire medical practice clean.

2. Disinfect Your Chair Before Every Use

Disinfecting a phlebotomy chair before every use helps prevent exposure to blood pathogens and bodily fluids. It also prevents bacteria and viruses from spreading.

Choose EPA-registered intermediate-level disinfectant wipes that are thick, strong, and ready to use. These wipes are pliable enough to get into crevices and corners of equipment and meet CDC, OSHA, and infection control guidelines.

For example: Sani-Cloth® AF3 Germicidal Disposable Wipes are effective against 45 microorganisms and get to work in as fast as 3 minutes. Plus, they’re alcohol-free, which is more gentle on surfaces and better for patients and staff with respiratory or skin sensitivities.

3. Practice Weekly Cleaning

In addition to regular disinfecting and the necessary spot cleaning, you also need to deep clean your medical upholstery. Midmark experts recommend you do this by using a 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.

Don’t let your 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.

Add these points to your phlebotomy chair maintenance checklist to make sure your equipment is always safe and lasts longer.

4. Inspect for Damage or Loose Parts

Make it a habit to check your phlebotomy chair for signs of wear during your weekly or monthly maintenance routine. Look for loose bolts, cracked upholstery, wobbly legs, or worn-out armrests. The earlier you spot these issues, the easier it will be to resolve them before they become safety hazards or costly repairs.

5. Condition the Upholstery Periodically

Vinyl conditioners preserve color and flexibility in high-use environments. Always check your chair’s user manual first, then choose a conditioner that is safe for medical-grade surfaces. At ExamTablesDirect, we understand the differences in the materials used in each medical upholstery we offer, so it’s best to contact us to get the right information on how to maintain your phlebotomy chairs.

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!