When a research participant commits to a study requiring blood draws, they typically imagine navigating a large parking deck before finding their destination on one of many clinic floors. At the CEDHARS lab, however, participants often remark on how personable and comfortable the process is.
Dr. Tyler Wright, assistant professor in the UAB School of Health Professions, has loved using the service for an ongoing CEDHARS pilot project that is investigating chronic pain.
“It’s very convenient,” he said. “The phlebotomists have been excellent, they’ve been easy to work with, and it’s made the whole process very smooth.”
Nestled on the campus of Lakeshore Foundation in the Wellness, Health and Research Facility (WHARF), the building has ample parking and creates a welcoming atmosphere with disability-centered artwork throughout.
“First of all, it's reliable,” Wright said. “It's easy. If I have a participant, I can connect with the phlebotomist and the lab coordinators and staff very easily. We've never had any issue. It's been very convenient.”
In addition to the phlebotomy lab, the Adaptive Human Performance Lab opens a new website (AHPL) houses state-of-the-art equipment, including virtual reality and exercise-gaming space, which lends itself to participant curiosity and a non-doctor’s office feel.
“They love that room in there,” Wright remarked. “Often, they're quite fascinated by what goes on in there, and it probably is different than their usual experience. I mean, it's different than any place I've ever had my blood drawn. I'll say that.”
Wright said the multiple phlebotomists on staff are skilled, but just as importantly, are personable and make participants feel comfortable.
“Oftentimes, participants come in. They’re used to having blood drawn,” he said. “These are chronically ill individuals, so they’re no strangers to this kind of thing, but it’s always nice to have people who are skilled and good at what they do. We've never had a participant who has not been very pleased, and it’s not gone smoothly for.”
Wright said depending on the department a researcher is in, it can be hit or miss when looking for where to do blood draws for a study.
“You don't know where you're going to find a phlebotomist,” Wright added. “And it's just kind of a skill that you’ve heard some technician somewhere has.”
Although other blood draw sites are available, Wright recommends the AHPL site to fellow researchers.
“It would take a lot to convince me to go somewhere else and use another phlebotomist because they have been so easy to work with,” he said. “It compares very favorably to any experience that I've ever had before. CEDHARS is fantastic to work with, both on an administrative level and then also on the more technical level, as well.”
