Final answer:
Early phlebotomists used lancets as a fundamental tool for drawing blood, performing procedures like lancing buboes. Lancets contributed to the evolution of phlebotomy practices, which are now essential in medical diagnostics and patient care.
Step-by-step explanation:
Early phlebotomy techniques indeed include the use of lancets which were essential tools for early phlebotomists. Lancets are small, sharp medical instruments used to make incisions into veins or boils, such as when lancing a bubo, which was a common practice for treating plague victims. Not only were lancets used historically, but they also played a significant role in the evolution of modern medicine.
In the context of modern phlebotomy, venipuncture is performed using specialized needles rather than lancets for accessing a vein, especially in situations requiring more than just a few drops of blood. These types of procedures are crucial in medical laboratories, where blood samples are often analyzed for diagnostics or used for transfusions and medical research. Furthermore, advancements in medical practices, such as Joseph Lister’s antiseptic methods in surgery, paved the way for better infection control among medical professionals including phlebotomists.