Final answer:
A phlebotomist does not require a complete medical history, drug screen, ECG, or a GTT from a potential blood donor. Instead, they must determine the donor's blood type and conduct an antibody screening to ensure the donor's blood is safe for transfusion. The GTT, used for diabetes diagnosis, is not part of the standard pre-donation screening.
Step-by-step explanation:
Requirements for Potential Blood Donors
When a phlebotomist is preparing to obtain blood from a potential donor, they do not generally need a complete medical history, drug screen, ECG, or a glucose tolerance test (GTT) directly before the donation. The primary concern is to ensure that the blood type of the donor is known and that it is safe for the donor to give blood at that time. Therefore, a detailed medical history may be discussed, but in terms of specific tests, the GTT is not typically required prior to a standard blood donation procedure. The GTT is used for diagnosing conditions such as diabetes mellitus and is not part of the standard pre-donation screening process. The needed information from a potential donor typically includes blood type and screening for any conditions that could affect the donor or the recipient's safety.
In emergency situations where a patient needs a blood transfusion due to conditions such as severe bleeding from a trauma, the universal donor blood type O negative is often used because it is compatible with all other blood types. For scheduled procedures, such as surgeries where blood donation is anticipated, antibody screening tests are administered along with pre-transfusion blood typing to ensure the compatibility of the donor's blood with the recipient.