Blood Money!

Last December this newspaper featured an item that centred on the operations of Phlebotomy Learning Center, located at the time on Peynier Street in Castries. The education ministry had cautioned against registering for courses there, while the chief medical officer acknowledged there had been complaints about the company.

It turned out that the “learning centre” was not appropriately accredited. Although accreditation was never mentioned on the Phlebotomy Learning Center’s flyer circulated via WhatsApp, it did contain promises of students qualifying to sit the ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology) exam.

In its December 8, 2018 issue this newspaper reported: “The American organisation All Allied Health Schools says that to take the ASCP exam, students are offered seven prerequisite options. Most include high school diplomas or equivalent, in addition to a combination of three or more of the following: minimum of 100 successful skin punctures and venipunctures; 40 hours of classroom training; 100 hours of clinical training at an accredited lab; one year’s experience in an accredited lab or participation in an accredited phlebotomy programme with about 100 hours of practical training.”

By all this reporter was told by the “manager” during a visit to the Phlebotomy Learning Center, the six-week course satisfied none of the stated requirements. At the time, the centre had already been operating for several months.

Now, the Phlebotomy Learning Center is no more (at least not in Castries). The police have confirmed there is an on-going investigation into the matter. Following our earlier mentioned story, the STAR was threatened with legal action.

But Saint Lucians were not the only victims, it turns out. The manager claimed the company operated a phlebotomy lab in Dominica, and also administered courses there. The young woman said that Phlebotomy Learning Center students could get work at the Dominican lab and that the owner, a Dominican native, would soon be opening one in Saint Lucia.

But this week I spoke to Veronica (not her real name) who did the course with the Phlebotomy Learning Center’s sister school, Newage Wellness Centre in Dominica. She said that there is no such lab.

“The lab operator advertised on Dominican News Online for the phlebotomy course,” she said. “It says anyone could qualify as a phlebotomy technician. He promised me and others, jobs in Antigua.”

Veronica said she also sent out several job applications as a PBT (phlebotomy technician), only to find out that her course was neither accredited nor recognized anywhere.

“The worst of all this is that after spending this money we have not met the qualified standards to sit the ASCP exam,” said Veronica. The advertiser previously said that they would sit the ASCP exam at the Business Training Center in Dominica. “He’s now saying that we’ll have to travel to Barbados to do it,” Veronica added.

Further questioned, Veronica said the Dominica operation was conducted on lines similar to what we earlier reported: people on the street were paid $7 per arm or offered free HIV testing for phlebotomy students to practise on. Veronica said: “He makes students perform each venipuncture technique on a grapefruit for one day and the following day on an actual person. Six weeks is definitely not enough time. His wife volunteers as well; she always does both arms.”

The classes each had about eight students in Saint Lucia and last December the cost was $2,900, which was set to increase by $400 every new term.

According to the information on Dominica News Online, there is similar pricing for the Dominican lab. Newage Wellness Center is still operational but students are beginning to ask for refunds for the faux certification. “He’s saying it’s non-refundable now,” said Veronica, “He doesn’t practise medicine and doesn’t have an office or patients.” Last December this reporter learned the owner got his medical schooling at All Saints University in Dominica.

Veronica showed me some pages of the Operations Manual given to teachers at the Newage Wellness Center. It includes a list of sponsors, exam requirements, the centre’s chain of command and instructions for practical classes, among other information. However, there is no mention of licenses, accreditation or procedures for sending blood samples to labs.

Other Dominican disgruntled students have confirmed to this reporter that they are considering taking legal action.